Stephen McKeown
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stephen McKeown
| fullname = Stephen James McKeown
| height =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|7|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rutherglen, Scotland
| currentclub = Irvine Meadow
| position = Midfielder, striker
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Cathkin United
| youthyears2 = 1997–1998 | youthclubs2 = Airdrieonians
| years1 = 1998–2002
| years2 = 2002–2008
| years3 = 2008–2010
| years4 = 2010
| years5 = 2011
| years6 = 2012
| years7 = 2013
| clubs1 = Airdrieonians
| clubs2 = Airdrie United
| clubs3 = Partick Thistle
| clubs4 = Ayr United
| clubs5 = Airdrie United
| clubs6 = Pollok FC
| clubs7 = Irvine Meadow
| caps1 = 34 | goals1 = 4
| caps2 = 154 | goals2 = 33
| caps3 = 54 | goals3 = 6
| caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0
| caps5 = 5 | goals5 = 0
| caps6 = | goals6 =
| caps7 = | goals7 =
| club-update = 21 January 2012
}}
Stephen James McKeown (born 17 July 1981) is a Scottish retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Career
McKeown was raised in the Fernhill district of Rutherglen and attended Trinity High School in the town.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/stephen-has-the-jagged-edge-2631955|title=Stephen has the jagged edge|work= Daily Record/Rutherglen Reformer |date=23 July 2008|accessdate=6 June 2017}}
He joined Airdrieonians at the age of 16 from a local boys' club on the recommendation of Sandy Stewart, spending four years with that version of the club and six more with its successor Airdrie United from its inception in 2002. At one point he lost his enjoyment for football and was ready to quit the game, but recanted after advice from Stewart and his father. In 2006 he scored a late penalty as Airdrie eliminated top-division Dunfermline from the Scottish Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jan/08/newsstory.rangers|title=Debut Boyd's hat-trick sends Rangers through |work=The Guardian|date=8 January 2006 |accessdate=6 June 2017}}
McKeown signed for Partick Thistle of the First Division at the opening of the January transfer window of 2008. Soon after joining, he scored against Rangers in a League Cup tie.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7629650.stm|title=Partick Thistle 1-2 Rangers (AET) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 September 2008|accessdate=6 June 2017}} He joined Ayr United after leaving Partick in summer 2010 on a free transfer.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/ayr-united-sign-partick-midfielder-2424616|title=Ayr United sign Partick midfielder Stephen McKeown|work=Daily Record|location=Glasgow |date=11 June 2010|accessdate=6 June 2017}}
McKeown was released from his contract at Ayr following a training ground incident{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} and rejoined Airdrie United in January 2011.{{cite news |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/airdrie-bring-back-diamond/|title=Airdrie bring back Diamond|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|work=Official website |date=27 January 2011|accessdate=6 June 2017}} He lasted two months at the Diamonds before leaving the club, citing commitments away from football as the reason.
He later joined Junior club Pollok FC in January 2012 and made his first start for the club in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Fourth Round. On 28 September 2013, McKeown joined Irvine Meadow, also of the Junior grade.[http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1747&newsCategoryID=28&newsID=12566 Meadow sign McKeown]
Personal life
His nieces Kodie Hay and Brogan Hay are also footballers who play for Glasgow City.{{cite web|title=Rutherglen girls earn call-up for Scotland under-15's|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rutherglen-girls-earn-call-up-scotland-3137808#F6XVAdFJxvwIzQE8.97|work=Daily Record|location=Glasgow |date=13 February 2014|accessdate=6 June 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{NeilBrownPlayers|player8/stevemckeown|Steve McKeown}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKeown, Stephen}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) players
Category:Airdrieonians F.C. players
Category:Partick Thistle F.C. players
Category:Ayr United F.C. players
Category:Irvine Meadow XI F.C. players
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players
Category:Footballers from Rutherglen
Category:People educated at Trinity High School, Rutherglen
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen
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