28 Facts About Eamonn O'Keefe

Eamonn Gerard O'Keefe was born on 13 October 1953 and is an English-born Irish former professional footballer.

Eamonn O'Keefe played as a forward, but in later years was moved into a midfield role.

Eamonn O'Keefe moved from non-league Stalybridge Celtic to Plymouth Argyle, and back into the non-league scene with Hyde United in 1975.

Eamonn O'Keefe switched to Port Vale the next year, before penning a deal with Blackpool in 1985.

Eamonn O'Keefe moved to Chester City in 1989, after a spell with St Patrick's Athletic.

Eamonn O'Keefe joined Bangor City the next year, before retiring in 1991.

Eamonn O'Keefe went on to win five senior caps between 1981 and 1985, scoring one goal at full international level.

Eamonn O'Keefe went to school with Mike Pickering, who later found fame as a musician.

Eamonn O'Keefe was told by manager Tony Waiters that he would never be anything more than a fringe player in the professional game, who then allowed him to leave Home Park on a free transfer.

Eamonn O'Keefe impressed on the trial and was offered a contract, this made him the first European to play professionally in Saudi Arabia.

However, on the trip he asked Eamonn O'Keefe to give up his football career to become his lover, and was refused.

Eamonn O'Keefe received a red card in the Merseyside derby, after a late challenge on Liverpool's Ronnie Whelan.

Eamonn O'Keefe went on to score the only goal of the Fourth Round Replay against Southampton at Goodison Park.

However Manchester City knocked Everton out at the quarter-final stage, whilst Eamonn O'Keefe broke his leg in a game against Manchester United.

Eamonn O'Keefe managed to recover in time for the club's pre-season tour of Japan and the United States, and was rewarded with a new two-year contract.

Eamonn O'Keefe had taken a dislike towards new manager John Rudge, as well as the lengthy daily commute from his home to Vale Park.

Eamonn O'Keefe went on to score four more goals in ten games before the end of the campaign, at which point Blackpool won promotion to Third Division.

Eamonn O'Keefe was awarded a testimonial match as the summer wound down, with First Division champions Everton visiting Bloomfield Road.

Eamonn O'Keefe appointed former Blackpool coach Billy Haydock as his assistant, and signed Blackpool goalkeeper Phil Harrington for a small fee.

Eamonn O'Keefe then signed former Stoke City defender Alan Dodd on a month-long deal.

Eamonn O'Keefe doubled up as the club's commercial manager, and he arranged four Sportsman's Dinner events, with special guests as Jack Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Tommy Docherty, and Emlyn Hughes.

Eamonn O'Keefe became an England semi-pro international, playing against Scotland and the Netherlands in a tournament in May 1979, scoring the winning goal against the Dutch in the final.

Eamonn O'Keefe was selected to play for the Ireland senior team in the 1984 Kirin Cup, and scored the only goal of the semi-final tie with China.

Eamonn O'Keefe was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.

Five players from each decade are inducted; Eamonn O'Keefe is in the 1980s.

Eamonn O'Keefe lived in the Portuguese town of Vilamoura, where he worked for Monarch Property Group, with his wife, Lorna.

Eamonn O'Keefe's son, Paul, was a youth team player at Manchester United, but he failed to make the grade and never turned professional.

Eamonn O'Keefe decided to write the book under persuasion by wife Lorna, who edited it.