James McKeown

Joined Finn Harps FC in the League of Ireland. Best of luck in the next stages of your career James  

https://finnharps.ie/harps-sign-james-mckeown/ - for anyone interested

A surpisring choice seeing that he was settled in the area. I was expecting a move to Boston, York or somewhere near(ish).

Hope he does well. Wonder if he will leave the family around Grimsby

Is it just till the end of their season? Couldn't see a deal length.

You'd think he would be able to do much better than that - level wise & financially so perhaps just a stop gap till end of their season (believe they have 10 or so games left).

Not exact science, but FM database says their top earner are on £550 p/w and you'd expect james would look for much more than that given what he was on here - obviously he'll be unlikely to get the wages he was getting here elsewhere now, but I am supprised if he'd settle for 5-600£ pw long term...

When does their season start and finish? Could he possibly my be staying here until their new season starts?

Their season runs 18 February – 4 November 2022

Talks about the challenge, i.e. money, perhaps there are tax benefits associated this move? It keeps him playing and might get him a move closer to his family base in Grimsby come January, who knows.

Hmm…interesting, so could work a term and a half at a school before r their season starts?

The town hosting Finn Harps has a population of less than 5,000. Strange…

Quoted from jaf243

Is it just till the end of their season? Couldn't see a deal length.

You'd think he would be able to do much better than that - level wise & financially so perhaps just a stop gap till end of their season (believe they have 10 or so games left).

Not exact science, but FM database says their top earner are on £550 p/w and you'd expect james would look for much more than that given what he was on here - obviously he'll be unlikely to get the wages he was getting here elsewhere now, but I am supprised if he'd settle for 5-600£ pw long term...

You say that but yesterday Sligo Rovers from the same Division knocked Motherwell out of Europe, so maybe the standard of Irish football is now similar to that of The Scottish Premiership. If he signed for a Scottish Premiership side I don't think you'd be saying you'd think he would be able to do much better than that.

Quoted from Les Brechin

You say that but yesterday Sligo Rovers from the same Division knocked Motherwell out of Europe, so maybe the standard of Irish football is now similar to that of The Scottish Premiership. If he signed for a Scottish Premiership side I don't think you'd be saying you'd think he would be able to do much better than that.

Motherwell are bottom Les

Celtic and Rangers aside, Scottish football is dire, and conference level at best. Irish league is worse!

Quoted from Hagrid

Motherwell are bottom Les

Celtic and Rangers aside, Scottish football is dire, and conference level at best. Irish league is worse!

I'm not sure what an Irish League team beating a Scottish Premiership team 3-0 suggests then. Is the standard of the Irish league getting better or the standard of the Scottish league getting worse?

Tough job ahead.
Finn are 12 points behind third-bottom Drogheda with 12 games to go.
Level on points with UC Dublin on 12pts having played 24 games.

Good Luck!

Maybe they've got a funder who will give Mckeown a wodge of cash

one of the most bizarre transfers I've ever heard of. They average less than 2000 and only have 3 months of the season to go.
The only thing i can think of is that he has family there and it's a useful stop gap to get him through till Xmas. He can then find a club more locally in the new year

Quoted from Les Brechin

I'm not sure what an Irish League team beating a Scottish Premiership team 3-0 suggests then. Is the standard of the Irish league getting better or the standard of the Scottish league getting worse?

Could be a better quality whiskey!  

A surprising, but potentially good move for him. If he's struggling to get a suitable team in England, a good spell to the end of the season in Ireland could put him in the shop window for a contract somewhere in the January transfer window. Good luck to him. Never quite as good or as bad as his publicity would have you believe, but certainly a competent backup at the very least at this stage of his career.

Found his level

Quoted from Fette Schlange

Found his level

It amazes me how people turn so quickly on someone who served our club admirably for over 10 years. Shame on you.

At least he will get plenty of action in games

Did he get a testimonial game ? Or did I miss it

Quoted from It Bites

Did he get a testimonial game ? Or did I miss it

This time last year vs Rotherham

The only time I saw Joel grant play for gtfc.

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

This time last year vs Rotherham

The only time I saw Joel grant play for gtfc.

Ah yes , my memory is shot to bits at times 😥

I will keep an eye on how he does.

I follow Finn Harps as I have family in Co Donegal.

Good luck to.him

Looks like a deal until the end of their season, trying to help them stave off relegation.

After that he can look to get a league team in Jan, or a non league team from November.

Good luck to him.

Good luck to Macca!

Quoted from BottesfordMariner

I will keep an eye on how he does.

I follow Finn Harps as I have family in Co Donegal.

Good luck to.him

Whereabouts?

Donegal is beautiful and has the best Guinness!

Good luck Macca. Along with Dizzer and Nathan Arnold you were the shining lights in a dark part of the club's history 🙏😊

All the best to him and his family.

He’ll certainly enjoy that area - it’s gorgeous. Loved my little taste of Ireland.

Whatever his reasons, the very best of luck to James.  As mentioned previously and also in direct reference to him, he served the club well for an extended period of time, I thank him for that.  As James will understand, nothing is for life, particularly in football.  He’s still a young man with hopefully a long and prosperous life ahead, hopefully his earnings at Town have given him a sound platform.

On a last note, to the best of my knowledge he’s departed without acrimony, great credit for that.

All the very best James and thank you for many very memorable saves.

Good Luck James! UTM

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Whereabouts?

Donegal is beautiful and has the best Guinness!

My mum was from near Donegal Town.She came to England when she was around 20. Others in the family went further afield. I have relatives in US Canada Australia and NZ but still.have family mainly in southern Donegal. Donegal Town, Ballintra,

She passed over 30 years ago. Her ashes are there now. Beautiful cemetery overlooking Donegal Bay.

Yes it is quite breathtaking in that part of the world. I may be biased of course.  Some beautiful beaches. If you're into surfing some world class places.

Though I was born in Grimsby ( and proud) and brought up in Cleethorpes I have always felt quite at home when I have been over.

We were supposed to be touring Ireland for 2 months this summer down the Wild Atlantic Way but had to cancel. We would still have been there now had we gone.

Was gutted and will get there soon I hope.

My paternal Grandad is from those parts.

Quoted from ginnywings

We were supposed to be touring Ireland for 2 months this summer down the Wild Atlantic Way but had to cancel. We would still have been there now had we gone.

Was gutted and will get there soon I hope.

My paternal Grandad is from those parts.

Hopefully you can get to do that in the not too distant future. I am sure it will be an unforgettable experience.

I am planning my next visit next May.

If it suits Macca, then who are we to say if its a good move for him or not. Good luck to him, and I hope they have a Home Bargains there. He will miss that the most

Lost 3-1 last night

According to an Irish mate (Shamrock Rovers fan), Brexit has helped Irish footie.  In the past, any young talent would go to English academies to further their trade.  Brexit makes it harder so home grown academies have improved as a result.  The facilities are still way behind though.

Quoted from FishFan101

Joined Finn Harps FC in the League of Ireland. Best of luck in the next stages of your career James  

Pleased he has got a club but must of been a big decision to take going to Ireland. Uprooting himself from Grimsby where his family is now  established and children go to school. I imagine his family would be staying in Grimsby and he would  be visiting every so often .

On another note though I can see why some players jack it in and cant be bothered with the whole professional set up lower down the leagues. Going from club to club up and down the country,living in hotels,seeing your children every now and then, long car journeys. I think there are joys to be had from living the dream as a professional lower league footballer but certainly a lot of pitfalls as well.

Not a great start for JM

Two minutes before half-time, Bohs doubled the lead when McKeown dropped Ryan Burke's cross and Josh Kerr slammed to the net.

It felt as if it was game on, but disaster struck in the third minute of the second half. The back-peddling McKeown appeared caught in two minds and he palmed McDaid’s dangerous ball into the path of a grateful Junior, who easily nodded into the net.

Quoted from SuperJoeyWaters

Not a great start for JM

Two minutes before half-time, Bohs doubled the lead when McKeown dropped Ryan Burke's cross and Josh Kerr slammed to the net.

It felt as if it was game on, but disaster struck in the third minute of the second half. The back-peddling McKeown appeared caught in two minds and he palmed McDaid’s dangerous ball into the path of a grateful Junior, who easily nodded into the net.

The same problems re occurring then