Rory McKeown

Northern Irish footballer

Rory McKeownPersonal information

Full name|  Rory Paul McKeown
Date of birth|  (1993-04-08) 8 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth|  Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height|  1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)|  Left-back
Youth career
2009–2011|  Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2011–2014|  Kilmarnock|  43|  (1)
2014|  → Cowdenbeath (loan)|  12|  (2)
2014–2016|  Raith Rovers|  72|  (1)
2016|  Accrington Stanley|  0|  (0)
2016|  Warrington Town|  |
2016–2017|  Southport|  18|  (3)
2017–2018|  Warrington Town|  |
2018–2019|  Greenock Morton|  16|  (0)
2019–2021|  Team Wellington|  32|  (6)
2021–2022|  Wellington Olympic|  6|  (0)
2022–2024|  Crusaders|  26|  (0)
2024–|  Geelong SC|  9|  (0)
International career
|  Northern Ireland U16|  12|  (0)
|  Northern Ireland U17|  9|  (0)
|  Northern Ireland U18|  2|  (0)
|  Northern Ireland U19|  6|  (0)
2011–2013|  Northern Ireland U21|  12|  (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 April 2024

Rory Paul McKeown (born 8 April 1993) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a left-back.

A versatile left-sided player, he has represented Northern Ireland at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 level.

A former youth-team player at Ipswich Town, he turned professional at Kilmarnock and scored on his Scottish Premier League debut in July 2011. He spent three years at the club, and spent the latter half of the 2013–14 season on loan at Cowdenbeath. He joined Raith Rovers in June 2014, and went on to miss just one match for the club over the course of the next two seasons. He joined Accrington Stanley on non-contract terms in August 2016, and signed with Southport four months later after a brief spell with Warrington Town. He spent the 2017–18 season with Warrington Town.

## Career

[edit]

### Kilmarnock

[edit]

McKeown started his career as a youth-team player for Ipswich Town. McKeown went on to develop in the Ipswich under-18s and reserve teams before he was released in June 2011 after "Blues" manager Paul Jewell opted not to give him a professional contract upon the expiry of his academy scholarship.[2]

McKeown joined Kilmarnock after a short trial in July 2011, having been signed ahead of fellow trialist Mitchell Piqué.[3] Manager Kenny Shiels said that "Rory played for me at 13 as an outside left in my Excellence Programme back in Northern Ireland. I've always seen the potential in him and he's one we can develop into a good left-back".[4] McKeown scored on his competitive debut for "Killie" with "a stunning 25-yard strike" in a 1–1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice Park on 24 July.[5] However he struggled for first-team action after Jeroen Tesselaar was instead favoured at left-back.[6] He made 21 appearances throughout the 2011–12 season and 18 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign as Kilmarnock posted ninth-place finishes in the Scottish Premier League.

On 20 February 2014, McKeown joined Scottish Championship side Cowdenbeath on a one-month emergency loan.[7] He made his debut for the "Miners" two days later and scored 33 minutes into a 2–0 win over Dundee at Central Park.[8] Having made six appearances and scoring once, his loan spell with Cowdenbeath was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season.[9] He featured a total of 16 times for Jimmy Nicholl's "Blue Brazil", scoring two goals, as Cowdenbeath finished in ninth-place but avoided relegation with a 4–1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic in the play-off final.[10] He was released by Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston upon his return to Rugby Park.

### Raith Rovers

[edit]

On 23 June 2014, McKeown joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers.[11] He was an ever-present throughout the 2014–15 season, helping Grant Murray's Rovers to a sixth-place finish. He was also a near ever-present under new manager Ray McKinnon for the 2015–16 season, missing just one Scottish Challenge Cup game. Rovers secured a play-off place with a fourth-place finish, but were eliminated at the quarter-final stage following a 2–1 aggregate defeat to Hibernian.[12]

### Accrington Stanley

[edit]

On 30 August 2016, McKeown joined EFL League Two side Accrington Stanley on non-contract terms.[13] He played in that evening's EFL Trophy fixture with Crewe Alexandra at the Crown Ground, which ended in a 3–0 defeat.[14] He was not picked again by manager John Coleman and left shortly afterwards. He had a trial at Polish Ekstraklasa side Górnik Zabrze the following month.[15]

### Non-league

[edit]

McKeown joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Warrington Town in November 2016.[16] On 31 December 2016, he joined National League relegation strugglers Southport.[17] He scored three goals in 19 appearances for Andy Preece's side, who ended the 2016–17 campaign in the relegation places, and he departed Haig Avenue in the summer.

On 7 August 2017, he re-signed with Warrington Town.[18] Manager Paul Carden said that "Rory has had opportunities to go in at clubs higher up, but things haven't materialised for him. He's got quality and now he just needs to get his head down. Chances will come to him if he's performing well, everyone is getting watched all the time."[19] He was an ever-present throughout the 2017–18 season to help the "Yellows" to qualify for the play-offs with a third-place finish, scoring the winning goal over Shaw Lane on the final day of the season, but was suspended for the play-off semi-final defeat to Grantham Town after being sent off in the game against Shaw Lane for an "innocuous-looking challenge".[20][21]

He joined Port Vale on trial in July 2018.[22] Manager Neil Aspin said that "he gave a good account of himself" but decided to strengthen in other positions instead.[23]

### Greenock Morton

[edit]

McKeown joined back up with former manager at Raith, Ray McKinnon, at Greenock Morton in August 2018.[24] He left Morton in June 2019.[25]

### Team Wellington

[edit]

On 19 August 2019 Team Wellington in New Zealand announced the signing of McKeown.[26]

### Crusaders

[edit]

After leaving Team Wellington McKeown came home to Northern Ireland and signed for NIFL Premiership side Crusaders on the 3rd July 2022 prior to a 5-0 friendly victory against Comber Recreation.

## International career

[edit]

McKeown won caps for Northern Ireland at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 level.[27] He was called up to the senior team by Michael O'Neill in September 2013, and sat on the bench as an unused substitute for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Portugal and Luxembourg.[28][29]

## Style of play

[edit]

McKeown is a versatile player, able to play at as a left-sided full-back, wing-back or winger.[30] He has been described as an "athletic modern day left-back", with the extra attributes of pace and a good long-throw.[31]

## Career statistics

[edit]

As of 12 July 2018
Club  | Season  | League  | National Cup  | League Cup  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Kilmarnock | 2011–12[32] | Scottish Premier League | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1
2012–13[33] | Scottish Premier League  | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0
2013–14[34] | Scottish Premiership | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0
Total  | 43 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1
Cowdenbeath (loan)  | 2013–14[34] | Scottish Championship | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 16 | 2
Raith Rovers | 2014–15[35] | Scottish Championship  | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 43 | 0
2015–16[36] | Scottish Championship  | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3[b][a] | 0 | 44 | 2
Total  | 72 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 87 | 2
Accrington Stanley | 2016–17[37] | EFL League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0
Southport | 2016–17[38] | National League | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 19 | 3
Career total[e] | 145 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 172 | 9

1. ^ a b Appearance/s in the play-offs.
2. ^ a b Appearance/s in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
3. ^ Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
4. ^ Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.
5. ^ Statistics for Warrington Town not known.

## Honours

[edit]

Crusaders

* Irish Cup: 2022–23
* NIFL Charity Shield: 2022

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "R. McKeown". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
2. ^ Gooderham, Dave (16 November 2011). "Leaving Town was a 'blessing in disguise'". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
3. ^ "Kilmarnock close in on ex-Ajax defender Mitchell Pique". Daily Record. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
4. ^ "Kilmarnock boss heaps praise on debut goal hero Rory McKeown". Daily Record. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
5. ^ "Dundee Utd 1 - 1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
6. ^ Macdonald, Kenny (30 December 2012). "Kilmarnock kid Rory McKeown: My New Year wish is to become a first-team regular". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
7. ^ "Rory McKeown Joins Cowdenbeath". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
8. ^ "Cowdenbeath 2-0 Dundee". BBC Sport. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
9. ^ "McKeown staying with Blue Brazil". Scottish Premier League. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
10. ^ "Championship: Dunfermline 0 - 3 Cowdenbeath |". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
11. ^ "Two More Signings Announced as Pre Season Training Gets Under Way". raithrovers.net. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
12. ^ "Hibernian 2 – 0 Raith Rovers | Raith Rovers FC". www.raithrovers.net. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
13. ^ "Rory McKeown: Accrington Stanley sign former Raith Rovers defender". BBC Sport. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
14. ^ James, Alex (30 August 2016). "MATCH ANALYSIS: Accrington Stanley 0 Crewe Alexandra 3". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
15. ^ "Rory McKeown na testach w Górniku". Portal Piłki Nożnej - PolskaPilka.net - wchodzisz i wiesz. (in Polish). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
16. ^ Turner, Matt (28 November 2016). "Carden hails Codling's fighting spirit after match-winning salvo". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
17. ^ "Rory McKeown: Southport sign former Northern Ireland Under-21 international". BBC Sport. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
18. ^ "Carden Brings In Four New Boys For Wire - Pitchero Non-League". Pitchero Non-League. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
19. ^ Turner, Matt (6 August 2017). "Carden discusses Yellows signings". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
20. ^ Turner, Matt (19 April 2018). "Yellows will attempt McKeown appeal but are resigned to him missing play-off". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
21. ^ Turner, Matt (17 April 2018). "Carden critical of officials as McKeown red card sours 'great three points'". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
22. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 July 2018). "Port Vale set to take another look at left back". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
23. ^ Baggaley, Michael (19 July 2018). "Port Vale transfer updates on Rory McKeown, Dior Angus and Mike Calveley". stokesentinel.co.uk. Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
24. ^ Jonathan Mitchell (3 August 2018). "McKeown signs for Morton". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
25. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (21 May 2019). "PLAYER CONTRACT UPDATES". Greenock Morton FC. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
26. ^ TEAM WELLINGTON SIGN Scottish former PREMIER LEAGUE DEFENDER, twfc.co.nz, 19 August 2019
27. ^ "Rory McKeown". NIFG. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
28. ^ "Northern Ireland vs. Portugal - 6 September 2013 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
29. ^ "Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland - 10 September 2013 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
30. ^ Kirkham, Jenny (30 December 2016). "Southport FC sign Northern Irish defender Rory McKeown". Southport Visiter. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
31. ^ "Rory McKeown - The Players' Agent". www.theplayersagent.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
32. ^ "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
33. ^ "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
34. ^ a b "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
35. ^ "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
36. ^ "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
37. ^ "Games played by Rory McKeown in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
38. ^ Rory McKeown at Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Team Wellington - current squad

* 1 Basalaj
* 2 Gulley (c)
* 3 Hilliar
* 4 Ilich
* 5 Wood
* 6 Schrijvers
* 7 Molloy
* 8 Cameron
* 9 Jackson
* 10 Hailemariam
* 11 Barcia
* 12 Bevin
* 14 Sinclair
* 15 Boso
* 16 Kilkolly
* 16 Palezevic
* 18 Clapham
* 19 Allen
* 20 Manuel
* 21 Watson
* 22 Kampman
* 23 Morris
* 24 Lecefel
* Manager: Figueira

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template