Keith Southern
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Keith Southern
| image = Keith Southern.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = Southern in 2010
| fullname = Keith William Southern
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|4|24}}
| birth_place = Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| years1 = 1997–2002
| clubs1 = Everton
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2002
| clubs2 = → Blackpool (loan)
| caps2 = 16
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2002–2012
| clubs3 = Blackpool
| caps3 = 314
| goals3 = 24
| years4 = 2012–2014
| clubs4 = Huddersfield Town
| caps4 = 38
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = Fleetwood Town
| caps5 = 2
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2015
| clubs6 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 376
| totalgoals = 30
| club-update =
}}
Keith William Southern (born 24 April 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He made 376 appearances in the Premier League and the Football League, most notably representing Blackpool between 2002 and 2012.
Club career
=Early career: Everton and loan move to Blackpool=
Born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Southern started his career at Everton where in the 2001–02 season he captained the club's reserve team. After playing in the Toffees
He made a total of sixteen appearances during a three-month loan spell. Then in early November, Blackpool tried to sign him on a season-long loan deal, however, Everton blocked the move, preferring it to be made permanent.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/2385703.stm|title=McMahon eyes Everton deal|date=1 November 2002|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}}
=Blackpool=
On 8 November Southern signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Seasiders for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/2421826.stm|title=Blackpool sign Southern|date=8 November 2002|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} On 22 March 2003 he was injured five minutes into a 2–2 draw with Stockport County at Edgeley Park and missed the rest of the season.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/2907489.stm|title=Blackpool duo face surgery|date=1 April 2003|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}} He had an operation on his right knee in April,{{cite news | title=We Speak To Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=23 April 2003 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~375695,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} then on 1 May he was named the Blackpool Gazette Player of the Year, jointly with Martin Bullock.{{cite news | title=And The Winner Is | publisher=Blackpool | date=23 April 2003 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~379118,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
He returned to action on 13 September in a 2–0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.{{cite news | title=We Speak To Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=16 September 2003 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~424853,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120314044210/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~424853,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 March 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }} On 9 December in a Football League Trophy match against Stockport County, Southern collapsed midway through the second half and he needed keyhole surgery on his knee later that month which revealed he had a slight tear in the medial cartilage, which was removed.{{cite news | title=We Speak To Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=23 December 2003 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~466453,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He returned to action on 31 January 2004 as a 68th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw with Swindon Town at Bloomfield Road.{{cite news | title=Blackpool vs Swindon Town | publisher=Blackpool | date=31 January 2004 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~23192,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120418222812/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~23192,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 April 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }} When Blackpool won the Football League Trophy at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 21 March, Southern was left out of the squad by Steve McMahon, who chose his son, Stephen, ahead of him.{{cite news | title=Blackpool vs Southend | publisher=Blackpool | date=21 March 2004 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~25905,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120426172707/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~25905,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 April 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }}
{{Blockquote|"I have been totally out of favour ever since my gran's funeral before the cup final, he totally didn't want to know me really and he didn't want to play me. He must have his reasons, but I was as bewildered as everybody else. I didn't lose much sleep when I found out he was going, I was delighted to be honest, it is a fresh start for me in the summer."|Southern in an interview on the club's official website, following McMahon's departure as manager in May.{{cite news | title=We Speak To Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=12 May 2004 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~524060,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}}}
Later that year he needed another operation on his knee after going down in the warm up before a pre-season friendly against Ballymena United in Northern Ireland in July.{{cite news | title=We Speak To Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=5 September 2004 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~559663,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He returned to action on 2 November in a 6–3 win over Huddersfield Town in the Football League Trophy.{{cite news | title=Blackpool vs Huddersfield | publisher=Blackpool | date=2 November 2004 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~28817,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120426172833/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~28817,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 April 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }}
After scoring seven goals in the 2004–05 season, including both goals in a 2–1 win over Brentford on 22 March,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4353761.stm|title=Blackpool 2–1 Brentford |date=22 March 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} in April 2005 Southern signed a two-year extension to his contract with the Seasiders.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/4416669.stm|title=Southern pens new Blackpool deal |date=6 April 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}} On 28 April he was named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year for League One in an online poll voted for by supporters.{{cite news |date=28 April 2005 |title=Lampard is handed PFA fans' award |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4493935.stm |access-date=6 February 2009}}
On 21 April 2007, Southern scored an 85th-minute winning goal as Blackpool beat Cheltenham Town 2–1 to guarantee the club a play-off position in League One in the 2006–07 season.{{cite news | title=Cheltenham vs Blackpool | publisher=Blackpool | date=21 April 2007 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~33595,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120426172925/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~33595,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 April 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6555275.stm |title=Cheltenham 1–2 Blackpool|date=21 April 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 February 2009}}
==Promotion and Championship==
Under the management of Simon Grayson, he also scored in the second leg of the play-off semi-final as Blackpool beat Oldham Athletic 3–1 at Bloomfield Road on 19 May.{{cite news | title=Blackpool vs Oldham | publisher=Blackpool | date=19 May 2007 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~36682,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120426172953/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~36682,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 April 2012 | access-date=6 February 2009 }} He played in the play-off final at Wembley as Blackpool beat Yeovil Town 2–0 to secure promotion to the Championship.
Southern scored Blackpool's winning goal on 11 August 2007 in their first match back in the second tier of English football for 29 years as they beat Leicester City 1–0 at the Walkers Stadium on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.{{cite news | title=Leicester City vs Blackpool | publisher=Blackpool | date=11 August 2007 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~37435,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828053618/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10432~37435%2C00.html | archive-date=28 August 2008}} On 1 December Southern suffered ankle ligament damage in a 1–0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Bloomfield Road, and had an operation later in the month.{{cite news | title=We Speak to Keith Southern | publisher=Blackpool | date=18 December 2007 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1193695,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219225513/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10432~1193695%2C00.html | archive-date=19 December 2007}}
He was out for two months, returning on 12 February 2008 in a 0–0 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite news | title=Blackpool vs Wolves | publisher=Blackpool | date=12 February 2008 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~38603,00.html | access-date=6 February 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725094230/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10432~38603%2C00.html | archive-date=25 July 2008}}
==Ian Holloway Era and successes==
Southern signed a new two-year contract with Blackpool on 6 April 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/7986495.stm |title=Southern signs new Blackpool deal|date=6 April 2009|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 August 2009}} He made his 200th league start for the Seasiders in their first home match of the 2009–10 season, a 1–1 draw with Cardiff City on 15 August 2009 at Bloomfield Road. In his 300th career appearance, on 23 January 2010, he scored as Blackpool beat Watford 3–2 at home.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8467794.stm|title=Blackpool 3 – 2 Watford|date=23 January 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 January 2010}} On 22 May 2010 he was named Man of the Match in the 2010 Football League Championship play-off final at Wembley as Blackpool defeated Cardiff City 3–2 to secure promotion to the Premier League.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8698790.stm | work=BBC News | title=Blackpool set for boom – Holloway | date=23 May 2010}}
After suffering a knee injury which ruled him out of the first round of Premier League fixtures, upon his return Southern found himself being used mainly as a substitute. He made his first start against his former club, Everton, on 6 November 2010.
During the first half of Blackpool's 2011–12 campaign, Southern was diagnosed with testicular cancer.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16033775 "Blackpool's Keith Southern recovers after tumour op"] – BBC Sport, 5 December 2011 He was able to maintain his fitness during his treatment, and two months after his operation he returned to the side, as captain, on 28 January;[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16664363 "Blackpool 1 – 1 Sheff Wed"] – BBC Sport, 28 January 2012 however, he had to leave the game before the hour mark after suffering a serious gash to his leg.
=Huddersfield Town=
After 10 years at Bloomfield Road, it was reported by the Blackpool Gazette and Huddersfield Examiner that Huddersfield Town and Blackpool had sealed a deal, thought to be around the £300,000 mark, on 25 July 2012. The terms allowed Southern to play the first and last 15 minutes of his testimonial match against Everton on 5 August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/huddersfield-town-fc/huddersfield-town-news/2012/07/26/86081-31478810/?|title = Huddersfield Town and Blackpool seal Keith Southern deal as player cites Simon Grayson key to swap say reports|date = 26 July 2012}} The transfer was confirmed by Huddersfield Town, the following day, as their sixth signing for the 2012–13 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.htafc.com/news/article/first-team-news-keith-southern-signing-271880.aspx?|title = SOUTHERN JOINS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN - News - Huddersfield Town}} Southern made his Huddersfield début in the League Cup first round 2–0 away defeat at Preston North End on 13 August 2012 playing the full 90 minutes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19144704|title = Preston 2-0 Huddersfield|work = BBC Sport}} He made his league début in the 1–0 defeat by Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium on 17 August. He scored his first goal for the club in the 1–1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 22 December. He was released by the club at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|title=TOWN'S RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED |url=http://www.htafc.com/news/article/first-team-news-retained-list-2014-1529740.aspx |website=Huddersfield Town FC |access-date=21 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101143335/http://www.htafc.com/news/article/first-team-news-retained-list-2014-1529740.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2014}}
=Fleetwood Town=
On 20 June 2014, he signed for newly promoted League One side Fleetwood Town for free.{{cite web|title=Keith Southern: Fleetwood Town sign experienced midfielder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27945445|website=BBC Sport|access-date=21 June 2014|date=20 June 2014}} He joined rival club Shrewsbury Town, on loan for the rest of the season in League Two on 19 January 2015.{{cite web|title=Keith Southern: Shrewsbury Town sign Fleetwood Town midfielder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30885773|work=BBC Sport|date=19 January 2015|access-date=19 January 2015}} After struggling to make the Fleetwood first team following the loan spell in 2015, Southern left the club by mutual consent early the following year. He retired from playing professional football soon after.[https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/10154575/keith-southern-leaves-fleetwood-after-a-season-and-a-half "Keith Southern leaves Fleetwood after a season and a half"] – Sky Sports, 3 February 2016
Career statistics
{{updated|15 April 2015.}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||
| colspan=3 | Club performance
! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals | ||||
| colspan=3 | England
! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | FA Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total | ||||||||||
| |2002–03 | rowspan="10"|Blackpool | rowspan="2"|Second Division | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| 2003–04 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2004–05 | rowspan="3"|League One | 27 | 6 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2" | ||||
| |32 | 7 | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 3 | ||
| 2006–07 | 39 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | rowspan="3"|Championship | 30 | 3 | colspan="2" | ||||||
| |2 | 0 | 32 | 3 | |||||||
| 2008–09 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" | ||||
| |20 | 0 | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | rowspan="3"|Championship | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" | ||||
| |27 | 1 | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | rowspan="2"|Huddersfield Town | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15 | Fleetwood Town | rowspan="1"|League One | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Shrewsbury Town (loan) | rowspan="1"|League Two | 6 | 0 | colspan="2" | |||||
| |colspan="2" | ||||||||||
| |6 | 0 | |||||||||
| colspan=3 | Career total
!377||27||18||2||11||1||406||30 |
;Notes:
a. 3 league play-off appearances for Blackpool in 2007 (included in 2006–07 total)
b. 3 league play-off appearances for Blackpool in 2010 (included in 2009–10 total)
c. 1 league play-off appearances for Blackpool in 2012 (included in 2011–12 total)
c. All Football League Trophy results are included in totals
Honours
Blackpool
- League One play-offs: 2006–07
- Championship play-offs: 2009–10
Individual
- Blackpool Player of The Year 2003–04{{cite web |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~379118,00.html |title= Blackpool FC|website=www.blackpoolfc.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314044154/http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10432~379118%2C00.html |archive-date=14 March 2012}}
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2004–05 League One{{Cite news |date=28 April 2005 |title=Lampard is handed PFA fans' award |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4493935.stm |access-date=9 April 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern, Keith}}
Category:Footballers from Gateshead
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players