Eamonn
O’Keefe was born in Manchester on 13th October 1953 and played as a
teeneger for Stalybridge Celtic before a spell with Plymouth Argyle.
He didn’t make the Plymouth side but went instead to play for top Saudi
Arabian Club Al Hilal returning to Manchester disillusioned and signing
for Mossley in December 1976 under Howard Wilkinson as a left full back.
Upon Bob Murphy’s return to Seel Park as manager a year later O’Keefe
was moved to an attacking midfield position and it was one he relished.
His pace, power and eye for goal saw him help Mossley to the Northern
Premier League & Cup double in 1978-79 and a place in the England Semi
Pro side. He played against Scotland and Holland in the May 1979 tournament
scoring the winning goal against Holland in the final. O’Keefe was then
snapped up by Gordon Lee at Everton for a £25,000 fee (money that paid
for the erection of the Park End stand at Seel Park) and he went on
to make 40 appearances for Everton scoring 6 goals and was capped by
the Republic of Ireland (thanks to his fathers origin) on 5 occasions
and made a further 4 appearances as an over-age player in the under
21 side. He was then transferred to Wigan Athletic for a £60,000 fee
and had later spells with Port Vale, Blackpool, St. Patrick’s Athletic
(Ireland) and Chester City and a brief spell as a manager in Ireland
with Cork City. Eamonn O’Keefe made a total of 113 appearances for Mossley
scoring 50 goals.