Brian Keeble (footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 July 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Holbeach, England | ||
| Date of death | 16 December 2015 (aged 77) | ||
| Place of death | Cleethorpes, England | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| Holbeach United | |||
| 1959–1965 | Grimsby Town | 172 | (1) |
| 1965–1969 | Darlington | 154 | (2) |
| 1969–1971 | Boston United | ||
| Brigg Town | |||
| Barton Town | |||
|
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Brian Keeble was an English footballer. He played as a full back. Brian was born on July 11, 1938, in Holbeach, England. He passed away on December 16, 2015, in Cleethorpes, England.
Brian played for Grimsby Town and Darlington in the 1960s. He made 326 appearances in the Football League. He also played for other local teams in the Lincolnshire area.
Contents
Brian Keeble's Football Journey
Starting His Career
Brian began his football journey with his hometown club, Holbeach United. While serving in the Army, he played for Grimsby Town's reserve team. He was an amateur player then. In 1959, after leaving the Army, he became a professional footballer.
Playing for Grimsby Town
Brian made his first League appearance in September 1959. This was against York City. He quickly became a regular player for Grimsby Town. In the 1961–62 season, Grimsby was promoted. They finished as runners-up in the Third Division. Brian played in every game that season.
He scored his only goal for Grimsby in March 1962. It was a 3–2 win against Northampton Town. Brian later said he hit the ball from far away. The goalkeeper and another player both missed it, and it went into the net.
A Strange Moment on the Pitch
Earlier in that same season, something very unusual happened. Brian was playing against Watford. Their home ground, Vicarage Road, was built on an old gravel pit. This meant the ground could sometimes sink.
During the game, a hole opened up right under Brian's feet! It grew to about 2 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The referee stopped the game for 14 minutes. Workers had to fill the hole before play could continue.
Brian played less often in the higher division. He made 49 appearances there. His total for Grimsby was 172 League games. He left the club at the end of the 1964–65 season.
Moving to Darlington
After Grimsby, Brian joined Darlington. They were in the Fourth Division. He immediately became a regular player. In his first season, Darlington was promoted to the second tier. Brian played 154 League games for Darlington. He scored two goals for them.
One of his goals was against Walsall. Brian said he hit the ball forward. The goalkeeper came out to get it but slipped. The ball then slowly rolled into the goal. After four seasons with Darlington, Brian moved on.
Later Career
Brian continued to play non-league football. He played for clubs like Boston United, Brigg Town, and Barton Town.
How Brian Played
Brian started his career as a centre half. But he soon changed to playing as a full back. Even though he was right-footed, he often played on the left side.
Brian described himself as a player who did not make big tackles. He preferred to use his position to outsmart opponents. He went through his entire professional career without ever getting a yellow or red card. This shows he was a very fair player.
Brian's Life Off the Pitch
Brian Keeble was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. He married his wife, Diane, in 1963. After his football career ended, Brian worked in transportation. He had a supervisory role for companies in the Grimsby area. Brian passed away at home in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. He was 77 years old and had been ill for a short time.
