Bury 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. 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. The "Shakers" finished 13th in the
Third Division in
1975–76, before finishing seventh in
1976–77 and then 15th in
1977–78 under
Bob Stokoe's stewardship. In his three years at
Gigg Lane, Keenan scored three goals in 71 league games.
West Ham United made a bid for him but backed out of the deal after he suffered a knee injury.
Port Vale Keenan signed with
Dennis Butler's
Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. His first goal for the "Valiants" came in a 1–0 victory over
Rochdale at
Spotland on 11 November, and his second goal came on Boxing day in a 6–2 defeat to
Barnsley at
Oakwell. He ended the
1978–79 season with 32
Fourth Division appearances to his name. 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. He began suffering with knee injuries from September 1980, and was limited to 13 appearances in the
1980–81 season, claiming two goals in a 4–2 win over
Darlington at
Vale Park on 20 September, and one goal in a 2–1 defeat at former club Bury seven days later. He played 24 games in the
1981–82 season and scored one goal in a 2–1 win at Rochdale on 19 September. Due to his knee troubles, he was given a
free transfer in May 1982.
Rochdale Keenan moved on to
Rochdale on a week-to-week basis as he had received an insurance pay-off upon leaving Port Vale. He ended up staying with the club for two years. ==Management career==