James McKeown

For other people named James McKeown, see James McKeown (disambiguation).
James McKeown

McKeown playing for Grimsby Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name James Karl McKeown
Date of birth (1989-07-24) 24 July 1989
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Grimsby Town
Number 1
Youth career
2004–2005 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Walsall 0 (0)
2007–2011 Peterborough United 6 (0)
2007 → Kettering Town (loan) 2 (0)
2007 → Worcester City (loan) 1 (0)
2010–2011 → Boston United (loan) 17 (0)
2011 RKSV Leonidas 0 (0)
2011– Grimsby Town 244 (0)
National team
2007–2008 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:01, 28 November 2016 (UTC).


James Karl McKeown (born 24 July 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for League Two club Grimsby Town.

He has previously played for Walsall, Peterborough United, Kettering Town, Worcester City, Boston United and RKSV Leonidas.

McKeown has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 level.

Club career

Walsall

McKeown started his career with the Walsall youth system in 2004.[2] He was promoted to the first team squad in 2005, but failed to make a first team appearances before his departure in 2007.

Peterborough United

McKeown was signed by Peterborough United. He joined Conference North team Kettering Town on loan in August 2007[3] and made just one game on loan for Worcester City in October,[4] in a 0–5 defeat against Hucknall Town, after being brought in on a month's loan as cover for Danny McDonnell.[5]

On 9 February 2008 Mckeown made his first appearance for Peterborough United in League Two, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for the injured Joe Lewis who was stretchered off following a nasty aerial collision.[6] Mckeown signed a two-and-a-half year contract extension on 16 March 2009.[7] The following season in League One he made one appearance on 2 May 2009 where he came off the bench in the 77th minute as Joe Lewis made way in the 2–2 draw with Swindon Town.[8] During his time at Peterborough United he gained back to back promotions with the posh although McKeown was to make just four appearances in the Championship.[9][10][11][12] His last appearance for the Posh was in the final game of the season though despite a 0–1 defeat against Blackpool he was named man of the match.Of special note during the game his best save was leaping spectacularly to keep out DJ Campbell's sharp overhead kick at close range though he saw the same player spring from the ground to head in the rebound.[13]

Loan to Boston United

Mckeown joined Boston United in August 2010 on loan until January 2011.[14][15] He played a key role in Boston's excellent start to the season with 10 successive league clean sheets[16] and had a total of 14 clean sheets in 18 games. On New Year's Day he played his last game and received a fantastic reception and farewell from the Boston United supporters. However, despite his remarkable record of clean sheets and fantastic form whilst on loan at Boston Peterborough United came to an agreement with James that he should seek pastures new.[17] McKeown spent a week at Lincoln City on trial[18] and a one-off appearance for Boston United in the FA Trophy due to their keeper Dan Haystead being cup tied,[19] he then signed for Dutch Rotterdam based semi-professional side RKSV Leonidas.

Grimsby Town

On Friday 23 June 2011 Grimsby Town announced they were in discussions to sign McKeown,[20] following the club's announcement to bring in a second choice keeper to challenge number one Kenny Arthur after Town had heavily relied upon Goalkeeping Coach Steve Croudson in the previous season.[21]

On 2 July 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Town.[22] McKeown was initially brought to the club as a back up keeper to challenge Kenny Arthur, but following an impressive pre-season he became the club's first choice keeper. He made his league debut for Grimsby Town on 13 August 2011 in the 0–2 defeat against Fleetwood.[23] A week later he saved what became a crucial penalty against Newport taken by Craig McAllister to earn his side a 0–0 draw.[24][25] During the 2011–12 campaign McKeown picked up 3 yellow cards, each for time wasting.[26][27][28] McKeown was also ever-present during the 2011–12 season helping Grimsby Town produce 18 clean sheets in 55 games.[29] On 24 April 2012 McKeown picked up four awards for Player of the Year at the club's annual presentation.[30] On 30 April 2012 McKeown agreed to a new two-year contract with the club.[31][32]

McKeown retained the Supporters Player of the Season award when he scooped the prize again once more for his part during the 2013–14 season.[33] A host of clubs were believed to be chasing his signature, however on 16 May 2014, McKeown agreed a new two-year contract with the club.[34]

On 16 August 2014, McKeown saved a crucial last-minute penalty, the game finishing 1–1, preventing Dover winning the game.[35] He played in all the league games of the 2014–15 season as Grimsby came 3rd in the Conference, and secured a play-off spot.[36] He also played in the 2015 Conference Premier play-off Final against Bristol Rovers at Wembley on 17 May 2015; following a 1–1 draw after extra time, Grimsby lost 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out.[37]

McKeown picked up the Reusch Goalkeeper of the Year 2014–15 award on 20 May 2015, at The Non-League Paper's National Game Awards in association with The NLFA, for keeping 23 clean sheets himself.[38]

As training was in full swing for the 2015–16 season, McKeown was admitted to hospital on 18 July 2015 and diagnosed as suffering with viral meningitis.[39][40] Four days later, he finished his treatment and was released from hospital.[41] McKeown was able to return to light training by 24 July 2016.[42] Having already secured a play-off spot in the last home game against Chester,[43] McKeown missed only the last game of the 2015–16 season as Paul Hurst's "Mariners" came 4th in the National League.[44] McKeown played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off Final at Wembley, seeing Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.[45][46]

His efforts over the season earned him a place in the 2015–16 Vanarama Conference team of the year, alongside the league's outstanding players.[47] McKeown signed a new two-year contract, that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2018.[48]

McKeown made his League Two debut with the club on 6 August 2016 in the opening game of the 2016–17 season in Grimsby's 2–0 home victory against Morecambe.[49]

International career

Mckeown has been capped at under 19s with the Republic of Ireland U19[50] and was selected in the 2009-2010 squad for the European championships for the Republic of Ireland U21[51] on the substitute bench in November 2009 against Georgia[52] and Armenia.[53]

Career statistics

As of match played on 15 May 2016.[54][55]
 Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kettering Town (loan)2007–08Conference North2000—0020
Total 2000—0020
Worcester City (loan)2007–08[5]Conference North1000—0010
Total 1000—0010
Peterborough United2007–08[56]League Two1000000010
2008–09[57]League One1000100020
2009–10[58]Championship4000000040
Total 6000100070
Boston United (loan)2010–11[59]Conference North17000—2[lower-alpha 1]0190
Total 17000—20190
Grimsby Town2011–12[59]Conference Premier46050—4[lower-alpha 1]0550
2012–13[59]Conference Premier43010—9[lower-alpha 2]0530
2013–14[59]Conference Premier45050—8[lower-alpha 3]0580
2014–15[59]Conference Premier46020—6[lower-alpha 4]0540
2015–16[59]National League45040—11[lower-alpha 5]0600
2016–17[60]League Two0000000[lower-alpha 6]000
Total 2250170003802800
Career total 2510170104003090
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Seven appearances in the FA Trophy, two appearances in the Conference Premier play-offs
  3. ↑ Six appearances in the FA Trophy, two appearances in the Conference Premier play-offs
  4. ↑ Three appearances in the FA Trophy, three appearances in the Conference Premier play-offs
  5. ↑ Eight appearances in the FA Trophy, three appearances in the National League play-offs
  6. ↑ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

Honours

Club

Peterborough United

Grimsby Town

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Player Profile". Grimsby Town F.C. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Career History". UpThePosh!. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Kettering bring in two more". Confguide. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  4. ↑ "Posh keeper loaned to Worcester". BBC Sport. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  5. 1 2 "McKeown returns to Peterborough". Worcester News. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Peterborough 0–0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "McKeown Signs Contract Extension". Peterborough United Football Club. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Match Report: Peterborough 2–2 Swindon Town". Peterborough United Football Club. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Peterborough 1–2 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "Peterborough 4–4 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "Barnsley 2 - 2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "Peterborough 0 - 1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "Blackpool's odyssey leads to a play-off place from beating Peterborough". The Guardian. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  14. ↑ "Boston United sign Peterborough keeper James McKeown". BBC Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "Duo leave on loan". Yahoo! Sport. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  16. ↑ "McKeown is proving a big star at Boston". Peterborough Telegraph. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "McKeown Leaves Posh". Peterborough United. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  18. ↑ "McKeown set to play for Lincoln City Reserves". Lincolnshire Telegraph. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  19. ↑ "McKeown heads to Holland following spells with Imps and Pilgrims". Lincolnshire Telegraph. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  20. ↑ "Grimsby Town: Disley in talks over move to Blundell Park". Grimsby Telegraph. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  21. ↑ "Grimsby Town: McKeown will provide number one competition - Scott". Grimsby Telegraph. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  22. ↑ "Keeper Signs". Grimsby Town F.C. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  23. ↑ "Grimsby Town: Stopper McKeown keen to step it up a gear". Grimsby Telegraph. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  24. ↑ "Grimsby Town: No spot of bother for penalty star McKeown". Grimsby Telegraph. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  25. ↑ "Newport County 0-0 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  26. ↑ "Kettering 1-2 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  27. ↑ "Lincoln 1 - 2 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  28. ↑ "Alfreton 2-5 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  29. ↑ "Grimsby Town: 'Bosses had faith in me' - McKeown". Grimsby Telegraph. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  30. ↑ "Grimsby Town: 'To win approval from supporters means so much' - McKeown". Grimsby Telegraph. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  31. ↑ "Grimsby Town duo agree new contracts". BBC Sport. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  32. ↑ "Grimsby Town: McKeown agrees two-year deal". Grimsby Telegraph. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  33. 1 2 "Grimsby Town keeper James McKeown targets more silverware after scooping Player of the Year awards". Grimsby Telegraph. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "James McKeown signs new contract with Grimsby Town". Grimsby Telegraph. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "Grimsby 1–1 Dover". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  36. ↑ "Grimsby 3–1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 1–1 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  38. 1 2 "National Game Awards – Reusch Goalkeeper of the Year: James McKeown". The Non-League Paper. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  39. ↑ "James McKeown Admitted To Hospital". Grimsby Town F.C. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "Grimsby Town goalkeeper in hospital with meningitis". Grimsby Telegraph. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "James McKeown out of hospital ahead of Grimsby Town's new season". Grimsby Telegraph. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  42. ↑ "Grimsby Town's James McKeown returns to light training". Grimsby Telegraph. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  43. ↑ "Grimsby 1–2 Chester". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  44. ↑ "Tranmere 1–0 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  46. 1 2 "Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley". Sky Sports. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  47. 1 2 "Town Trio Named In Top National League Team". Grimsby Town F.C. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  48. ↑ "Grimsby Town goalkeeper signs new deal". BBC Sport. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  49. ↑ "Grimsby 2–0 Morecambe". Sky Sports. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  50. ↑ "McKeown Called Up By Ireland". Peterborough United Football Club. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  51. ↑ "McKeown Selected In Under 21 Squad". Peterborough United Football Club. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  52. ↑ "Under-21s held by Georgia". Football Association of Ireland. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  53. ↑ "U21s fall to defeat in Armenia". Football Association of Ireland. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  54. ↑ James McKeown career statistics at Soccerbase
  55. ↑ James McKeown profile at Soccerway
  56. ↑ "Games played by James McKeown in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  57. ↑ "Games played by James McKeown in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  58. ↑ "Games played by James McKeown in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "J. Mckeown". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  60. ↑ "Games played by James McKeown in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
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