Name: Alan Keeling
In the Beginning: I signed for Manchester City FC at 15, as associated schoolboy and as Joe Mercer showed me the trophy cabinet I remember his words to this day “ You are signing for the best Club in England and may never see these all together again” When I was released me they sent up to Middlesbrough, who wanted to sign me, but I suffered from homesickness, after being put up in a 5 star hotel away from the other lads so I came back home and signed for Rochdale.
Time at Dale: I made my debut still 15 for the Reserves v Burnley down as a “Trialist” on the team sheet, after doing a “Cryuff” in the second half, in the box the defender, took both of my legs and I was carried off but Len Richley came in with Tom Nicholl and asked, “where did you learn that trick from” asking me to sign as an apprentice. I told him because I had not signed for Middlesbrough FC, my Dad had “got me a job”, as a Bound Carpenter but I played over 130 games for the Club over a four year period. After being promoted Tom Nicholl and the Club agreed a plan to produce two players each season to turn professional and go on to become first team regulars but as the standard improved and size of the squad increased, it was more difficult to get into the first team squad, especially as the one substitute for tactical reasons had only been introduced in 1968/69 season, but the system had some great successes, Unfortunately for our year Dick Connor was sacked at the end of February and Pete Madden took temporary charge with all signings cancelled, until a new manager was appointed in Walter Joyce, along with the Club promise of professional Contracts for myself and Dean Hill, to say we we disappointed was an understatement.
Although I never played a first Team game in the Football League I signed professional forms to play in the Football League in 1970/71 season and hoped I would make my debut but when my chance came against Bury, the game was off because of a waterlogged pitch. It was replayed the following Tuesday, but I was not selected for Dale winning 2-0. I used to come in for pre season training for my three weeks holidays and played in lots of first team matches, one of which, I sustained a broken metatarsal.
In those days if you were a youngster, the more experienced players tried to sort you out, this season the Reserves were top on the Lancashire League for long periods and I remember going to Belfield Training Ground to play Everton “A” where they fielded four players from the League Champions squad, Steve Melledew , Jimmy Husband, Roger Kenyon, who said to me after scoring my second goal to go into a 2-1 lead, “if you get another I’ll break your ******* leg” plus Terry Daracott who said “ if he don’t I will” needless to say they went on to win 3-2.
What are you doing since leaving Dale?: I played for Chadderton FC for a season then for Mount Pleasant for 13 years in the Manchester League, then after gaining my FA Badges went on to become the FA Coaching Representative for Manchester FA and FA Coach Educator for ten years and setting up the BTEC Football for Life Educational Schemes, now running at most professional clubs through the EDS scheme such at Rochdale creating other pathways for players to become professionals.
I then joined the PFA as A Coach Educator dealing with YTS and professional players including Keith Hill and Brian Barry Murphy. Alongside this I coached at a number of Club Academies, finishing of my career at Floriana in Malta before retirement, which then lead to traveling around the country assessing opponents.
