Yes we did Bobby - he certainly does not have the honour of being the worst Bolton player I have ever seen! Anyway forget about what he did on the pitch - as he certainly been a hero off it!
Why the beautiful game should be enjoyed by all
NOT all top footballers retire at 30 and enjoy lives of luxury in purpose-built "palaces" with super model wives. Gayle McBain speaks to former Bolton Wanderers player Glenn Keeley about his work in promoting sport for the disabled. . .
WHEN footballer Glenn Keeley hung up his boots he was determined his enthusiasm and passion for the beautiful game would inspire others.
Now, in his work with the football-mad youngsters of Bolton, he is ensuring all children get a chance to enjoy the sport.
Glenn, who played for Bolton Wanderers in the late 1980s, plans to bring football to children who have never had the opportunity to enjoy it.
He has appealed to the Variety Club Children's Charity for a grant to help youngsters who use motorised wheelchairs.
"These are children who usually have very limited movement from the shoulders down.
"There is a special piece of kit that attaches to the front of the wheelchair, it's a four-a-side game and is played with a large ball," he said.
The former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers favourite is hopeful his scheme to bring football to all will be greeted with enthusiasm by the charity and, in turn, bring smiles to the faces of Bolton children.
"It's a great game and it gives the children the opportunity to do something they wouldn't usually be able to do.
"It requires skill and control and I know it will be popular," said 52-year-old Glenn, who has already spring-boarded his idea at local schools and has received a positive response from the children and their parents.
Glenn's enthusiasm for football is matched only by his enthusiasm for his job - he is Bolton's community football development officer and is attached to Bolton Wanderers Football in the Community team.
"Football is a way of removing social and class barriers. It is a great leveller," said Glenn, who lives near Bamber Bridge.
His team's work with disgruntled teenagers had helped cut crime in some areas of Bolton - "we've given them something to do and it's amazing what football can achieve" - and gives disillusioned youngsters a renewed interest in school.
"They go along to our breakfast sessions at school and suddenly they are doing their best in lessons again," he said.
Now Glenn hopes the wheelchair football will help youngsters in Bolton's secondary schools. "We've got to start somewhere and have decided to start with high school children.
"Once it's up and running we hope to include other groups, including adults," said Glenn.
The scheme will be started in Sharples and Mount St Joseph Schools as they have, at the current time, 15 potential football players who use wheelchairs.
Glenn hopes to, eventually, have a town team and, who knows, perhaps some of those youngsters will get the chance to play at international level.
"It is giving these youngsters a chance to do something they wouldn't usually be able to do and why shouldn't they have the chance?" he said.
Glenn, who has three grown up children, believes life is much harder for children today than it was when he was a lad growing up just outside the East End of London.
"We had youth clubs on every corner and there didn't seem to be the same pressure on youngsters then," he said.
Recognising the need to keep children off the streets and acknowledging that football can be the catalyst to making changes in young people's lives has helped Glenn make a huge difference in Bolton.
But it is not just the able-bodied youngsters Glenn wants to help. He has a keen interest in assisting young people who have a range of disabilities.
His latest project will cost thousands of pounds - around ?8,000 or ?9,000 - as each wheelchair "kit" is ?500 and even the large ball costs ?50.
Up to now there has been little in the way of sport for motorised wheelchair users.
There is a game called Boccia - pronounced Botcha - which is very similar to bowls, but Glenn believes football will be far more popular with the young people.
"To me there is little movement in it. It's a bit like playing tiddly winks. Wheelchair football is the closest thing you are going to get to the excitement and action of a football match. It flows and it has movement and when you see the young person's face as they score a goal you realise it is no different to someone playing on their feet. They absolutely love it," said Glenn.
Glenn's pedigree speaks for itself. He has played for Ipswich, Newcastle United, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers and has a fond memory of his season at Burnden Park.
"I played with Phil Brown and Steve Thompson. The manager was Phil Neal.
"I remember my time at Bolton fondly and the fans were great," said Glenn.
He has a degree in Sports Rehabilitation, has lectured at college and was Director of Football at Blackburn Ladies School of Excellence and coached at Blackburn Rovers Youth Academy. He was capped for England at under 18 and under 23 level.
Glenn last played football, seriously, for Colne around six years ago although he has never lost the desire most footballers have to kick a ball about. "I did play while on a recent holiday in Turkey," he said.
Now Glenn gets his own kicks watching youngsters getting the same thrill out of the game he has always enjoyed.
"Football is a fantastic game and it should be available to everyone," he said.
Tough tackling centre half who had a short spell with Bolton at the end of a 15-year career which was mainly spent in the top two divisions. Keeley missed just seven games from a possible twenty seven during his time at Burnden Park but he decided to drop out of league football in February 1989.
Full Name: Glenn Matthew Keeley
Born: 1st September 1954, Barking, Essex, England
Position: Centre Half
Nationality: English
International Honours: Youth level
Club Honours: Full Members Cup 1987
Signed From: Oldham Athletic, September 1988, Free Transfer
Sold To: Chorley, February 1989, Free Transfer
Former Clubs: Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Everton (loan), Blackburn Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Colchester United (loan), Bolton Wanderers, Chorley
Bolton Debut: 10th September 1988 versus Reading (A), Division 3
First Goal: 10th December 1988 versus Port Vale (H), FA Cup 2nd round
Yes we did Bobby - he certainly does not have the honour of being the worst Bolton player I have ever seen! Anyway forget about what he did on the pitch - as he certainly been a hero off it!
Why the beautiful game should be enjoyed by all
NOT all top footballers retire at 30 and enjoy lives of luxury in purpose-built "palaces" with super model wives. Gayle McBain speaks to former Bolton Wanderers player Glenn Keeley about his work in promoting sport for the disabled. . .
WHEN footballer Glenn Keeley hung up his boots he was determined his enthusiasm and passion for the beautiful game would inspire others.
Now, in his work with the football-mad youngsters of Bolton, he is ensuring all children get a chance to enjoy the sport.
Glenn, who played for Bolton Wanderers in the late 1980s, plans to bring football to children who have never had the opportunity to enjoy it.
He has appealed to the Variety Club Children's Charity for a grant to help youngsters who use motorised wheelchairs.
"These are children who usually have very limited movement from the shoulders down.
"There is a special piece of kit that attaches to the front of the wheelchair, it's a four-a-side game and is played with a large ball," he said.
The former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers favourite is hopeful his scheme to bring football to all will be greeted with enthusiasm by the charity and, in turn, bring smiles to the faces of Bolton children.
"It's a great game and it gives the children the opportunity to do something they wouldn't usually be able to do.
"It requires skill and control and I know it will be popular," said 52-year-old Glenn, who has already spring-boarded his idea at local schools and has received a positive response from the children and their parents.
Glenn's enthusiasm for football is matched only by his enthusiasm for his job - he is Bolton's community football development officer and is attached to Bolton Wanderers Football in the Community team.
"Football is a way of removing social and class barriers. It is a great leveller," said Glenn, who lives near Bamber Bridge.
His team's work with disgruntled teenagers had helped cut crime in some areas of Bolton - "we've given them something to do and it's amazing what football can achieve" - and gives disillusioned youngsters a renewed interest in school.
"They go along to our breakfast sessions at school and suddenly they are doing their best in lessons again," he said.
Now Glenn hopes the wheelchair football will help youngsters in Bolton's secondary schools. "We've got to start somewhere and have decided to start with high school children.
"Once it's up and running we hope to include other groups, including adults," said Glenn.
The scheme will be started in Sharples and Mount St Joseph Schools as they have, at the current time, 15 potential football players who use wheelchairs.
Glenn hopes to, eventually, have a town team and, who knows, perhaps some of those youngsters will get the chance to play at international level.
"It is giving these youngsters a chance to do something they wouldn't usually be able to do and why shouldn't they have the chance?" he said.
Glenn, who has three grown up children, believes life is much harder for children today than it was when he was a lad growing up just outside the East End of London.
"We had youth clubs on every corner and there didn't seem to be the same pressure on youngsters then," he said.
Recognising the need to keep children off the streets and acknowledging that football can be the catalyst to making changes in young people's lives has helped Glenn make a huge difference in Bolton.
But it is not just the able-bodied youngsters Glenn wants to help. He has a keen interest in assisting young people who have a range of disabilities.
His latest project will cost thousands of pounds - around ?8,000 or ?9,000 - as each wheelchair "kit" is ?500 and even the large ball costs ?50.
Up to now there has been little in the way of sport for motorised wheelchair users.
There is a game called Boccia - pronounced Botcha - which is very similar to bowls, but Glenn believes football will be far more popular with the young people.
"To me there is little movement in it. It's a bit like playing tiddly winks. Wheelchair football is the closest thing you are going to get to the excitement and action of a football match. It flows and it has movement and when you see the young person's face as they score a goal you realise it is no different to someone playing on their feet. They absolutely love it," said Glenn.
Glenn's pedigree speaks for itself. He has played for Ipswich, Newcastle United, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers and has a fond memory of his season at Burnden Park.
"I played with Phil Brown and Steve Thompson. The manager was Phil Neal.
"I remember my time at Bolton fondly and the fans were great," said Glenn.
He has a degree in Sports Rehabilitation, has lectured at college and was Director of Football at Blackburn Ladies School of Excellence and coached at Blackburn Rovers Youth Academy. He was capped for England at under 18 and under 23 level.
Glenn last played football, seriously, for Colne around six years ago although he has never lost the desire most footballers have to kick a ball about. "I did play while on a recent holiday in Turkey," he said.
Now Glenn gets his own kicks watching youngsters getting the same thrill out of the game he has always enjoyed.
"Football is a fantastic game and it should be available to everyone," he said.
http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/mostpopular....oyed_by_all.php
Glenn's Bolton Stats -
Tough tackling centre half who had a short spell with Bolton at the end of a 15-year career which was mainly spent in the top two divisions. Keeley missed just seven games from a possible twenty seven during his time at Burnden Park but he decided to drop out of league football in February 1989.
Full Name: Glenn Matthew Keeley
Born: 1st September 1954, Barking, Essex, England
Position: Centre Half
Nationality: English
International Honours: Youth level
Club Honours: Full Members Cup 1987
Signed From: Oldham Athletic, September 1988, Free Transfer
Sold To: Chorley, February 1989, Free Transfer
Former Clubs: Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Everton (loan), Blackburn Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Colchester United (loan), Bolton Wanderers, Chorley
Bolton Debut: 10th September 1988 versus Reading (A), Division 3
First Goal: 10th December 1988 versus Port Vale (H), FA Cup 2nd round
(from the Manny Road site) -
http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s474/st80524.htm