Born: 28 June 1897

Born in: Derby

Died: 30 March 1958

Other clubs: Victoria Ironworks (1914-20), Bolton Wanderers (1920-23), Accrington Stanley (1923), Wolverhampton Wanderers (1925), Wrexham (1925-26), Doncaster Rovers (1926), Horwich RMI, Lancaster Town, Ribble Motors

Signed from: Accrington Stanley

Joined Liverpool: £1,200, 07.11.1923

Debut: 22 Dec 1923

Final appearance: 19 Apr 1924

Debut goal: 26 Dec 1923

Last goal: 01 Jan 1924

Contract until: 26.05.1925

League: Apps / Goals: 9 / 2

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 9 / 2

Player Profile

Keetley was living a dream when he signed for Liverpool in November 1923. He had only joined third division north's Accrington Stanley five months earlier on a free and after scoring eight goals in 13 appearances he was sold to League champions Liverpool for a four figure sum. The Accrington Observer described him as a "player of the artistic type, clever in ball-control and artful in beating an opponent." Keetley made nine appearances in Liverpool's first team during the 1923/24 first division season. He was first selected for an away game at Ninian Park, Cardiff on the Saturday before Christmas 1923 and then kept his place for the next four matches, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Boxing Day and then netting against Chelsea at Anfield on New Years' Day. He also scored on what turned out to be his penultimate appearance for Liverpool, but his goal one minute from time at Stamford Bridge on 18 April 1924 was only a consolation in another 2-1 defeat.

Keetley had ten brothers, eight of whom played league football. Maybe Joe's rise to stardom was too rapid for his own good and he left Liverpool after 18 months and then went through three league clubs in eight months before going into non-league football.