Gerard Patrick Keenan (born 25 July 1954) is an English former footballer who played 240 league and cup games in the English Football League for Bury, Port Vale, and Rochdale from 1975 to 1984. He served Accrington Stanley as player-manager from 1984 to 1986. He later worked as player-manager at Ashton United, Rossendale United and Bacup Borough.
Keenan was a youth team player with Bill Shankly's Liverpool, but never played a first-team game at Anfield as his father refused Roy Evans's offer of joining the club on apprentice terms. He instead became an apprentice gas fitter and played semi-professional non-League football for Skelmersdale United, before joining Bobby Smith's Bury in April 1975. The "Shakers" finished 13th in the Third Division in 1975âÂÂ76, before finishing seventh in 1976âÂÂ77 and then 15th in 1977âÂÂ78 under Bob Stokoe's stewardship. In his three years at Gigg Lane, Keenan scored three goals in 71 league games. West Ham United made a bid for him but backed out of the deal after he suffered a knee injury.
Keenan signed with Dennis Butler's Port Vale in September 1978 for a ã15,000 fee. His first goal for the "Valiants" came in a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 11 November, and his second goal came on Boxing day in a 6âÂÂ2 defeat to Barnsley at Oakwell. He ended the 1978âÂÂ79 season with 32 Fourth Division appearances to his name. He played 44 league and cup games in the 1979âÂÂ80 campaign, as Vale ended the season in 20th place under John McGrath's stewardship; he scored one goal against Torquay United at Plainmoor. He began suffering with knee injuries from September 1980, and was limited to 13 appearances in the 1980âÂÂ81 season, claiming two goals in a 4âÂÂ2 win over Darlington at Vale Park on 20 September, and one goal in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat at former club Bury seven days later. He played 24 games in the 1981âÂÂ82 season and scored one goal in a 2âÂÂ1 win at Rochdale on 19 September. Due to his knee troubles, he was given a free transfer in May 1982.
Keenan moved on to Rochdale on a week-to-week basis as he had received an insurance pay-off upon leaving Port Vale. He ended up staying with the club for two years.
Keenan became the player-manager at North West Counties League Division One side Accrington Stanley. After leaving this position he became player-assistant manager and then player-manager with Ashton United and had two spells as player-manager of Rossendale United before moving on to Bacup Borough and St. Joseph's (also in Rossendale).
Keenan worked as a gas fitter after ending his playing career. He worked as a matchday ambassador at Vale Park from 2002 to 2011 but quit the club in a row over access to parking. He later returned to the club, before leaving for the final time in September 2019 after relocating to Morecambe.