Keith Pontin facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Keith Pontin | ||
| Date of birth | 14 June 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Pontyclun, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 2 August 2020 (aged 64) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Central defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1976–1983 | Cardiff City | 193 | (5) |
| 1983–1985 | Merthyr Tydfil | ||
| 1985–1991 | Barry Town | 189 | (15) |
| National team | |||
| Wales U21 | 1 | (0) | |
| 1980 | Wales | 2 | (0) |
|
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Keith Pontin (born June 14, 1956 – died August 2, 2020) was a talented Welsh professional footballer. He played as a central defender, which means he was a key player in the defense of his team. Keith is best known for his time with Cardiff City, where he played almost 200 games. He also proudly represented his country, playing twice for the Welsh national team.
Later in his career, he played for Merthyr Tydfil and Barry Town. At Barry Town, he became a captain and helped the team win many titles and awards.
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Playing for Football Clubs
Keith Pontin started his football journey in Pontyclun, Wales. He joined Cardiff City as a young player and worked his way up through their youth teams.
Starting at Cardiff City
Keith made his first team debut for Cardiff City on the very first day of the 1976–77 season. It was a great start, as his team won 2–0 against Charlton Athletic.
After a short time in the reserves, he was called back to the main team in September 1977. He played so well that he rarely missed a game for Cardiff City, who are also known as the Bluebirds. His strong performances even led to him being chosen to play for the Wales national team.
Leaving Cardiff City
During the 1981–82 season, Keith played in more matches than anyone else on his team. However, even with his efforts, Cardiff City was moved down to a lower league. The next year, things changed for Keith at Ninian Park, Cardiff City's home stadium. He had a disagreement with his manager, Len Ashurst, and was allowed to leave the club. He then joined Merthyr Tydfil.
Success with Barry Town
In 1985, Keith signed with Barry Town. This was a big deal for Barry Town because Keith was a well-known player. He played his first game for the club against Minehead in the FA Cup.
Keith's excellent play at Barry Town earned him several awards. He was voted the club's Player's Player of the Season three times (in 1988, 1989, and 1991). He was also named the Club's Player of the Season in 1987.
During his time there, he helped Barry Town win Division One of the Welsh Football League for three years in a row, from 1986 to 1989. In his final years with Barry, he became the team captain. He also briefly worked as an assistant manager. Keith left Barry Town in 1991, having played over 200 games for them.
Playing for His Country
Keith Pontin played for Wales at different levels. He earned one cap (meaning he played in one game) for the Wales under-21 team.
He also played two games for the senior Wales national team. His first game for the senior team was on May 17, 1980, when Wales won 4–1 against England. His second and final game for Wales was four days later, on May 21, in a 1–0 loss to Scotland.
Later Life and Legacy
Keith Pontin was married and had two daughters. When he was 59 years old, he was diagnosed with dementia. His family believed this condition was related to his long football career.
Keith passed away on August 2, 2020, at the age of 64. In 2022, a court heard that a medical examination showed his death was caused by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This condition is linked to repeated head injuries that can happen during sports like football.
