Josh O'Keefe

{{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

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Walsall \|2009–10{{soccerbase season\|51874\|2009\|accessdate=23 December 2017}} \|League One \|13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
rowspan="3"\|Lincoln City \|2010–11{{soccerbase season\|51874\|2010\|accessdate=23 December 2017}} \|League Two \|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}} \|Conference Premier \|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}} \|Conference Premier \|7	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	7	0
rowspan="3"\|Hereford United \|2012–13 \|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) \|2014–15 \|Conference Premier \|5	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	5	0
Chester (loan) \|2014–15 \|Conference Premier \|3	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	3	0
Altrincham \|2015–16 \|National League \|27	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	31	1
rowspan="3"\|Chorley \|2016–17 \|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

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.