KEOGH TAKING A LONG ROUTE TO FIND GLORY
Dubliner on the way to Australia to start afresh
BEING released can turn a footballer’s world upside down but in Andy Keogh’s case he has used that dilemma to inspire his next move. The Ireland international was out of contract at Millwall, yet rather than take the risk of waiting with more than 900 other free agents for an opportunity in England, he has taken the bold step of finding a new life down under in Australia.
Keogh, 28, is moving with wife Natalie and their nine year old daughter to become Perth Glory’s marquee signing for the new season. He will pen a two year contract and join an ever-growing band of UK-based players taking their chances in Australia’s A League.
‘It’s getting tough for players here in England,’ says Keogh, who finished the season on loan at Blackpool. ‘The market is not what it used to be here. With the regulations of Financial Fair Play, the budgets of clubs even in the Championship are changing. It’s tighter and there will be more and more players left waiting until the last minute to see if they can get a deal.
‘Not every footballer earns Premier League wages or even money good enough that you can plan with. We don’t all have a trade to fall back on and we can’t all go into coaching.
‘You have your family and their livelihood to think of and I believe Australia gives us all a greater opportunity. I’m very much a person who likes to look forward. You only live once and I’m one that likes to embrace life and what’s out there.
‘It may be more difficult for English players to break away but I came over here as a young boy from Dublin and I have a sense for adventure.’
Although Keogh admits he likes to be spontaneous, planning the 9,000 mile trip to Perth, Australia’s fourth largest city, wasn’t totally off the cuff.
‘I first went out there when I was about 12 and played there for Wolves in a pre-season tournament a few years back.
‘I’ve got family out there. My uncles have been in Australia for around 30 years now and my brother Kenny lives near Perth, too. It will certainly make the change easier but it also helps, to be honest, that the standard is definitely getting better and better.
‘It’s a relatively new league and I want to experience it. For me it helps that the quality of leagues abroad are improving. The MLS in USA is really coming on and Australia has quality too.
‘I’ve done my homework on the club and the city and I’m really excited about the challenge.’
Keogh has never been afraid to move. He’s had eight different clubs including Leeds, Wolves, Cardiff and Scunthorpe in his 11-year professional career.
‘I’ve never been a player that is just happy to sit around and pick up his pay cheque, I’ve always wanted to play. It’s what I love doing.’
Although he started the season at Millwall under Steve Lomas, a spell on the substitutes’ bench made him realise he had to get away.
He moved to Blackpool on loan in January and contributed to their survival with vital goals notably against Nottingham Forest and Wigan.
‘It was difficult season. Steve Lomas never really gave me a proper chance at Millwall, I started off positively but then got played out of position and when the new boss came in he had his own ideas which I didn’t fit into.
‘It might not have been such an amazing loan spell at Blackpool but it was still productive and certainly playing there with what goes on, on and off the pitch, was a real eye opener.
‘I certainly won’t have any regrets in leaving England. I may not have had the most glamorous career but I’ve played and scored in every division including the Premier League. So I’ve not done too bad.
‘Now I’m in the prime of my career I want to sample life abroad. The usual trend is for marquee players to go at the end of their careers and take the money but I want to go out there and give a good account of myself.’
PERTH struggled last season and have appointed former Hartlepool and Birmingham midfielder Kenny Lowe as their permanent coach despite an inauspicious start as interim boss that saw him win just four out of 17 games last season.
It hasn’t deterred Keogh though. Nor diminished his ambition.
‘I think it will be more settled and there is enough quality there to turn things around. I’m just looking forward to it. I want to help them challenge for the title and get into the AFC Champions League.’
He hasn’t ruled out a return to the Ireland squad either despite last being selected against Wales nearly 10 months ago.
‘I haven’t figured under the new management team which is disappointing but hopefully moving here won’t end my chances. Robbie Keane has been playing in the MLS and getting picked and Darren O’Dea has been with Toronto and now Metallist in Ukraine. It may be difficult, but if I start scoring goals then hopefully they’ll have to take notice.’
The club is providing temporary accommodation while Keogh finds a new home and school for his daughter over the coming weeks.
They’ve already been imbibed with stories of a great outdoor lifestyle where the emphasis is on enjoying life not working through it and their new location will allow him to indulge his other great passion, unsurprisingly, travel.
‘I always used to get the train to training and I enjoy taking in the different views and seeing what’s around the area.
‘I always wanted to travel the world, embrace different cultures, try different foods, I love all of that. I’ve wanted to visit the likes of Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong so living in Australia will certainly give me a better chance of seeing those places.
‘I think once I finish playing I will get a round-the-world ticket and go see it all. It should be a great adventure.’