*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
John Keirs
Appearances: 3 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 14th August 1947
Position: Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1976/77
Season of last appearance: 1976/77
Also played for: Annbank United (Scotland), Charlton Athletic (80+5,1), Cape Town City (South Africa), Stevenage Athletic, Tonbridge, Weymouth, Maidstone United, Folkestone & Shepway and Gravesend & Northfleet
5' 10" tall rugged Scottish defender born in Irvine who began his career with Annbank before being signed by Charlton in June 1965. He was spotted playing in a friendly for a Cumnock 'select' team and they got the fee, much to Annbank's annoyance.
John made his debut for the Addicks at the end of the 1965/66 season and went on to make 85 first team appearances for the London club before being transferred to South African side Cape Town City in January 1971. He spent two years there and then had a brief spell with Stevenage before moving to Tonbridge for the 1973/74 season.
Despite being a defender, John was the Angels leading marksman during 1974/75, scoring a remarkable 18 goals. He stayed with the club until the summer of 1976 when he linked up with Weymouth.
At the end of January 1977 John joined Margate on a month's trial from the Terras and at the time he was Weymouth's leading scorer with ten goals.
He made his debut for Margate in a 1-1 draw at Wealdstone on 5.2.77 and the local press reported that he was "highly competent". John played twice more, scoring in a 3-1 defeat at Burton on 19.2.77, before being recalled by Weymouth due to an injury crisis there. Margate had wanted to sign him but couldn't afford the fee that Weymouth asked for.
In the summer of 1977 John signed for Maidstone but in March 1978 he moved on to Folkestone & Shepway as a replacement for Neil Cugley who'd been sold to Margate.
John then moved to Gravesend & Northfleet for the 1978/79 season and made 85 appearances there, scoring six goals, before rejoining Tonbridge for the 1980/81 campaign.
John stayed with the Angels for almost five years and became their player-manger in December 1982. He continued in that role until the end of the 1984/85 campaign.
John sadly died on 27.12.95 aged only 48.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1976/77 (MFC) |
3 (55) |
0 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (22ND OF 22) |
3QR |
1R |
2R |
1R |
|
| Margate relegated to Southern League First Division (South). | |||||||||