Josh O'Keefe
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Josh O'Keefe
| image =
| fullname = Joshua Adam O'Keefe
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|12|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Whalley, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2001–2007
| youthclubs1 = Blackburn Rovers
| years1 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = Blackburn Rovers
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2010
| clubs2 = Walsall
| caps2 = 13
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2010–2012
| clubs3 = Lincoln City
| caps3 = 47
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2012
| clubs4 = Southport
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2012–2014
| clubs5 = Hereford United
| caps5 = 51
| goals5 = 15
| years6 = 2014–2015
| clubs6 = Kidderminster Harriers
| caps6 = 20
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2014
| clubs7 = → Telford United (loan)
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2014
| clubs8 = → Chester (loan)
| caps8 = 3
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2015–2016
| clubs9 = Altrincham
| caps9 = 27
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2016–2020
| clubs10 = Chorley
| caps10 = 134
| goals10 = 17
| nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U21| nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 13:26, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
}}
Joshua Adam O'Keefe (born 22 December 1988) is a former footballer who played as a midfielder, he retired in 2020 after spending four years at Chorley.
Career
=Blackburn Rovers=
Born in Whalley, Lancashire, O'Keefe was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn,{{cite web
|url=http://www.qegs.blackburn.sch.uk/former-pupils/news-of-former-pupils_item.php?id=304
|title=Josh receives first cap
|publisher=Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
|date=20 August 2008
|accessdate=17 May 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003011543/http://www.qegs.blackburn.sch.uk/former-pupils/news-of-former-pupils_item.php?id=304
|archive-date=3 October 2011
|url-status=dead
}} where along with Frank Fielding he played in their victorious Boodles ISFA Cup team of 2003–04, defeating Millfield School 5–4 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in the final at the Walkers Stadium,{{cite web
|url=http://www.isfa.org.uk/boys/news.php?go=fullnews&id=53
|title=2003–04 QEGS Blackburn 2 Millfield 2
|publisher=The Independent Schools Football Association website
|accessdate=17 May 2010
|archive-date=20 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720001012/http://www.isfa.org.uk/boys/news.php?go=fullnews&id=53
|url-status=dead
}} whilst also playing representative football for ISFA.{{cite web
|url=http://www.isfa.org.uk/about/news.php?go=newslist&cat=current%20professional%20players
|title=Current professional players
|publisher=The Independent Schools Football Association website
|accessdate=17 May 2010
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210192449/http://www.isfa.org.uk/about/news.php?go=newslist&cat=Current+Professional+Players
|archivedate=10 February 2012
}} He then joined the Blackburn Rovers academy, making his Premier Academy League debut for the club in the 0–0 draw at Newcastle United on 2 April 2005.{{cite web
|url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/AcademyNews/0,,10303~647953,00.html
|title=Academy draw a blank
|publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C.
|date=5 April 2005
|accessdate=17 May 2010}}
=Walsall=
He then signed for Walsall on a free transfer and made his debut on 12 September 2009, coming on as a substitute for Richard Taundry, in the Football League One clash with Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, which ended in a 3–2 win to Walsall. He was released by Walsall on 10 May 2010 along with six other players.{{cite web | title = Walsall release seven including Dwayne Mattis | publisher =BBC Sport | date =10 May 2010| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/8672808.stm}}
=Lincoln City=
O'Keefe was then signed by Lincoln City on 17 May 2010 on a two-year contract.{{cite web| title =Midfielder Agrees Terms| publisher =Lincoln City| date =17 May 2010| url =http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10440~2053672,00.html| access-date =17 May 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120322094555/http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10440~2053672%2C00.html| archive-date =22 March 2012| url-status =dead}} On 3 January 2011, he scored his first ever goal as a professional, scoring an equaliser in the match against Northampton Town. On 26 December 2011 O'Keefe left Lincoln City by mutual consent.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16336072.stm | title=Josh O'Keefe and Adam Watts depart Lincoln City | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=28 December 2011}}
=Non-league career=
On 1 March 2012, O'Keefe joined Conference Premier team Southport.{{cite web | url=http://www.southportfc.net/news/details.php?news_id=5480 | title=Josh O'Keefe joins Southport FC | publisher=southportfc.net | accessdate=1 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090510/http://www.southportfc.net/news/details.php?news_id=5480 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }} On 24 September he joined Hereford United.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19714652 | title=Hereford United sign ex-Walsall midfielder Josh O'Keefe | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=29 July 2013}} On 11 June 2013 he signed a new one-year contract to remain with the club for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/news/article/okeefe-signs-on-860080.aspx | title=O'Keefe and McDonald sign | publisher=Hereford United F.C. | accessdate=29 July 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130729151830/http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/news/article/okeefe-signs-on-860080.aspx | archive-date=29 July 2013 | url-status=dead }} On 31 January 2014, he signed an 18-month deal with play off hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers. On 1 September 2014, he moved to Telford United on a month-long loan deal where he made five appearances.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29014474|title = Harriers loan O'Keefe to Telford|publisher = BBC Sport}} On 11 November 2014, he was sent on a two-month loan to Chester having only made one appearance all season for the Harriers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30010715|title = Chester bring in O'Keefe and Oates|publisher = BBC Sport}} His loan spell, due to end on 1 January 2015, was cut short due to injury. On 12 May 2015, he signed for Altrincham,{{cite web
|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/alty-pick-up-new-midfielder-39207/
|title=Alty pick up new midfielder
|date=13 May 2015
|publisher=NonLeague.pitchero.com
|accessdate=13 May 2015}} after being released by Kidderminster having made 20 appearances. In June 2016, he agreed a deal to join Chorley.{{cite web
|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/14543713.Chorley_FC_boss_Matt_Jansen_seals_O_Keefe_deal_as_squad_takes_shape/?ref=rl&lp=4
|title=Chorley FC boss Matt Jansen seals O'Keefe deal as squad takes shape
|publisher=Lancashire Telegraph
|date=8 June 2016
|accessdate=10 June 2016}}
International career
On 8 August 2008, he was called up for the Republic of Ireland U21 squad, qualifying by virtue of his father's Irish parents.{{cite web
|url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1361640,00.html
|title=O'Keefe delight at country call
|publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C.
|date=8 August 2008
|accessdate=17 May 2010}} He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the 1–1 draw with the Austria U21 side on 19 August 2008.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 December 2017}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Walsall
|2009–10{{soccerbase season|51874|2009|accessdate=23 December 2017}} |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
rowspan="3"|Lincoln City
|2010–11{{soccerbase season|51874|2010|accessdate=23 December 2017}} |37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1Appearance in the Football League Trophy | 0 | 40 | 4 | |
2011–12{{soccerway|josh-o-keefe/23289|accessdate=23 December 2017}}
|10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
colspan="2"|Lincoln total
!47 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 5 | |
Southport
|2011–12{{soccerbase season|51874|2011|accessdate=23 December 2017}} |7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
rowspan="3"|Hereford United
|rowspan="2"|Conference Premier |33 | 12 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 2Appearances in the FA Trophy | 1 | 38 | 14 | ||
2013–14
|18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||
colspan="2"|Hereford total
!51 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 59 | 18 | |
rowspan="3"|Kidderminster Harriers
|2013–14{{soccerbase season|51874|2013|accessdate=23 December 2017}} |rowspan="2"|Conference Premier |17 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 0 | ||||
2014–15
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
colspan="2"|Kidderminster total
!20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
Telford United (loan)
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
Chester (loan)
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
Altrincham
|27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
rowspan="3"|Chorley
|rowspan="2"|National League North |31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
2017–18
|19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | ||
colspan="2"|Chorley total
!50 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 4 | |
colspan="3"|Career total
!223 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 245 | 28 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Personal life
In 2018 he graduated from the University of Salford with a first class degree in physiotherapy.{{cite web |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2018/7/19/pfa-members-graduate-from-university-of-salford|title=PFA members graduate from the University of Salford |publisher=The Professional Footballer's Association|accessdate=24 July 2018}}
He is married.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okeefe, Josh}}
Category:People from Whalley, Lancashire
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:Southport F.C. players
Category:Hereford United F.C. players
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Category:AFC Telford United players
Category:Altrincham F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Alumni of the University of Salford
Category:Footballers from Lancashire