Veteran Town defender Richard Keogh has outlined his future plans beyond bringing down the curtain on his playing career, probably at Town, the club where it all started for him.
Harlow-born Keogh, 36, was in the Blues’ academy and was also a supporter of the club, making the journey from Essex to watch games at Portman Road and also attend training sessions with a view to becoming a first-team player in the future.
Sadly, his dream appeared to have been shattered when the club released him at the age of 15, although he has taken a roundabout route via a host of clubs, to end up back where it all began, even enjoying a spell as a ball boy at Town along the way.
Should he feature in tomorrow’s home clash with Lincoln it will be his 700th appearance in English football, an outstanding achievement by any standards, and particularly when you consider he has also been capped 26 times at senior international level for the Republic of Ireland, whom he represented in the U19 and U21 age groups too.
Keogh, a late substitute in Town’s 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday last month, made his first league start for the club in last week’s 2-1 win at Morecambe and has also appeared in the Papa Johns Trophy group qualifiers against Northampton, his senior debut, and Arsenal U21 since arriving for a modest fee from Blackpool in August.
Looking back on the game against the Shrimps, he said: "Obviously, I had to be patient, but I was still contributing to the team and the squad, whether or not I was playing. I just had to be ready and wait for my opportunity.
"I was delighted to start the game and help the team to continue the good form and get the three points from what was a tough fixture. There’s no better feeling than when you come into the side and help to achieve a positive result.”
Many supporters who saw the game offered the view that it was a fixture that Town might not have won last season, when they had to settle for a 1-1 draw, such is the improvement in form by Kieran McKenna’s team in the current campaign as they sit second in the League One table having only lost once, which was at leaders Plymouth.
Keogh added: "Any league — and especially this league — throws up different challenges and I think the last three games all threw up different challenges. We had to see off Portsmouth, be patient against Cambridge before wearing them down and finding our connections, and we had to come from behind at Morecambe. The squad is in a really good place at the moment and I think we are definitely progressing.
"Obviously, I wouldn’t know too much about last year and what the team was doing, but from my point of view, since I’ve been here, there’s a really strong mentality and I think that’s credit, not only to the manager and the coaching staff, but to the group for buying into it and wanting to get the best out of themselves.
"Like I said, this league is going to throw up lots of different challenges, but when you want to achieve something great you are going to have to come up against different teams and it’s about finding different ways and sticking together to impact the game.”
Thrilled as he undoubtedly was to have made his full league debut for the club, albeit many years after he wanted it to happen, tomorrow’s clash with the lowly Imps in front of a 27,000-plus crowd would be a huge occasion for the wholehearted defender, particularly if McKenna names him in the starting line-up.
Keogh admitted: "To play in front of a packed Portman Road is what it’s all about. That’s why you are in the game and at such a great club. The support is fantastic and when I used to come to games when I was a youngster it was always a special atmosphere, packed houses, great support etc.
"If that happens on Saturday, fantastic, but if not I’m sure there will be a moment when I get that opportunity. It’s just about the team and how the team performs and whoever plays, whoever starts, I’ve got every confidence in them producing a big performance and hopefully getting a good result.”
A visit from Derby County next Friday, in a live-on-Sky game, is another huge occasion on the horizon for a player who clocked up 356 appearances over eight seasons with the Rams and he acknowledged: "I’m probably going to be associated with Derby because of the games I played for them.
"I had some amazing times there and played with some amazing players. I created a lot of good friendships there as well.
"My connection with the fans will always be good. We played them last game of the season when I was at Blackpool last year. It was our final home fixture and I had my family on the pitch with me at the end. Both sets of fans were very supportive and it was a really nice moment for me that brought back lots of happy memories for me.
"It’s a great club, Derby, and I’m pleased they have new ownership now. They’re in a better place and although the club has changed a lot since I was there it will be good to see some of the people who are still there.
"I still know a few people there and after we get the right result tomorrow against Lincoln it’s another big game to look forward to.”
Keogh looked even further into the future when the subject turned to him pursuing a career in coaching, and then management, when the time eventually comes to hang up his boots.
He continued: "I know I’m coming towards the twilight years of my playing career and it’s something I am definitely thinking about. I’ve already gained my B Licence and I’ll be applying to get on an A Licence course next.
"As much as I enjoy playing and believe I still have something to contribute to the team, which I feel I have done in both training and in games when I’ve played, I would be stupid not to have one eye on the future and what’s next for me. That’s the reality of the situation.
"The environment I’m in now, it’s perfect for me to learn from. I’ve learned so much these past two or three months, from the manager, the coaching staff, everyone at the club. I’m tapping into it and I’m like a sponge the way I want to take on knowledge. I even feel it is helping me to improve as a player to be honest.
"So, from my point of view, coaching is definitely something I want to go into when the time comes.
"I’ve been making steps towards that for the last three or four years probably, trying to put things in place, so apart from having one eye on that it’s also about keeping myself right to be able to perform out on the pitch as well when required.”