Gerry Keenan

Keenan fue jugador de las categorías inferiores del Liverpool de Bill Shankly , pero nunca jugó un partido con el primer equipo en Anfield , ya que su padre rechazó la oferta de Roy Evans de unirse al club como aprendiz. ^{[ 3 ]} En su lugar, se convirtió en aprendiz de instalador de gas y jugó fútbol semiprofesional en ligas menores para el Skelmersdale United , antes de unirse al Bury de Bobby Smith en abril de 1975. ^{[ 4 ]} Los "Shakers" terminaron 13.º en la Tercera División en 1975-76 , antes de terminar séptimos en 1976-77 y luego 15.º en 1977-78 bajo la dirección de Bob Stokoe . En sus tres años en Gigg Lane , Keenan marcó tres goles en 71 partidos de liga. El West Ham United hizo una oferta por él, pero se retiró del acuerdo después de que sufriera una lesión de rodilla. ^{[ 5 ]}

Keenan signed with Dennis Butler's Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee.^[1] His first goal for the "Valiants" came in a 1–0 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 11 November, and his second goal came on Boxing day in a 6–2 defeat to Barnsley at Oakwell.^[1] He ended the 1978–79 season with 32 Fourth Division appearances to his name.^[1] He played 44 league and cup games in the 1979–80 campaign, as Vale ended the season in 20th place under John McGrath's stewardship; he scored one goal against Torquay United at Plainmoor.^[1] He began suffering with knee injuries from September 1980, and was limited to 13 appearances in the 1980–81 season, claiming two goals in a 4–2 win over Darlington at Vale Park on 20 September, and one goal in a 2–1 defeat at former club Bury seven days later.^[1] He played 24 games in the 1981–82 season and scored one goal in a 2–1 win at Rochdale on 19 September. Due to his knee troubles, he was given a free transfer in May 1982.^[1]

Keenan moved on to Rochdale on a week-to-week basis as he had received an insurance pay-off upon leaving Port Vale.^[3] He ended up staying with the club for two years.^[3]