The 1920s saw Cardiff City establish itself as one of the leading clubs in Britain. The team rose rapidly from the Southern League to the First Division of the Football League, but it was in the FA Cup that the club achieved its greatest glories. After being beaten semi-finalists twice and runners-up in 1925, Cardiff City finally took the Cup out of England in 1927. It was to be the pinnacle of their success. After 1927 the club's fall from the top of the soccer ladder was rapid. Four years after lifting the FA Cup at Wembley, Keenor found himself captain of a team relegated to the Third Division South.

Keenor played an integral role in the club's successes during these years, in the process developing for himself a reputation that was to later stand head and shoulders above his team-mates. He became the inspiration and captain of both club and country and a favourite amongst the supporters. Unlike most of soccer's great heroes through the generations, Keenor was not the type of player who normally attracted adoration. He was neither a skilful dribbler nor a prolific goal-scorer. Instead he was a rugged and uncompromising defender, playing usually at centre-half or half-back. Of his later compatriots, he had more in common with Vinnie Jones than Ryan Giggs. In short, he was one of soccer's hard men. Skill on the ball was not his forte, neither was his size, being only 5' 7'', but he more than made up for it with his strength, fitness and energy. His team mate, Ernie Curtis, said of him,

"He was one of the hardest tacklers in the game, some said he was dirty but he was just hard. Nobody took liberties with old Fred ... [He] could run all night, he couldn't run with the ball mind you, but he could run all day."

Such was Keenor's strength that in 1919 he even sparred with the former European featherweight champion boxer Jim Driscoll, while the latter was training at Ninian Park, Cardiff City's ground. In 1928, it was said that `He might not be a stylish player but his doggedness and determination makes him one of the most effective centre halves in the country.' Charlie Buchan, the defeated Arsenal captain in the 1927 Cup Final, described him as having `a store of energy [which] seemed inexhaustible in defending his goal and supplying his forwards with crisp passes.' His commitment during a match was total. Such levels of fitness required hard training, particularly when, liking a drink and being a heavy smoker, the rest of your life was not always dedicated to staying in peak condition. While the other Cardiff players were doing ball practice, he was lapping the pitch in old army boots. He would often turn up late for training and, ignoring the trainer and the rest of the team, just begin running around the ground to build up his stamina and work off the previous night's beer. His hard style may have won him friends in Cardiff but he was not always so kindly treated by supporters of the teams, which had to oppose him. Alongside his strength and stamina, Keenor was renowned for his courage. In 1929 he injured his neck on the morning of a match between Wales and Scotland. With Wales unable to get a reserve in time, Keenor played with his neck strapped and under orders not to head the ball. He endured the pain in order not to let his side down.

Keenor's other main asset was his leadership. His ability to inspire others made him a natural choice as captain of both club and country. Although he did not become the Cardiff City captain until the 1925-26 season, his influence and length of time at the club made it later seem as if he had always led the team. No doubt such leadership skills were also instrumental in pushing him towards management as his playing days drew to a close. He was said to have `marshalled his men magnificently' in the 1927 FA Cup Final and in 1928 was described as `a leader in every sense of the word, he commands respect of colleagues and sets an inspiring example by his whole hearted enthusiasm. 'Yet he could also be a domineering leader, shouting and swearing at his team-mates and forcing them into action instead of using more subtle means of encouragement. He was nearly sent off playing for Wales against Scotland in 1930 for swearing at the rest of the Welsh team, until the referee `realised' that Keenor was so involved in motivating the others that he did not realise what he was saying. Thus he was the quintessential `British' player: physical, committed and determined, making up in strength for what he lacked in skill. And he expected the same from those around him.

< Back | Next Page >