Blast From The Past: On This Day 2008 – See ‘Keeper Keiren (Sky Blues’ Carlisle Signing)!

Keiren with CCFC

On this day (18th June) in 2008, now CCFPA member, Keiren Westwood signed for the Sky Blues from Carlisle United on a three year contract. Discovered in his home town by Manchester City and loaned to Oldham Athletic in 2003-04 to develop him, neither club gave Keiren a first team opportunity. However at the Cumbrian side from 2004-05 he had plenty of opportunity and played more than 150 times before moving to the Ricoh in June 2008.

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson for providing the video of Keiren’s first interview on arrival in Sky Blue land (click on image below). In it the young ‘keeper says he was looking forward to working with club goalkeeping legend (and CCFPA member, only three years retired in 2019) Steve Ogrizovic.

Chris Coleman- Sky Blue Gaffer

It was clear that he was signed by City ‘gaffer’ Chris Coleman as a rival to/ replacement for (also now fellow CCFPA member) Andy Marshall. He was named in the Championship PFA ‘Team of the Year’ for 2009 in his debut season with CCFC and won our Association ‘Player of the Year’ award for 2009-10. By the time Keiren moved to Sunderland on a free in June 2011 he had clocked up 138 Sky Blue appearances. Keiren eventually slipped down the pecking order with the Black Cats making only 24 first team appearances before signing for Sheffield Wednesday in July 2014. He signed a two year extension to his contract in July 2019. Keiren appeared for the Owls 198 times beore leaving the club at the end of the 2020-21 season. Towards the end of  March 2022, the veteran shotstopper joined Queen’s Park Rangers and appeared six times between the Hoops’ sticks!

Apparently he still keeps fit, training at Crewe Alexandra and is looking forward to new challenges in the game probably in coaching next season (see a fairly recent interview here).

Keiren was first capped for the Republic of Ireland whilst at the Ricoh and has appeared 21 times for his country since 2009.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images