Dale Keenan (born 27 June 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays for Troon in the West of Scotland Super League First Division.

Dale Keenan
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Troon
Number 3
Youth career
2005–2011 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Partick Thistle 5 (0)
2013East Fife (loan) 8 (0)
2014Ayr United (loan) 2 (0)
2015– Stranraer 15 (0)
2016Troon (loan)
2016– Troon
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:47, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

Keenan has previously played for Partick Thistle and Stranraer with loan spells at East Fife and Ayr United.

Playing career edit

Celtic edit

A Celtic supporter in his youth, Dale spent the early years of his career on the books of Celtic, but was released before he reached the senior ranks.

Partick Thistle edit

Keenan joined the then Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle as a modern apprentice in summer 2011.[1] A versatile youngster, Dale played in a number of positions across the defence and defensive midfield and starred in various roles with the Development Squad.

Dale spent 2012-13 on loan at East Fife before returning to Thistle in 2013 (when the club were promoted to the Scottish Premiership), where Keenan played in the successful Thistle U20 squad.

In the summer of 2014, Keenan played in a pre-season friendly against a Sunderland XI and subsequently made his first team league debut the following month, replacing the injured Jordan McMillan in the early stages of a 1–1 draw against Dundee at Dens Park on 16 August 2014.[2][3] Dale put in a brave performance as 10 man Thistle managed to salvage a well earned point. He made his first league start for Partick Thistle on 23 August 2014, at Firhill against Hamilton Academical.[4]

The signing of Jake Carroll in August 2014 saw Dale look to go out on loan in search of first-team football, and he joined Ayr United. Upon return from that loan spell, Dale was called upon on a couple of occasions putting in dependable performances when drafted in to the squad, usually on short notice.

Dale was released by Partick Manager Alan Archibald at the end of the 2014/15 season, despite scooping the McCrea Financial Services Young Player of the Year award for the season.

East Fife edit

A raw 18 year-old, Dale spent season 2012-13 on loan at East Fife to experience first-team football under Billy Brown.

Ayr United edit

On 14 November 2014, Keenan signed on loan for Ayr United under then Manager Mark Roberts, where he would only make 2 appearances before returning to Firhill.[5]

Stranraer edit

After leaving Partick Thistle, Keenan enjoyed a trial spell at Scottish League One side Stranraer and was signed on a one-year deal by Stair Park Manager Brian Reid on 17 July 2015.[6]

Troon edit

Dale originally signed for Troon in February 2016[7] on a loan deal until the end of the season,[8] when his contract with Stranraer expired. He impressed sufficiently in this spell to be offered a two-year contract at Portland Park as the Seasiders looked to continue their upward trajectory.

20 minutes into his first match of his permanent spell at the club, a pre-season friendly against Ardeer Thistle, Dale suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury to his knee which saw him facing a major operation and forced him to spend the remainder of that season & the beginning of the next on the sidelines.

References edit

  1. ^ "Dale Keenan". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Dundee 1-1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "DALE KEEN TO MAKE MOST OF DUNDEE EXPERIENCE". Partick Thistle F.C. 17 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  4. ^ "PARTICK THISTLE 1 HAMILTON ACADEMICAL 2". Partick Thistle F.C. 23 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Keenan loaned to Ayr United". Scottish Professional Football League. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Two new signings". stranraerfc.org. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. ^ http://troonfc.com/news/new-signing-dale-keenan/[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "www.stranraerfc.org The Official Website Of Stranraer Football Club - Dale Keenan". stranraerfc.org. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.

External links edit