Fred Keenor: The Man Who Never Gave Up

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I would be more than happy to discuss with them the role that the club could play in making this happen. Shepherd, Richard (2007), The Cardiff City Miscellany, Durrington: Pitch Books, ISBN 978-1-905411-04-7

St Helens, Merseyside: The Women's Football Team Watched by Thousands". BBC News. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014 . Retrieved 12 August 2016. He returned to Cardiff in 1933 but a wages dispute resulted in him returning to Birmingham to become a landlord before Coventry City rescued his career. Ferguson found her wandering astray on the Royal Birkdale golf course as City's players prepared for their fifth-round tie at Bolton Wanderers.Keenor was released by Cardiff at the end of the 1930–31 season, which saw the club relegated to the Third Division South. During his time at Cardiff, he made more than 500 appearances for the club, winning four Welsh Cup titles, the FA Cup and the FA Charity Shield in a 19-year association with the side. He is regarded as one of the club's all-time greats. A statue of Keenor, lifting the FA Cup, was erected outside Cardiff's new ground, the Cardiff City Stadium, in November 2012 following a public fundraising campaign. Following his release from Cardiff City, he considered retiring from the game but eventually signed for Third Division North side Crewe Alexandra. Despite being 37 years old, Keenor played a pivotal part in the club’s sixth placed finish during the 1931-32 season. This was the joint highest finish that the club had ever achieved in the Football League, and only the second time they had finished in the top ten in the previous nine seasons. However, despite a strong season, he was disappointed that the club was unable to achieve promotion as he described the squad as having the “nucleus of a very good side”. They recorded several strong results, including defeating eventual Division Three (North) champions Lincoln City 8-0. Harris, Clive; Whippy, Julian (2008). The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell in The Great War. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. p.174. ISBN 978-1-84415-762-4. Kyle Allen, 23, a student at the University of Glamorgan in Cardiff, said: “It’s about time something was done to honour him and keep in the memory of City fans.

Keenor finished his career with spells at Crewe Alexandra, Oswestry Town and Tunbridge Wells Rangers. During his career, he also attained 32 caps for the Wales national football team. He helped the side win the British Home Championship three times, in 1920, 1924 and 1928, and captained the side on numerous occasions, scoring two goals. Following his death in 1972, the Football Association of Wales secretary Trevor Morris commented, "Fred Keenor will go down as one of the greatest players and greatest characters ever produced by Wales". [2] Early life [ edit ] More than 1,000 have already signed a petition started by supporter Mike Inker, 32, of Llandaff North, Cardiff, to put up a monument.The apprentice electrician was persuaded to join Cardiff City from amateur side Cardiff Corinthians at the start of City's FA Cup-winning season. Overcoming doubts about the possibility of playing again, Keenor returned to the game with Cardiff as they embarked on the most successful period in their history. They won promotion to the First Division one season after joining the Football League in 1920. Keenor helped the club to the 1925 FA Cup Final, in which Cardiff suffered a 1–0 defeat to Sheffield United. In 1926, he replaced the departing Jimmy Blair as club captain, leading the team to success in the 1927 FA Cup Final later in the season, in which they defeated Arsenal 1–0. Their triumph remains the only time the competition has been won by a team based outside England. Keenor is considered to be one of Cardiff City’s all time great players and was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. On 15th November 2007, a petition to the Cardiff Civic Authorities was begun to bestow a tribute upon both Keenor, and the 1927 FA Cup squad he captained. On 4th December 2009, the road approaching Cardiff City Stadium was named Fred Keenor Road. a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Brentford F.C. pp.363–365. ISBN 978-0-9515262-0-0.

Meanwhile, by dint of his unusual surname alone, the name has become a familiar refrain in Cardiff pubs – as rhyming slang for an “all dayer”. a b c d e f g "Fred Keenor statue unveiled by Cardiff City". BBC News. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016 . Retrieved 9 August 2016.Graham hopes to carry out more research on this and other aspects of his uncle’s life before putting pen to paper. And how right he was. The 1926/27 season proved to be a very special campaign for Fred, beginning with his appointment as the Club’s permanent captain, following the departure of Jimmy Blair to Bournemouth. The Trust plans to launch a public appeal for funding in the new year and will approach Cardiff council, the Welsh Assembly Government and local businesses for financial support, along with football fans. City chairman Peter Ridsdale has given his total support to the campaign.