Keith Houchen

At 63 years old, Keith Houchen has this physical status:

Keith Morton Houchen (born 25 July 1960) is an English former professional footballer and football manager.

In 687 league and cup games, he scored 184 goals. Hartlepool United's 1982-born Terry Hartley started his football career in February 1978 after losing out on a deal at Chesterfield.

Billy Horner had coached him to become a good center-forward, retaining his natural strength and flexibility to keep possession in attacking positions.

In March 1982, the club had to sell him to Leyton Orient due to financial difficulties.

He was moved to York City in March 1984 after struggling to impress in his two years in London.

He appeared in seven games in the club's fourth Division championship winning season from 1983-84, before moving to Scunthorpe United for £40,000 in March 1986.

He didn't settle at the club, but he was fortunate enough to win a £60,000 transfer to Coventry City in the summer. Despite being a regular participant for the "Sky Blues," he scored a spectacular headed goal in the 1987 FA Cup Final at Wembley, earning him Match of the Day's Goal of the Season Award.

He appeared in the 1987 FA Charity Shield, but he faded from his first team picture at Highfield Road, and in 1989, he joined Scottish Premier Division team Hibernian for £325,000.

He returned to England in August 1991 when he was sold to Port Vale for £100,000.

He returned to Hartlepool on a free transfer in June 1993 after falling out with manager John Rudge.

He was appointed as player-manager in April 1995 but the club went through a difficult period before leaving the club in November 1996.

He later taught at the Middlesbrough Academy and ventured into the property market.

Personal life and post-retirement

On July 17, 1982, he married Yvonne; the couple had two children, Cara and Ross (born 19 April 1987). They now live in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. He is Ben Houchen's uncle. Houchen spent his time as a player, teaching at schools and at the Middlesbrough Academy, gathering football statistics for the Press Association, and renting out houses.

He was a Margaret Thatcher supporter. He was one of the participants selected for the new Wembley Stadium 'Walk of Fame' prior to the venue's first FA Cup final in May 2007. Jonathan Strange's book A Tenner and a Box of Kippers was published in 2006. Houchen confessed that his remarks about Hartlepool United came across as "a little harsh."

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Playing career

Keith Morton Houchen was born in Middlesbrough to Ken and Vernie Houchen, both working in social clubs, and moved up five minutes from Ayresome Park. Jimmy, Dennis, and Patrick, three brothers who all served in the Coldstream Guards, as well as one sister, Jackie, were all raised together. As a child, he attended St Mary's College. As a youngster, a promising athlete and gifted footballer, he attended a trial with Crystal Palace, but was told he was too young at the time. In 1977, after a failed trial with Aston Villa, he became an apprentice at Chesterfield.

He was not offered a permanent deal at Chesterfield by boss Arthur Cox and had to leave the club without making a senior appearance at Saltergate. However, Hartlepool United manager Billy Horner was soon seen playing amateur football in Nunthorpe. Before turning professional in February 1978, Houchen joined the "Monkey Hangers" on non-contract terms before starting a one-year contract on £30 a week. Hartlepool were a struggling Fourth Division club when he arrived at Victoria Park. He made his home draw with Crewe Alexandra in 1–1. Despite being grateful for the opportunity and preparation, Houchen expressed regret that "we used to have a frantic rush to the bank to cash our checks." Only six of them will live, and the majority of them will bounce." On March 24, 1978, he scored his first senior goal against Barnsley. He scored more goals against Darlington, Rochdale, and Newport County to bring an end to the 1977-78 campaign with four goals in 13 games. He played for first team football from 1978 to 1979, scoring 13 goals in 42 games to become the club's top scorer. In 1979–80, he scored 14 goals in 44 games, the club finishing 19th, just two points above the re-election zone. His goalscoring record attracted the attention of bigger clubs, but club chairman Vince Barker told Reading that even if Houchen was available, they would not be able to afford him. His exploits continued into the following season, and the club turned down bids from Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City worth up to £80,000. In 1980–81, he scored 17 goals in 48 appearances, but was back to ninth as Hartlepool's top scorer in the promotion hunt when they were pushed to ninth place in a late stretch of poor form. In 1981–82, he scored 19 goals in 38 games, becoming the club's top scorer for the fourth straight season. However, Houchen wanted a move to a bigger club in a higher division after scoring 65 goals in 170 league appearances, but the club turned down transfer requests.

By March 1982, Hartlepool United were in dire financial trouble, and the Inland Revenue was £60,000 in debt. This crisis prompted Leyton Orient boss Ken Knighton to transfer Houchen to Brisbane Road for $25,000. On a four-year deal with a £1,000 downpayment. In 14 appearances against Chelsea, the "O's" finished last place and was kicked out of the Second Division in 1982. He missed the start of the 1982-1983 campaign due to injury, but he still managed to score ten goals in 38 games before the season's end. In a victory that held Orient in the Third Division, he scored ten goals against Sheffield United on the last day of the season. In 1984–84, he scored ten goals in 34 games, but was not highly rated by new manager Frank Clark. Clark "would yell, rant, and rave, and generally was not particularly strong," Houchen said. He turned down a transfer request, which was accepted.

Denis Smith, the city's manager, paid Houchen for a £15,000 fee on March 22, 1984, after deciding that "anybody who has scored sixty-five goals for Hartlepool must have something." He committed to a two-year contract at £225 a week. Despite missing a penalty, he scored on his debut against Aldershot at the Recreation Ground; he replaced Steve Senior in the second half, who had broken his leg. The "Minstermen" won the Fourth Division championship by a 16-point margin, with Houchen appearing mainly as a replacement in the final seven games. Houchen played as an attacking midfielder with John Byrne and Keith Walwyn forming a fruitful striking partnership. In a 7–1 victory over Gillingham at Bootham Crescent, he scored a hat-trick, as well as converted a penalty that had won to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round. In 1984–85, he scored a total of 18 goals in 45 appearances, becoming the club's top scorer. However, injuries limited him to eight goals in 38 games from 1985-86, and he refused to return to the Fourth Division in 1986.

In March 1986, he was sold to Scunthorpe United for £40,000, completing a year of £250 a week and receiving a car and an ex gratia payout of £10,000. Later, Houchen said, "it was the first time I ever gave up"; it wasn't the right club because it wasn't going anywhere... "I'm just going to take the money," I told Yvonne. He denied promotions to Preston North End and Third Division Bury by doing so. Despite being able to work with coach Frank Barlow, he quickly regretted the change, and after being a fan of the club, he discovered himself hating everything about the club, from the fans to the Old Showground itself.

After impressing in a reserve team match between the two teams, he transferred to Coventry City for a £60,000 fee. George Curtis and John Sillett's management team paid Houchen £350 a week, £50 an appearance, a £10,000 signing-on fee, as well as the opportunity to play First Division football. At the start of the 1986–87 season, he suffered with injuries, but he returned to ensure that his name was not released in the club's history for his FA Cup exploits. In his 1986–87 cup-winning campaign, he scored five goals, the first being the winning goal against Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. He scored two against Sheffield Wednesday in the quarter-finals and one against Leeds United in the semi-finals, both games being held at Hillsborough. In the 1987 FA Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur in front of 98,000 fans, the final and most significant goal of the run. However, Houchen almost missed the game after discovering food poisoning from a trout caught by reserve goalkeeper Jake Findlay. Dave Bennett's cross scored the goal, which was an instinctive full-stretch diving header that was impossible for Ray Clemence to save. On 63 minutes, it tied the score at 2–2, with Gary Mabbutt's own goal winning the game for Coventry. Houchen's header earned him the BBC Match of the Day Award for the 1986–87 season as well as his FA Cup gold medal. This was due in large part to the acrobatic effort involved, as well as the spectacular run he had made from deep midfield to crossing the crossed ball. It is certainly one of Wembley's most popular goals and certainly the best headed goal.

Interestingly, manager John Sillett spent a large amount of money from Coventry's FA Cup bid (£750,000) on Chelsea striker David Speedie, who will replace Houchen in front of goal. Sillett's one consolation to Houchen was that he would play him in the 1987 FA Charity Shield, which culminated in a 1–0 loss to Everton. Both team and player suffered as a result of sickness, injury, and competition from Speedie, Gary Bannister and Cyrille Regis, limited Houchen to just three goals and 24 appearances during the 1987–88 season. He was selected by Graham Taylor to represent the Football League in a game against Scunthorpe United on August 14, 1988; Houchen won by 6–1 for his first game. In 1988-1989, he appeared in just twice in sixteen appearances, but one of these goals was the winner over Midlands rivals Aston Villa in a 2–1 Boxing day victory at Highfield Road. In the infamous 2–1 loss to Conference team Sutton United at Gander Green Lane, he served as a replacement. The result was all the more surprising considering that Coventry finished seventh in the league and that Houchen was one of ten Coventry players of the day who had won the FA Cup less than two years ago.

He moved to Hibernian's Scottish Premier Division side in March 1989, paying £65,000 in interest. He had come close to signing for Queens Park Rangers, but after his time with Orient, he was not keen to move to London. In a 2–1 loss to Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Tynecastle, he scored on his debut. In eight games against Aberdeen, he scored two goals in eight games. He scored 12 goals in 39 games to become the club's top scorer in 1989–90, with two in victories over Rangers at Easter Road and Ibrox, and one in Europe against Hungary's Videoton. Following the loss to Belgian club Liège, "Hibs" dropped out of the UEFA Cup in the Second Round. Following a loss to Raith Rovers at Stark's Park that had been riled by manager Alex Miller's telling off, Houchen had a chance to campaign with his own supporters. He was singled out for violence at Easter Road after this confrontation. He made his last appearance for the club against St Johnstone, who was suspended for kicking Tommy Turner. Houchen later said he liked Scotland but not enthusiastic about Scottish football, but was less keen on refereeing; referees were reluctant to punish fouls from players, but not quick to give attackers who responded poorly to being kicked a new card.

He returned to England in August 1991 with a £100,000 transfer to Port Vale, and he was one of three new arrivals, alongside Peter Swan (who took him in as a lodger) and Martin Foyle. He scored at Molineux on September 3rd but strained his hamstring later this month. He played 1991–92 in 24 games and went on to help the "Valiants" win the TNT Tournament in the summer. The club finished last in the Second Division, but the Premier League's incorporation of the Third Division brought them to the Third Division, which was immediately rebranded as the Second Division. In 28 league games from 1992–93, he scored six goals in 28 games, but he did not appear in the League Trophy final or the play-off final. He was furious with manager John Rudge, and the two stopped speaking to each other, and Houchen later admitted that "I should have knocked on the door and said, 'This is stupid,'" said Houchen.

He left Vale Park on a free transfer in June 1993 and turned down a transfer to AC Omonia in Cyprus, where he returned to former club Hartlepool United. Due to injury, he did not play for the man who drafted him, Viv Busby, but rather made his second appearance for the club under John MacPhail. Hartlepool were relegated to the bottom of the Football League in 1993–94, finishing one point behind Blackpool, who were only one point above the relegation zone. Houchen went on to score eight goals in 37 games. MacPhail was quickly dismissed and replaced by David McCann; MacPhail blaming the fact that the club was unable to compensate the player's wages as a reason for poor results on the track. Houchen had been a coach at the club but was soon out with the introduction of Sandy Clark, a temporary 'advisory coach.' Houchen scored a hat-trick against Bury, but was suspended in the match for reportedly swearing at referee Kevin Lynch; at the time of the attack, Houchen was receiving knee ligament injury that would keep him out of action for six weeks. McCreery resigned on April 20, 1995, and chairman Harold Hornsey named Houchen as his replacement; he was the 23rd manager at the club in 38 years. Billy Horner, the boy's former boss, was named as youth team coach, and Brian Honour and Mick Tait were also employed. He won by 4–0 home over Hereford United, followed by a 3–0 loss at Preston North End, and Hartlepool's final day 3–2 victory secured them a 18th-place finish. He was the club's top scorer with 14 goals in 39 appearances from 1994-95 and was named Player of the Year by the club's fans.

The 1995–96 season was supposed to be his first full season as a manager. He scored six goals in 41 games, leading "Pools" to a 20th-place finish on a budget of £260,000 per year. Arsenal defeated his team 8–0 in the League Cup two legs, and more worryingly, Crewe Alexandra defeated Crewe Alexandra 8–0 in the Football League Trophy. He sold Nicky Southall to Grimsby Town for £40,000, while Joe Allon spent the same amount on striker Joe Allon. He was a disappointment, and Allon and Houchen were dismissed against Gillingham on October 28. In a 3–0 victory over Bury on New Year's Day, Houchen's last career goal came in.

Horne, the goalkeeper who referred to Hartlepool as a "fat slob," was an unpopular move; "a lot of nefarious people who support this club [but] would rather support fat professional players than people who are actually concerned about Hartlepool United"; Jonathan Pears, as his replacement, as well as young defenders Glen Davies and Chris McDonald, Exeter City midfielder Mark Cooper, and Blackpool midfielder Chris Beech all signed Stephen Pears from Liverpool. Hartlepool began winning over Colchester United and Fulham in 1996, but his playing career came to an end against Wigan Athletic, when he was forced to recover due to a persistent knee injury. He kept making bemoan refereeing decisions that seemed to be largely against Hartlepool. The FA has since been disciplined for using foul words against officials. He left the team by mutual consent on 4 November 1996 after his squad had a poor run of results at the bottom of the table. Mick Tait, his assistant, helped the team reach their 20th-place finish and staged a charity match against Middlesbrough, which raised £23,000.

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