Keeping: Alexander Michael Edwin (Mike)

WW2 Guest: 1941-1942 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

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Born: Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire: 22-08-1902

Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (h): 18-10-1941

Height & Weight: Unknown

Keeping started in his native Milford-on-Sea and signed for Southern League Southampton before the 1919-20 season began for £25. He was only just seventeen when he signed professional forms in December 1920, as Southampton joined the Third Division South in the 1920-21 season and finished second to Crystal Palace before pipping Plymouth Argyle on goal average to gain promotion to the Second Division as Champions of the Third Division South at the end of the 1921-22 season. He was in his early twenties when he was given his chance, in a 1-1 draw with Hull City at Anlaby Road on 25th October 1924. He played seven League games in the 1924-25 season but he soon became a regular in the Left Back position. He was soon noticed by the representative selectors and took part in an international trial in February 1926 and then toured Canada with the F.A, in the summer of 1926. He also toured South Africa and Rhodesia during the 1929 close season along with Leeds players Ernie Hart and Bobby Turnbull. He played with the Saints for thirteen seasons before joining Fulham in February 1933. Southampton needed to raise cash and they sold Keeping and John Arnold for a combined fee of £5,000, with Arthur Tilford making the reverse move in part-exchange. While at the Dell he scored ten goals in two hundred and sixty-five League games and twice in sixteen F.A. Cup ties. He was at Craven Cottage for seven seasons before World War Two brought an end to Football League fixtures. He had played in two hundred and five League games and scored seven goals as well as making twelve F.A. Cup appearances. It proved to be the end of Keeping’s Football League career but he did make guest appearances during the Second World War. He played for Fulham, making thirty-seven appearances in 1939-40 and made two appearances in the League and scored twice in two appearances in the London Cup in 1940-41. He guested at Leeds United in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) and made two appearances in that campaign, both at Left Back. He made his debut on 18th October 1941 in the 4-0 home win over Bradford Park Avenue and three weeks later he was back for the game with Middlesbrough at Elland Road which Leeds lost 2-3. Keeping, who had represented the Football League on one occasion, when the Football League beat the Irish League 4-0 at Bloomfield Road Blackpool on 23rd September 1931, did not play in the Football League after the War as he was thirty-seven when it started and he played until the end of 1941 before retiring and returning to Milford-on-Sea to join the family Motor business. He did, however stay in football as a Coach and Manager. He was coach of Real Madrid from January 1948 until October 1950. He also coached in Denmark, Holland, France and North Africa and later took over as Manager at Poole Town in the Southern League. His father Frederick was also a noted athlete, coming second in the twelve hour cycling race in the Athens Olympics of 1896. He died in Milford-on-Sea on 28th March 1984.