As posted on our message boards earlier this week, former Rotherham United player Keith Kettleborough passed away aged 74 this week.
Keith signed for Rotherham in 1955, and made 118 league appearances scoring 20 goals, before moving to Sheffield United in 1960. He also had spells with Newcastle, Doncaster Rovers (as player-manager for one season) and Chesterfield.
Team mate Roy Lambert recalled in the Advertiser his memories of Keith, and in particular the F.A.Cup match at Hillsborugh in front of a full house, in which Kettleborough scored the first goal in the 2-0 win over Arsenal.
The match was the second replay after games at Millmoor and Highbury had ended in draws.
Roy said: "Keith was a strong midfield player and he scored a few goals. The one he got that night was a good one and I can remember the reaction of the crowd and the atmosphere. It was unbelievable. "The celebrations went on a long time afterwards. It was a crazy night. "In the run-up to kick-off, there were so many people trying to get to the ground that it took us about an hour to get from Millmoor to Hillsborough. Our team bus needed a police escort to get us through."
Roy had only recently been to see Keith. "He was a smashing chap; a lovely bloke," .going on to say "As a footballer, he never gave in. He was on the go all the time. You could play a poor ball to him and he'd never grumble. I'll miss him."
Rotherham United historian Barrie Dalby added:
"Keith was a very good footballer; a box to box type with the ability to get up and support the attack. He could also hit a great long ball.
He was a vital part of our team that did so well in the old Division Two in the season we beat Arsenal and I remember it was a big loss to us when he left to join Sheffield United. "As a person he was down to earth and very approachable and was one of our early speakers at the Nostalgia Society. He came to one or two of our Christmas get-togethers. "As has been mentioned, he was a talented cricketer as well and he also played golf at Sitwell. "Rotherham has lost one of its best footballers."
Keith Kettleborough's funeral will be held at St Cuthbert's Church, Herringthorpe, next Friday (11am) followed by a private cremation.
MillersMAD, and particularly the older ones of us who remember Keith playing for Rotherham United, thank him for his service to our club, and pass our condolences to his family and friends.
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