Fred Kean (1931 - 1934)
Born December 10th 1898 (Sheffield).
Died October 28th 1973 (Sheffield)
Position (Half Back)
League Appearances 117
Goals 5
Also Played For Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers
One of the greatest half backs in English football during the 1920`s, Fred Kean must rate amongst the best players ever to wear a Luton shirt. He was born in Sheffield, but his first club was Portsmouth where he did not make a first team appearance. He then joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1920 where he became one of the greats in English football. He played a part in Wednesday`s Division 2 Championship winning campaign in 1925/26, but did not play enough games to qualify for a medal. Although Wednesday spent most of the time in Division 2 while he was there it did not stop him winning seven England caps during that time, the first of which came in a 6-1 win over Belgium at Highbury in 1923. He was to play only a small part in Wednesday`s First Division Championship campagin in 1928/29. Early in that season he lost his his place in the team and immediately he put in a transfer request, and moved to Bolton Wanderers for what was at the time a record fee for the club. In his first season at Bolton he won an FA Cup winners medal as Wanderers defeated Portsmouth 2-0 in the final. He spent three seasons at Bolton and added two more England caps. He may have been nearly 35 by the time he signed for Luton in June 1931, but he still had three good years left in him. He was immediately made captain, and made his debut on the opening day of the 1931/32 season in a 2-1 loss at Reading. His skill and ability to get the best out of his team mates really stood out at Luton. A half back line of Kean, McGinnigle and Fraser was formidable, and possibly only matched by the trio of Finlayson, Nelson and Fellowes during the inter war period. His inspiration was a major factor during The Town`s FA Cup run in 1932/33. He was approaching his 39th birthday when he made his final appearance for The Town in September 1934.
Fred Kean, followed by Arthur Roberts and George Harford leads the Luton team out onto the Goodison Park pitch for the 6th Round FA Cup tie on March 4th 1933. Sadly for Luton that was as good as it got, they were beaten 6-0.
1885- 1950