Alan Keely
{{Short description|Irish footballer (1982–2021)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alan Keely
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Alan Vincent Keely
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1982|5|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|5|3|1982|5|10|df=y}}
| death_place = Ireland
| height = 6 ft 3 in
| position = Defender{{cite web|url = https://extra.ie/2021/05/04/sport/soccernews/tributes-shelbourne-alan-keely-dies | publisher = Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd | website = extra.ie | title = Tributes paid as former Shelbourne star Alan Keely dies aged 38 | date = 4 May 2021 | accessdate = 4 May 2021 }}
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = St Joseph's C.B.S.
| collegeyears1 = 2002
| college1 = UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
| collegecaps1 = 22
| collegegoals1 = 1
| years1 = 2001–2002
| clubs1 = Shelbourne
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2003
| clubs2 = Kildare County
| caps2 = 15
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2004
| clubs3 = Dublin City
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2004
| clubs4 = Finn Harps
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2005–2006
| clubs5 = Dublin City
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| years6 = 2006–2007
| clubs6 = Waterford United
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2007–2009
| clubs7 = Shelbourne
| caps7 = 57
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2010
| clubs8 = Malahide United
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| totalcaps =
| totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = Ireland U16
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 =
| nationalteam2 = Ireland U17
| nationalcaps2 =
| nationalgoals2 =
}}
Alan Vincent Keely (10 May 1982 – 3 May 2021) was an Irish footballer who played as a defender for several League of Ireland teams between 2001 and 2009, including Shelbourne F.C., Finn Harps F.C. and Waterford United F.C.{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0503/1213562-ex-shels-player-alan-keely-dies-aged-38/ | publisher = RTÉ | website = rte.ie | title = Ex-Shels player Alan Keely dies aged 38 | date = 3 May 2021 | accessdate = 3 May 2021 }} He was a member of the Finn Harps' squad that won the 2004 League of Ireland First Division.{{cite web|url = https://www.donegaldaily.com/2021/05/04/sadness-following-death-of-former-finn-harps-player/ | publisher = | website = donegaldaily.com | title = Sadness following death of former Finn Harps player | date = 4 May 2021 | accessdate = 4 May 2021 | quote = He joined the Ballybofey side [Finn Harps] from Dublin City in 2004 and helped the team win the First Division }}
Early life and education
Keely was born on 10 May 1982 in Dublin, Ireland.{{Cite web |url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/keely_alan00.html |title=UC Santa Barbara player profile: 2 – Alan Keely |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |accessdate=21 April 2016}} The son of former League of Ireland player and manager, Dermot Keely,{{cite web|url = https://www.the42.ie/alan-keely-dies-aged-38-5427342-May2021/ | publisher = Journal Media Ltd | website = the42.ie | title = Former Shelbourne player Alan Keely dies aged 38 | date = 3 May 2021 | accessdate = 4 May 2021 | quote = Keely, who was the son of former Shels boss, Dermot Keely, played in the League Of Ireland for almost 10 years }} he attended St. Joseph's CBS and was named as an All-Ireland schoolboy defender.{{Cite news |date=29 May 2003 |title=An ill wind |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/other-sports/an-ill-wind-26910076.html |newspaper=The Argus |location=Dundalk |via=Irish Independent |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
Keely attended the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and was a student-athlete on scholarship with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team.{{Cite news |last=McDonnell |first=Daniel |date=17 August 2009 |title=With the Irish football industry struggling and fewer opportunities in the UK, the chance to live it like Beckham while getting a top education is increasingly attractive, writes Daniel McDonnell |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/with-the-irish-football-industry-struggling-and-fewer-opportunities-in-the-uk-the-chance-to-live-it-like-beckham-while-getting-a-top-education-is-increasingly-attractive-writes-daniel-mcdonnell-26558957.html |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |accessdate=21 April 2016}} In 2002, his only season with the team, he appeared in 22 games and scored 1 goal with 2 assists.{{Cite web |url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/archive/042703aaa.html |title=2002 UC Santa Barbara Combined Team Statistics |date=29 November 2002 |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |accessdate=21 April 2016}} The Gauchos appeared in the 2002 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, which was the first time the school had participated in the tournament.{{Cite web |url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/112102aaa.html |title=12th-Ranked Men's Soccer Hosts USD In First Round Of NCAA College Cup This Saturday |date=21 November 2002 |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |accessdate=21 April 2016}} He was named as the 2002 Big West Conference's Freshman of the Year and was placed on the All-Conference First Team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigwest.org/uploads/files/msoccer4.pdf |title=2002 Year In Review |website=Big West Conference |accessdate=21 April 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/112002aaa.html |title=Big West Champion Men's Soccer Places Nine Players On 2002 All-Conference Team |date=20 November 2002 |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
Playing career
Before attending UCSB, Keely began his senior career with Shelbourne F.C. in 2001 who was then under the management of his father, Dermot. He made one senior appearance for Shelbourne in 2001–02 season during a League of Ireland Cup match against Shamrock Rovers on 29 October 2001.
Keely left Santa Barbara after his first season, returning to Ireland. It was announced in January 2003 that he signed with Kildare County F.C. for the 2003 League of Ireland season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kildarecountyfc.com/news/news-details.asp?NewsID=112 |title=Familiar Name Signs For County |date=28 January 2003 |website=Kildare County F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223095350/http://www.kildarecountyfc.com/news/news-details.asp?NewsID=112 |archivedate=23 February 2003 |accessdate=21 April 2016}} He suffered a serious groin injury mid-season and finished the season with 15 appearances for the club.{{Cite web |url=http://kildarecountyfc.com/first-team/index.asp |title=Kildare County Football Club First Team Players |website=Kildare County F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206064405/http://kildarecountyfc.com/first-team/index.asp |archivedate=6 December 2003 |accessdate=21 April 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.kildarecountyfc.com/Statistics/index.asp |title=League Table & Player Statistics Apr-Nov 2003 |website=Kildare County F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040204182801/http://www.kildarecountyfc.com/Statistics/index.asp |archivedate=4 February 2004 |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
Ahead of the 2004 League of Ireland season, Keely joined Dublin City F.C. as a free agent.{{Cite news |date=19 March 2004 |title=DUBLIN CITY (80/1) |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dublin-city-801-26012926.html |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |accessdate=21 April 2016}} Unable to crack the first team squad, he was transfer listed, then released, by manager Roddy Collins.{{Cite news |date=20 August 2004 |title=Curran move to join former colleague at Ards is ruled out |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/curran-move-to-join-former-colleague-at-ards-is-ruled-out-26914244.html |newspaper=The Argus |location=Dundalk |via=Irish Independent |accessdate=21 April 2016}} Despite interest from Dundalk F.C. manager Jim Gannon, Keely signed with Finn Harps F.C. shortly after.{{Cite web |url=http://finnharps.openhosts.com/latest_news/Aug26a04.htm |title=Keely Joins Harps |date=26 August 2004 |website=Finn Harps F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214185535/http://finnharps.openhosts.com/latest_news/Aug26a04.htm |archivedate=14 December 2004 |accessdate=21 April 2016}} He featured for Finn Harps to close out the season.{{Cite news |date=5 September 2004 |title=Harps go top of First Div. FINN HARPS 1 COBH RAMBLERS 0 |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/baker-hits-hattrick-26224107.html |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |accessdate=21 April 2016}}{{Cite news |date=28 October 2004 |title=Finn Harps go six points clear of Wanderers in Ballybofey |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/sport/other-sports/finn-harps-go-six-points-clear-of-wanderers-in-ballybofey-26979300.html |newspaper=Bray People |location=Wicklow |via=Irish Independent |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
With his father Dermot named manager at Dublin City, Keely rejoined the club in November 2004 for the forthcoming 2005 League of Ireland season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dublincityfc.net/news.php?id=1272 |title=Keely completes busy week of player signings |date=26 November 2004 |website=Dublin City F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204093016/http://www.dublincityfc.net/news.php?id=1272 |archivedate=4 December 2004 |accessdate=21 April 2016}} He remained with Dublin City through July 2006 when, 17 league games into the season, the club stopped trading and ceased to exist as a football team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2006/0719/207034-dublincity/ |title=Dublin City FC bow out of eircom League |date=19 July 2006 |website=RTÉ Sport |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
After the club's demise, Waterford United F.C. signed Keely and two of his Dublin City teammates in August 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2006/0813/207871-waterford/ |title=Waterford United snap up Dublin City trio |date=13 August 2006 |website=RTÉ Sport |accessdate=21 April 2016}} In December 2006, he re-signed for another year with Waterford for the 2007 League of Ireland.{{Cite web |url=http://waterford-united.ie/keely-puts-pen-to-paper |title=Keely puts pen to paper |date=21 December 2006 |website=Waterford United F.C. |accessdate=21 April 2016}}
In July 2007, Keely re-joined Shelbourne F.C.{{Cite web |url=http://www.shelbournefc.com/news.php?id=688 |title=Summer Signing!!! |last=Penrose |first=Gareth |website=Shelbourne F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011925/http://www.shelbournefc.com/news.php?id=688 |archivedate=27 July 2011 |accessdate=21 April 2016}} He departed the club at the end of the 2009 season. In his three seasons at Shelbourne, Keely made 61 league and cup appearances and scored one goal.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
Later career and death
After his League of Ireland career ended, Keely joined Leinster Senior League side Malahide United F.C. for the 2010 season.
Keely died in May 2021 at the age of 38.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/former-shelbourne-player-alan-keely-dies-at-38-40383667.html | publisher = Irish Independent | website = independent.ie | title = Former Shelbourne player Alan Keely dies at 38 | date = 3 May 2021 | accessdate = 3 May 2021 }}
Awards and honours
Finn Harps
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120208071937/http://www.shelbournefc.com/players.php?playerid=498 Shelbourne F.C. player profile] (archived)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040408103939/http://www.dublincityfc.net/players.php?id=438 Dublin City F.C. player profile] (archived)
- [http://extratime.ie/player/498/alan_keely/ ExtraTime.ie player profile]
- [http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/keely_alan00.html UC Santa Barbara player profile]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keely, Alan}}
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer players
Category:Shelbourne F.C. players
Category:Waterford F.C. players
Category:Dublin City F.C. players
Category:Finn Harps F.C. players
Category:Kildare County F.C. players
Category:Leinster Senior League (association football) players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Malahide United F.C. players