Fred Keenor

Frederick Charles 'Fred' Keenor (born 31 July, 1894 in Cardiff, died 1972) was a Welsh professional football player best known for captaining the Cardiff City team to success in the final tie of the FA Cup competition in 1927. To date, this is the only time the competition has been won by a team based outside England's borders.

Early career

Keenor first signed as an amateur for Cardiff City in 1912, eventually going on to make 436 appearances in a 19-year club career. He served the 17th Middlesex Battalion (the famous "footballers'" battalion) at the Somme, receiving a leg wound, and returned to lead Cardiff from the Southern League to the First Division. Under Keenor's captaincy, the club established itself as a redoutable Cup fighter. Cardiff were beaten semi-finalists twice and runners' up (to Sheffield United) in 1925 before reaching the Final for a second time in 1927. After the 1925 Final, Keenor reputedly said: "Just because we lost in our very first Cup Final, I don't think there is any cause to get down in the mouth. I can say here and now that one day soon our followers can be sure that Cardiff City will bring that cup to Wales." [http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/welsh_football/1920_1943.htm]

Abilities

Keenor's abilities were scant. A 'terrible' shot and unable to reliably run with the ball, his strength lay in his commitment to the cause and in his uncompromising tackling. Ernie Curtis said of him: "He was one of the hardest tacklers in the game, some said he was dirty but he was just hard. Nobody took liberties with old Fred ... [He] could run all night, he couldn't run with the ball mind you, but he could run all day." This gave the sides he led an immeasurable fillip.

Welsh national captain

Keenor's international career coincided with a spectacular period of success for the Welsh national side. They won the British International Championship in 1920, 1924 and 1928, overcoming an increasing reluctance on the part of English clubs to release players for games that they saw as being of no importance. In 1929, unable to call up a replacement, Keenor had to play with strapping to protect an injured neck. But the most famous of all his international fixtures was in the 1930 game in Glasgow against Scotland in which a depleted Welsh side (titled 'Keenor and the 10 unknowns') drew 1-1. Ted Robbin's side, playing on a Saturday when the English leagues had a full programme, had no choice but to play 10 players from either Welsh League sides or from the non-Leagues.

The Welsh side that day (October 25, 1930) read: Wales: Sidney John Vivian Leonard (Len) Evans (Cardiff City), Frederick (Fred) Dewey (Cardiff Corinthians), Wynne Crompton (Wrexham), William (Billy) Rogers (Wrexham), Fred Keenor (Cardiff City), Emrys Ellis (Oswestry Town), William Elvet (Billy) Collins (Llanelli), John Edward (Johnny) Neal (Colwyn Bay), Thomas (Tommy) Bamford (Wrexham), Walter William Robbins (Cardiff City), William Rees (Billy) Thomas (Newport County). Bamford scoring the Welsh goal after 6 minutes. [http://www.wfda.co.uk/international_details.php?id=140] Keenor was appointed Cardiff club captain for the 1925-26 season and was in charge for the famous 1927 Cup victory against Arsenal when Hughie Ferguson's goal won the Cup for Cardiff. [http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/blowup1/31511]

Later life

Keenor signed for Crewe Alexandra for the 1930-31 season. Latterly he suffered from disabilities stemming from a hard-living lifestyle that may have been a consequence of his tough upbringing.

Honours

As a player

;Cardiff City

*FA Cup winner - 1927
*FA Charity Shield winner - 1927

Martin Johnes, Fred Keenor: A Welsh Soccer Hero, The Sports Historian, 18, 1 (1998). Available online at [http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/SportsHistorian/1998/sh181h.pdf]

Fred Keenor Memorial

On November 15 2007 a petition to the Cardiff Civic Authorities was begun in order to bestow a fitting tribute upon both Fred himself, and the 1927 FA Cup squad he so heroically captained. An online version of the petition can be found at [http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fred-keenor-memorial.html]

A paper version containing a correspondence address, can be found at [http://www.cardiffcity.com/keenor_petition.pdf]