| Josh O'Keefe | |
| Fullname: | Joshua Adam O'Keefe |
| Birth Date: | 22 December 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Whalley, England |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2001–2007 |
| Youthclubs1: | Blackburn Rovers |
| Years1: | 2007–2009 |
| Clubs1: | Blackburn Rovers |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs2: | Walsall |
| Caps2: | 13 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2010–2012 |
| Clubs3: | Lincoln City |
| Caps3: | 47 |
| Goals3: | 5 |
| Years4: | 2012 |
| Clubs4: | Southport |
| Caps4: | 7 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2012–2014 |
| Clubs5: | Hereford United |
| Caps5: | 51 |
| Goals5: | 15 |
| Years6: | 2014–2015 |
| Clubs6: | Kidderminster Harriers |
| Caps6: | 20 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2014 |
| Clubs7: | → Telford United (loan) |
| Caps7: | 5 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2014 |
| Clubs8: | → Chester (loan) |
| Caps8: | 3 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs9: | Altrincham |
| Caps9: | 27 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Years10: | 2016–2020 |
| Clubs10: | Chorley |
| Caps10: | 134 |
| Goals10: | 17 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2008 |
| Nationalteam1: | Republic of Ireland U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 13:26, 13 December 2023 (UTC) |
Joshua Adam O'Keefe (born 22 December 1988) is a former footballer who played as a midfielder, he retired in 2020 after spending four years at Chorley.
Born in Whalley, Lancashire, O'Keefe was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn,[1] where along with Frank Fielding he played in their victorious Boodles ISFA Cup team of 2003–04, defeating Millfield School 5–4 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in the final at the Walkers Stadium,[2] whilst also playing representative football for ISFA.[3] He then joined the Blackburn Rovers academy, making his Premier Academy League debut for the club in the 0–0 draw at Newcastle United on 2 April 2005.[4]
He then signed for Walsall on a free transfer and made his debut on 12 September 2009, coming on as a substitute for Richard Taundry, in the Football League One clash with Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, which ended in a 3–2 win to Walsall. He was released by Walsall on 10 May 2010 along with six other players.[5]
O'Keefe was then signed by Lincoln City on 17 May 2010 on a two-year contract.[6] On 3 January 2011, he scored his first ever goal as a professional, scoring an equaliser in the match against Northampton Town. On 26 December 2011 O'Keefe left Lincoln City by mutual consent.[7]
On 1 March 2012, O'Keefe joined Conference Premier team Southport.[8] On 24 September he joined Hereford United.[9] On 11 June 2013 he signed a new one-year contract to remain with the club for the 2013–14 season.[10] On 31 January 2014, he signed an 18-month deal with play off hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers. On 1 September 2014, he moved to Telford United on a month-long loan deal where he made five appearances.[11] On 11 November 2014, he was sent on a two-month loan to Chester having only made one appearance all season for the Harriers.[12] His loan spell, due to end on 1 January 2015, was cut short due to injury. On 12 May 2015, he signed for Altrincham,[13] after being released by Kidderminster having made 20 appearances. In June 2016, he agreed a deal to join Chorley.[14]
On 8 August 2008, he was called up for the Republic of Ireland U21 squad, qualifying by virtue of his father's Irish parents.[15] He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the 1–1 draw with the Austria U21 side on 19 August 2008.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Walsall | 2009–10 | League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Lincoln City | 2010–11 | League Two | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[16] | 0 | 40 | 4 | |
| 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||
| Lincoln total | 47 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 5 | |||
| Southport | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 7 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
| Hereford United | 2012–13 | Conference Premier | 33 | 12 | 3 | 1 | — | 2[17] | 1 | 38 | 14 | ||
| 2013–14 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||||
| Hereford total | 51 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 59 | 18 | |||
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2013–14 | Conference Premier | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Kidderminster total | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| Telford United (loan) | 2014–15 | Conference Premier | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Chester (loan) | 2014–15 | Conference Premier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Altrincham | 2015–16 | National League | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| Chorley | 2016–17 | National League North | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | ||||
| Chorley total | 50 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 223 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 245 | 28 | |||
In 2018 he graduated from the University of Salford with a first class degree in physiotherapy.[18]
He is married.