Walter Keeley Explained

Walter Keeley
Fullname:Walter Keeley
Birth Date:1 April 1921
Birth Place:Manchester, England
Height:[1]
Position:Outside left
Youthclubs1:RAF
Years1:1944–1946
Clubs1:Accrington Stanley (wartime)
Caps1:54
Goals1:26
Years2:1944–1946
Clubs2:Manchester United (wartime)
Caps2:3
Goals2:1
Years3:1946–1947
Clubs3:Accrington Stanley
Caps3:48
Goals3:21
Years4:1947–1948
Clubs4:Bury
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:1948
Clubs5:Port Vale
Caps5:18
Goals5:3
Years6:1948–1951
Clubs6:Accrington Stanley
Caps6:101
Goals6:35
Years7:1951–1952
Clubs7:Rochdale
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Clubs8:Fleetwood

Walter Keeley (1 April 1921 – 1995) was an English footballer who played as an outside left in the 1940s and 1950s.

Career

Keeley played for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He guested for both Accrington Stanley and Manchester United before joining Accrington Stanley permanently as a professional in 1946. Despite Keeley's healthy goal record, Accrington Stanley finished 20th in the 22-team Third Division North in 1946–47. He moved on to Bury of the Second Division in 1947–48 before he signed with Third Division South club Port Vale for 'a substantial fee', in exchange for Alf Bellis in January 1948.[2] He made an excellent debut, scoring twice in a 3–0 win over Leyton Orient at The Old Recreation Ground on 10 January 1948.[2] He played a further 15 games in 1947–48, but only scored one goal (against Newport County), and so lost his place in August 1948, two games into the 1948–49 season.[2] He was sold on to old club Accrington Stanley for £1,500 the next month. They finished one place and three points above the re-election zone in 1948–49, rose to 13th in 1949–50, and then finished 21st in 1950–51, and were forced to apply for re-election. He played for Stanley's league rivals Rochdale in 1951–52, who finished 21st, one place above Stanley. He later turned out for non-League side Fleetwood.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Accrington Stanley1945–46006363
1946–47Third Division North3613213814
1947–48Third Division North12800128
Total4821845625
Bury1947–48Second Division700070
Port Vale1947–48Third Division South16300163
1948–49Third Division South200020
Total18300183
Accrington Stanley1948–49Third Division North3013103113
1949–50Third Division North35900359
1950–51Third Division North3413103513
1951–52Third Division North200020
Total101352010335
Rochdale1951–52Third Division North401050
Career total1785911418963

Notes and References

  1. News: Rochdale team pen-pictures . 21 November 2023 . Derby Daily Telegraph . 24 November 1951.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff . Port Vale Personalities . 1996 . Witan Books . 159 . 0-9529152-0-0 .