Fred Keays

Fred Keays
Fred Keays in Egypt prior to Gallipoli, France combat
Personal information
Full name Frederick William Keays
Date of birth (1898-07-12)12 July 1898
Place of birth Richmond, Victoria
Date of death 24 June 1983(1983-06-24) (aged 84)
Place of death Newcomb, Victoria
Original team(s) Army / Fitzroy District
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 72 kg (159 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1919–20 Fitzroy 5 (1)
1922 Collingwood 3 (0)
Total 8 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1922.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Frederick William Keays (12 July 1898 – 24 June 1983) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy (1919–1921) and Collingwood (in the 1922 VFL season)[1][2] in the Victorian Football League (VFL). After his playing career, Fred competed in the 1927 Stawell Gift won by his rival at that time, Tom Miles.[3] He was a trainer and committee member for Fitzroy spanning two decades[4][5] until the Second World War. He served for a second time in WW2 having previously served and twice been wounded[6] as a 16-year-old ANZAC in WW1.[7][8]

Keays eldest son, Desmond Charles Keays[9] enlisted in 1941, was reported as missing in July 1942[10] and died in 1945 as a POW at Sandakan camp. Desmond is also remembered for paying the ultimate price for his country on the Fitzroy Football Club website – Fitzroy Football Club Anzac Day Tribute.

Fred Keays' grandson Terry Keays also played Australian rules football with Collingwood.[11] His great-grandson Ben Keays is a current Australian rules footballer with Adelaide.[12]

  1. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 April 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 1 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Collingwood Football Club Web Site – Playing List For 1922 Season
  3. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (19 March 1927). "The Stawell Gift – Record Entries Received". The Chronicle. Adelaide. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (14 February 1939). "IT WAS HARDLY FOOTBALL WEATHER". The Argus. Melbourne. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  5. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (30 June 1943). "STAN MOLAN PASSES". The Sporting Globe. Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  6. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (17 December 1917). "Role Of Honour – Victorian List – Wounded". Weekly Times. Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  7. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (19 October 1918). "Anzacs Welcomed Home". The Independent. Footscray. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Frederick William Keays".
  9. ^ Desmond Charles KeaysArchived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (24 July 1942). "List Of Interstate Army Casualties". The Advertiser. Australia, Adelaide. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  11. ^ Terry Keays Collingwood Football Club
  12. ^ Ben Keays has plenty of footballing history in his family as he makes his AFL debutArchived 7 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine