DATE OF BIRTH: 12 December 1937, Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1956) California; (1963) St Austell, Oxford; (1964-75) Swindon. CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 412 (313 League; 1 National Trophy; 23 Knock-Out Cup; 1 Inter-League Knock-Out Cup; 31 Midland Cup; 2 Easter Cup; 35 Challenge; 1 Five-Team Tournament; 5 Four-Team Tournament) Rides: 1,447 Points: 1,642 Bonus: 248 Total: 1,890 Average: 5.22 Maximums: 6 (2 full and 4 paid)
CLUB DEBUT: 6 October 1962 versus Stoke (Away) Challenge; 1 point (3 rides).
MICHAEL JOHN KEEN was one of the nicest chaps who ever pulled on a Swindon race-jacket. There was always a smile and a grin, although he was especially unlucky with injuries, being personally blameless for many of the hard knocks that he took. Despite the bruising, though, nothing ever wiped the smile from his face.
‘Keener' was always interested in motorcycles and wanted, from an early age, to become a speedway rider. Having taken his initial skids at California in 1956, he eventually represented a so-called Swindon ‘B' side in a challenge match at Stoke on 6 October 1962, netting a single point from three rides. Fifteen days after that, he produced a scintillating performance as he raced to a 12-point maximum to take victory in the Training School Championship Trophy at Rye House.
In 1963, then-Oxford boss Dickie Worth shelled out a £50 fee to obtain Mike's signature and, after making his official debut with St Austell in the Provincial League, he was to go on and make the odd appearance for the Cheetahs at National League level. However, his preference was to ride for Swindon and, following some behind-the-scenes haggling, he eventually got his wish.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, 27 March 1964, he began a twelve-season love affair with the club when he rode in the away leg of the Easter Cup, ironically against Oxford, failing to score from two starts. The standard of racing was high and Keen generally struggled, never actually riding in a National League match that year.
The advent of the British League in 1965 saw Mike gain a regular team place and plenty of opportunities. He ended the season with a 3.89 average, having netted 89 points and although he tended to find it hard going on the team's travels, the highlights at Blunsdon included tallies of paid 11 and paid 10 against Edinburgh and Sheffield, respectively.
He made good progress in 1966, raising his league average to 5.39, only for disaster to strike immediately after he had netted his first paid maximum (8+4) for the Robins in a home match versus Exeter on 20 August. In the second-half, he was involved in a nasty accident with Eric Howe and Jimmy Squibb, sustaining cuts to the head and a badly broken finger. The injuries were serious enough to sideline him for the remainder of the year.
Back at full fitness, Keen remained ever-present throughout 1967 and, although his average slipped back to 4.40, his 109 points were a valuable contribution as Swindon swept to the British League Championship. The Robins' wonderful side that year being completed by Barry Briggs, Mike Broadbank, Martin Ashby, Bob Kilby, Pete Munday and Frank Shuter, whilst Peter Jackson provided good cover when there were any injuries.
A dramatic resurgence in form saw Keen post a 6.23 average from a full quota of thirty-six league matches in 1968, his performances including paid maximums in successive home fixtures against Glasgow and Poole early in the campaign.
The improvement continued in 1969, when his league average rose to 6.80, despite a spell on the injured list with a broken wrist. The year also saw him collect his first full maximum, when he produced four faultless rides, as the Robins sent Newport packing from Blunsdon by 54 points to 24 on 20 September.
Regrettably, although he missed only one league fixture in 1970, Mike just couldn't seem to get going and his average disappointingly fell back to just 4.27. Obviously determined to make amends, the diminutive racer began the following campaign on fire, netting a paid maximum in the very first league match of the term at home to West Ham. That set the tone for the season, with consistency returning to his game, as he knocked-up his best-ever total of 209 points for a solid league figure of 6.70.
Keen's somewhat yo-yo form continued in 1972, with a bad year seeming to follow a good one once more. In a patchy campaign, nothing really went his way and this was aptly reflected by a total of just 83 points from the league programme and a 3.96 average.
Amazingly, he bounced back to his best in 1973, an early bright spot being a 15-point full-house in a home league match against Halifax on 20 April. Keen was to finish the year with a 6.57 average to his name, but unfortunately he was dogged by injury, receiving leg ligament damage and a broken collarbone in separate incidents, which restricted him to just seventeen league appearances.
His final two seasons in the sport saw his league average again dip dramatically, although he again missed many matches through injury, particularly in 1975. It therefore came as little surprise when he retired at the cessation of that year. Deservedly, he was awarded a Testimonial in 1976, with the Abbey Stadium hosting his special meeting on 19 June. Typical of his luck - in one of the driest summers on record - it rained on his big day. Thankfully, the meeting went ahead and saw Swindon defeat Mike Keen's Seven by 47 points to 31, although the attendance would certainly have been swelled in more pleasing conditions.
He was 100 per cent reliable as a loyal club man - making over 400 appearances in the red and white of Swindon - emphasizing that although speedway must have the star names, it's the blokes like Mike Keen who are the very life blood of the sport.
On 27 July 2006, Mike was the guest of honour at Blunsdon, when he became the sixth former rider to be inducted into the Legends' Lounge.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 12 December 1937, Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, 27 March 1964, he began a twelve-season love affair with the club when he rode in the away leg of the Easter Cup, ironically against Oxford, failing to score from two starts. The standard of racing was high and Keen generally struggled, never actually riding in a National League match that year.
Amazingly, he bounced back to his best in 1973, an early bright spot being a 15-point full-house in a home league match against Halifax on 20 April. Keen was to finish the year with a 6.57 average to his name, but unfortunately he was dogged by injury, receiving leg ligament damage and a broken collarbone in separate incidents, which restricted him to just seventeen league appearances.
