Keates, the driving force of the new look Imps

By Nathan Jackson
September 1 2005

As you may have guessed, I've been very impressed with new signing Dean Keates, so we now look in-depth at the midfielder. Having joined the Imps from Kidderminster, Dean has become a real fans favourite with his determined displays in recent weeks and even ended a 3 year curse in free-kicks

The midfielder, who stands at a measley 5ft 6 inches, makes up for his lack of height, with an abundance of skill and willingness to get stuck in. Dean is full of energy and even just a second too long on the ball for the opposition, and there will be Keates about to challenge for the ball. It's very refreshing to see a midfielder who is so willing to get stuck in after the sometimes half-hearted attempts of Peter Gain who left the Imps during the summer.

Keates, like his fellow teammate Gary Birch joined in the summer from Kidderminster Harriers and also played together at Walsall. Harriers fans, including my friend Scott, were distraught to see the player, who they rated as their best player, allowed to lave on a free transfer and apparantly, there was no fight at the Aggborough end to keep him.

Keates' performace against Rushden, resulted in something that wasn't seen for a very long time for City fans. It was the first time under Keith Alexander tenure that we scored directly from a free kick in the league. It was the first of it's kind since Kingsley Black's 86th minute effort against Exeter in March 2001. The only other goal City had scored directly from a free kick under Keith Alexander was from Adam Buckley in the LDV Vans Trophy against Shrewsbury Town.

Keates, who used to play for City's local rivals, Hull City said that goal ranked right up their with the best he's ever scored and I spoke to him before the game against Carlisle and he had this to say,

"It was a screamer wasn't it? I can't recall scoring a better goal and despite it only earning us a point, I am pleased to have got my first, of hopefully many goals for the Imps."

When I informed him of being the first goalscorer direct from a free-kick, he was incredibly surprised.

"Seriously? Wow, that's something surprising, especially when you consider how many goals the club has scored from set pieces in the last few seasons"

As all my friends know, I was incredibly excited by the signing of Keates, a player who had impressed me everytime we'd played against thim and he looked like he could play at a considerably higher level than League 2.

Dean started his career for his home-town club of Walsall and he played 159 league games for the club between 1995 and 2002 before leaving for Hull City in the summer before the 2002/3 season. He was rated by many as the best midfielder in the division but that didn't save his Hull career after an injury ended his Hull career and he was sold to Kidderminster in early 2004 after 50 league games for the Tigers. At Kidderminster, Keates was the proverbial big fish (no pun intended) in a small pond and he often outshone the rest of the squad and in his 49 league games for the Harriers, he scored an impressive 7 goals before moving onto Sincil Bank during the summer.

Keates, who was one of 12 players to join the club in pre-season, said he jumped at the chance to join the Imps.

"Kidderminster had just got relegated and as soon as I heard about Lincoln's interest, there was only one place I really wanted to go. I had a great rapport with the fans at Aggborough but the chance to continue playing in the football league was too good to turn down"

So what will we see from Dean in the future? If his early displays for the club are anything to go by, then City can look forward to some classic free kicks from the fiery midfielder.