*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.
Keith Spurgeon
Appearances: 2 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 1933*
Position: Right-back / Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1952/53
Season of last appearance: 1952/53
Also played for: Tottenham Hotspur (0), Leytonstone, Folkestone Town, Herne Bay and Snowdown Colliery Welfare
Versatile player widely known as 'Spud' who started his senior career at Spurs and played twice for their 'B' team during December 1951.
In October 1952 Keith joined Margate from the army and became a regular in the reserves. He also played twice for the first team, making his debut at right-back in a 2-2 draw with Canterbury at Hartsdown Park on 4.10.52 and later playing at centre-back in a 1-1 draw at Faversham on 13.4.53. Keith stayed with the club for the start of the 1953/54 season too but played exclusively for the reserves before joining Leytonstone in December 1953.
In April 1955 he returned to Margate for a second spell with the club and made a few reserve team appearances before the end of the 1954/55 season.
He later went on to play for Folkestone and then joined Herne Bay during the 1957/58 season. Keith scored for them against Margate on 23.11.57 as Herne Bay went down 5-3 at Winch's Field. He then scored an own goal in a match against Margate during 1958/59.
During 1960/61 he played for Snowdown Colliery Welfare in the Aetolian League before retiring due to a knee injury.
Keith went on to become a highly respected coach / manager and in July 1961 he took charge of Ajax of Amsterdam. He lived with his wife in a small bungalow at Ajax's De Meer stadium and they sometimes cooked meals for their cleaning lady's teenage son. Her son was none other than Johann Cruyff.
Keith was sacked by Ajax in June 1962 but stayed on in Holland and had spells in charge of Blauw Wit (twice), Heracles Almelo and AGOVV in the next few years.
During 1967 and 1968 Keith had a spell as manager of the Libyan national team and he then coached (managed) Dallas Tornado in the USA during the 1968 season there. When he joined Dallas he was quoted as telling his new players "As a Tornado, you couldn't have blown out a candle."
During the 1968/69 campaign Keith once again crossed paths with Margate, recommending Brian Harvey and Mike Renshaw to the club. Both had played under him during his spell at Dallas.
Keith's management career later included stints with Belgian clubs KV Mechelen and Lerske KC, the Nigerian national team, Swedish side AIK (1975), APOEL of Cyprus (1977 to 1978), Landskrona of Sweden (1979 to 1980) and IFK Lulea, also in Sweden.
Keith sadly died from Motor Neurone disease in 1990, he was living in Sweden at the time.
His son Kevin became a successful professional golfer and during the 2000's he played on the European Seniors Tour.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1952/53 (MFC) |
2 (43) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (11TH OF 17) |
PR |
2R |
RU |
JW |
|