Keenan was a youth team player with Bill Shankly's Liverpool, but never played a first-team game at Anfield as his father refused Roy Evans's offer of joining the club on apprentice terms.
[3] He instead became an apprentice gas fitter and played semi-professional non-League football for Skelmersdale United, before joining Bobby Smith's Bury in April 1975.
[1] He played 44 league and cup games in the 1979–80 campaign, as Vale ended the season in 20th place under John McGrath's stewardship; he scored one goal against Torquay United at Plainmoor.
[1] Keenan moved on to Rochdale on a week-to-week basis as he had received an insurance pay-off upon leaving Port Vale.
[3] Keenan became the player-manager at North West Counties League Division One side Accrington Stanley.