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| James Keenan |
 James Keenan was born on Wednesday, 18th January, 1911, in Glasgow. The forward temporaril transferred to Donald Turner's Thistle on Friday, 14th February, 1936, from his parent club, Larne. Aged 25, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 15th February, 1936, in a 3-3 draw at home to Aberdeen in the SFL First Division. That day, James became a member of our scoring debutant's club. He scored his second and final goal for the club on Saturday, 22nd February, 1936, in a 2-1 defeat away to Kilmarnock in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for Thistle on Saturday, 25th April, 1936, in a 3-1 defeat at home to Celtic in the SFL First Division, having appeared as a Jag on 5 occasions. His club-list included St Anthony's, West Ham United, Queen of the South, Clyde, Larne, Partick Thistle, Red Star and King's Park. James died on Friday, 8th August, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, aged 58. |
 This inside right got his big move from the juniors in the close season of 1933, but didn't make an impression at West Ham. He signed for Queen of the South in August 1934, but wasn't a regular and soon tried for Clyde. He moved to Larne for season 1935-36, but was back over the water to Glasgow before season's end, landing for a loan spell at Firhill. James scored in each of his first two games for Thistle, a 3-3 draw at home to Aberdeen and a 2-1 defeat at Rugby Park. All 5 of his appearances were registered in top-flight action. With three months at Thistle behind him, he returned to Larne for season 1936-37. After experiencing French football with Red Star of Paris in 1937-38, he returned to Scotland to play for King's Park in 1938. The club were literally bombed out of business in 1940 when Forthbank was hit by the Luftwaffe. On a personal level, he was married to Helen and had 6 children. They immigrated to Australia in 1959 and then to LA in the USA a few years later. Sadly, it was there that James died of stomach cancer, aged only 58. |
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