Biography
James Keen joined the Tigers in July 1924, his express pace enabling him to be a dangerous player on either wing of the forward line. He began the 1924/25 season in City manager Bill McCracken’s first team (McCracken had previously played alongside Keen at Newcastle United) but after starting seven of the first 11 games he was dropped to the Reserves. Keen was restored to the first team in March 1925 and started ten games, seven on the right wing and three on the left. In the 1925 close season the Tigers decided to dispense with Keen’s services and he was given a free transfer.
James Frederick Keen was born in the St Peters area of Newcastle Upon Tyne, midway between the city centre and the shipyards at Walker. His father ran a hotel, which the Keen family lived in, while James worked in the shipyards as a teenager. With senior football coming to a halt due to World War One, Keen had to wait until his mid-20s to make his way in the game, making good use of the pace he exhibited as a competitive sprinter. He spent the 1919/20 season at his local Northern Alliance side Walker Celtic.
After playing in a trial match for North Eastern League side Carlisle United in March 1920, Keen was tempted south to join Division Two side Bristol City in August 1920. He served the Robins’ Reserves side during the 1920/21 season and was handed his League debut against The Wednesday in May 1921. During the 1921/22 season Keen had a run of eight games in the winter months during which he scored his only senior goal in a January 1922 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bristol City were relegated at the end of the season and James sought pastures new.
In May 1922 Keen moved to his home club, Division One side Newcastle United, this dream move for Keen yielded two senior appearances in September 1922 against Birmingham City and in April 1923 against Bolton Wanderers. Given a free transfer by Newcastle United in May 1923, James moved to Division Three South side Queens Park Rangers in August 1923 and finally made a first team place his own, making 32 appearances but failing to trouble the scorers. At the end of the season it was Hull City that claimed his signature, taking him back to Division Two football.
After a brief trial with Darlington, Keen joined Division Three North side Wigan Borough in August 1925 and during the first half of the 1925/26 season he made 13 starts for the Lancastrians. He returned to Walker Celtic in October 1926 before disappeared from the game. By 1939 he was back working in shipyards, living in Hartlepool and working as a plater. He stayed in Hartlepool for the rest of his life and died there in the summer of 1980.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 25 November 1895, Walker
Hull City First Game: 30 August 1924, Derby County A (Division Two), 28 years, 279 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 May 1925, South Shields H (Division Two), 29 years, 158 days old
Clubs
Walker Celtic (1919-1920), Bristol City (1920-1922), Newcastle United (1922-1923), Queens Park Rangers (1923-1924), Hull City (1924-1925), Wigan Borough (1925-1926), Walker Celtic (1926)
Hull City Record
Career: 17 apps, 0 goals
James Keen| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924/25 | 17 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
As the grand daughter of Jimmy keen the footballer I was delighted to read about his footballing career but the one thing I was surprised at is there was no mention of any England duties the reason I’m surprised is we still have his England cap in the family not sure who to speak to try and find any information on this matter.
Regards Susan legg formerly Keen.
Hi Susan, I wonder if this gentleman, also born in Walker, was a relation?
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersK/BioKeenERL.html