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

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall

|2009–10{{soccerbase season|51874|2009|accessdate=23 December 2017}}

|League One

|13

0000000130
rowspan="3"|Lincoln City

|2010–11{{soccerbase season|51874|2010|accessdate=23 December 2017}}

|League Two

|37

410101Appearance in the Football League Trophy0404
2011–12{{soccerway|josh-o-keefe/23289|accessdate=23 December 2017}}

|Conference Premier

|10

120colspan="2"|—00121
colspan="2"|Lincoln total

!47

5301010525
Southport

|2011–12{{soccerbase season|51874|2011|accessdate=23 December 2017}}

|Conference Premier

|7

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—0070
rowspan="3"|Hereford United

|2012–13

|rowspan="2"|Conference Premier

|33

1231colspan="2"|—2Appearances in the FA Trophy13814
2013–14

|18

321colspan="2"|—10214
colspan="2"|Hereford total

!51

155200315918
rowspan="3"|Kidderminster Harriers

|2013–14{{soccerbase season|51874|2013|accessdate=23 December 2017}}

|rowspan="2"|Conference Premier

|17

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—170
2014–15

|3

010colspan="2"|—0040
colspan="2"|Kidderminster total

!20

0100000210
Telford United (loan)

|2014–15

|Conference Premier

|5

000colspan="2"|—0050
Chester (loan)

|2014–15

|Conference Premier

|3

000colspan="2"|—0030
Altrincham

|2015–16

|National League

|27

120colspan="2"|—20311
rowspan="3"|Chorley

|2016–17

|rowspan="2"|National League North

|31

200colspan="2"|—00312
2017–18

|19

230colspan="2"|—10232
colspan="2"|Chorley total

!50

4300010544
colspan="3"|Career total

!223

25142107124528

{{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}}