Keates came through the ranks at his hometown club Walsall, making his professional debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Plymouth Argyle on 12 October 1996.
[4] Keates was a key member of the Saddlers' midfield in a successful 1998–99 season, playing in all but three games as Walsall won promotion to First Division as runners-up, ahead of Manchester City.
[5] Relegation followed the next year as Walsall struggled to adapt to life at a higher level, though the club immediately won promotion back to Division One with a play-off final victory over Reading at the end of the 2000–01 campaign.
[9] By the end of September, Keates' displays had earned him a two-year contract, awarded to him by then-Hull manager Jan Mølby.
Despite new chairman Adam Pearson's money being pumped into the club on new players, Keates endured a lukewarm season at Hull, playing in 35 league games as they finished mid-table.
Keates, however, played no part in the campaign after December 2003 – a knee injury that kept him sidelined proved his undoing, as he could not force his way back into the team and subsequently left the club before the end of the season.
[11] On 10 February 2004, Third Division club Kidderminster Harriers, now managed by former Hull boss Jan Mølby, signed Keates on a free transfer.
[13] He made his Lincoln debut in a 2–1 defeat to Notts County on 13 August 2005 and scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Rushden & Diamonds later that month.
The season was still to end with glory for the Dragons, however, as they reached the 2013 FA Trophy Final and beat Grimsby Town on penalties at Wembley Stadium.
[36] Keates returned to his roots by signing for Walsall-based Northern Premier League side Rushall Olympic in July 2016.
He made seven appearances in the league and two in the FA Cup in a short spell for The Pics before leaving the club to take over as Wrexham manager.
[37] Keates was appointed as Wrexham's new permanent manager on 25 October 2016 after a brief interim spell in charge after the sacking of Gary Mills.