Harold Keenan
Encyclopedia
Harold Keenan was an English professional footballer. He spent his entire professional career with Blackpool
in the early 1900s, making over 100 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a defender
.
-born Keenan made his debut for Blackpool on 25 January 1913, in a 4–2 defeat at Fulham
. It was his only appearance of the 1912–13 season.
He also made one league appearance the following season, 1913–14, in a goalless draw against Notts County
at Bloomfield Road
on 13 April 1914, fifteen months after his first start for the club.
Keenan didn't make any appearances in 1914–15; however, in 1917–18, the third season of regional football during World War I
, Keenan was ever-present in Blackpool's 36 games in the principal and subsidiary competitions. He also scored three goals.
The following season, 1918–19, the final season of inter-war football, Bill Norman
was installed as Blackpool's first full-time manager. He selected Keenan in 33 of the club's 37 games.
Football League programmes returned for 1919–20, and Keenan made 35 starts in Blackpool's 42 league games. He also helped steer the club to the third round of the FA Cup
, at which point they were knocked out by arch-rivals
Preston North End
.
In 1920–21, Keenan was again ever-present. He also scored his first League goals for the club. The first came in the opening game of the season, a 2–2 draw at Bury
on 28 August. The second was in a 2–0 victory at Rotherham County
on 12 February. His third was the only goal of the game at Port Vale
on 26 February.
Keenan's appearances were limited in 1921–22, with just fifteen league starts.
In 1922–23, Keenan's final season with Blackpool, he appeared in just the first seven league games, the final one being a 2–1 defeat at home to Southampton
on 23 September, in front of a crowd of 13,500.
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the early 1900s, making over 100 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Blackpool
WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
-born Keenan made his debut for Blackpool on 25 January 1913, in a 4–2 defeat at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. It was his only appearance of the 1912–13 season.
He also made one league appearance the following season, 1913–14, in a goalless draw against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on 13 April 1914, fifteen months after his first start for the club.
Keenan didn't make any appearances in 1914–15; however, in 1917–18, the third season of regional football during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Keenan was ever-present in Blackpool's 36 games in the principal and subsidiary competitions. He also scored three goals.
The following season, 1918–19, the final season of inter-war football, Bill Norman
Bill Norman (football manager)
William "Bill" Norman was an English football manager.Between 1918 and 1923, he was in charge of Blackpool, who became one of a growing number of clubs to appoint a full-time manager. Before that point, the team selection had been the responsibility of a committee comprising directors, the captain,...
was installed as Blackpool's first full-time manager. He selected Keenan in 33 of the club's 37 games.
Football League programmes returned for 1919–20, and Keenan made 35 starts in Blackpool's 42 league games. He also helped steer the club to the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, at which point they were knocked out by arch-rivals
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.
In 1920–21, Keenan was again ever-present. He also scored his first League goals for the club. The first came in the opening game of the season, a 2–2 draw at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on 28 August. The second was in a 2–0 victory at Rotherham County
Rotherham County F.C.
Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1877 as Thornhill Football Club becoming Rotherham County in 1905. It joined the Midland League in 1903, and stayed in that competition until it was abandoned for World...
on 12 February. His third was the only goal of the game at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on 26 February.
Keenan's appearances were limited in 1921–22, with just fifteen league starts.
In 1922–23, Keenan's final season with Blackpool, he appeared in just the first seven league games, the final one being a 2–1 defeat at home to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 23 September, in front of a crowd of 13,500.