It is with much sadness that we must report the passing of Brian “Boots” Keenleyside on the
morning of Sunday November 2nd. He was aged 81.
Brian was one of the most talented sportsmen, in our area, when he was a young man. He was good
enough to play Northumberland County Cricket, but it was a on the rugby field that our Club
members will forever remember Brian.
He was educated at Monkseaton Grammar School but did not start to play rugby until he was aged
15. He joined Rockcliff Rugby Club in 1961 and played there for 10 years, captaining the Club for 2
seasons before he joined Morpeth Old Edwardians in February 1972. By the end of that season, he
had played 10 games and scored 79 points.
For the next 5 seasons he was a regular First XV player - he was top points scorer every season and
in 3 of those years he was also top try scorer. In the 1977/78 season he broke all the Club records
scoring 32 points in one match, 275 points in the season and he scored 23 tries breaking a record of
22 tries set by Alan Gordon in 1948/49.
When Brian finished playing First XV rugby, he had played 144 games and scored 1171 points
including 83 tries.
When Brian arrived at Mitford Road, he was already an established Northumberland Senior County
player. He had played his first senior game at Murrayfield in October 1966 against Edinburgh and
District and was to play for the County for more than a decade - not only at full back but also at fly
half and on the wing. He played for the North East Counties and for the North of England against Fiji.
When Brian stopped playing for the Club First XV, he continued to play for the junior sides for many
years and when he eventually retired, he helped Jimmy Pringle and coached the Club Colts.
When he left school, he joined the Northumberland Police as a Cadet and in 1963 he became a
Police Constable. He played his first rugby game for the British Police in 1964 against
Northumberland at the Gosforth County Ground. He was to play for the England and British Police
XV for many years.
Brian spent 30 years in the Police Force working in Bedlington, Ashington and North Shields and
finally at Amble as a Police Sergeant. In 1991 he was a awarded the British Empire Medal for Service
to the Police.
Brian was also a very good cricketer and played for many years in the Northumberland League for
both Morpeth and Ashington. A hard-hitting batsman and a fast bowler he was good enough to play
for Northumberland County in the Minor Counties League.
He devoted much of his time to charitable works and for many years was Secretary of the
Northumberland Branch of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Family Association.
Players who played with Brian and Morpeth Club members who watched him play will remember
him as one of the best players to play at Mitford Road. He was a strong running full back, deceptively
quick who had the ability to beat opposition on a sixpence - and never seemed to get his shorts dirty - but more than anything, everyone will remember that left boot that kicked so many points for the
Club. He will be greatly missed.
The Club send their sincere condolences to Brian’s wife Elaine and his 2 sons Alan and Ian who both
played rugby at Morpeth.
morning of Sunday November 2nd. He was aged 81.
Brian was one of the most talented sportsmen, in our area, when he was a young man. He was good
enough to play Northumberland County Cricket, but it was a on the rugby field that our Club
members will forever remember Brian.
He was educated at Monkseaton Grammar School but did not start to play rugby until he was aged
15. He joined Rockcliff Rugby Club in 1961 and played there for 10 years, captaining the Club for 2
seasons before he joined Morpeth Old Edwardians in February 1972. By the end of that season, he
had played 10 games and scored 79 points.
For the next 5 seasons he was a regular First XV player - he was top points scorer every season and
in 3 of those years he was also top try scorer. In the 1977/78 season he broke all the Club records
scoring 32 points in one match, 275 points in the season and he scored 23 tries breaking a record of
22 tries set by Alan Gordon in 1948/49.
When Brian finished playing First XV rugby, he had played 144 games and scored 1171 points
including 83 tries.
When Brian arrived at Mitford Road, he was already an established Northumberland Senior County
player. He had played his first senior game at Murrayfield in October 1966 against Edinburgh and
District and was to play for the County for more than a decade - not only at full back but also at fly
half and on the wing. He played for the North East Counties and for the North of England against Fiji.
When Brian stopped playing for the Club First XV, he continued to play for the junior sides for many
years and when he eventually retired, he helped Jimmy Pringle and coached the Club Colts.
When he left school, he joined the Northumberland Police as a Cadet and in 1963 he became a
Police Constable. He played his first rugby game for the British Police in 1964 against
Northumberland at the Gosforth County Ground. He was to play for the England and British Police
XV for many years.
Brian spent 30 years in the Police Force working in Bedlington, Ashington and North Shields and
finally at Amble as a Police Sergeant. In 1991 he was a awarded the British Empire Medal for Service
to the Police.
Brian was also a very good cricketer and played for many years in the Northumberland League for
both Morpeth and Ashington. A hard-hitting batsman and a fast bowler he was good enough to play
for Northumberland County in the Minor Counties League.
He devoted much of his time to charitable works and for many years was Secretary of the
Northumberland Branch of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Family Association.
Players who played with Brian and Morpeth Club members who watched him play will remember
him as one of the best players to play at Mitford Road. He was a strong running full back, deceptively
quick who had the ability to beat opposition on a sixpence - and never seemed to get his shorts dirty - but more than anything, everyone will remember that left boot that kicked so many points for the
Club. He will be greatly missed.
The Club send their sincere condolences to Brian’s wife Elaine and his 2 sons Alan and Ian who both
played rugby at Morpeth.
