James Keatings

James Keatings (born 20 January 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He has previously played for Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, St Johnstone, Hibernian and Dundee United plus a loan and two permanent spells at Hamilton Academical. In May 2019, he agreed to play for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the following season.

James Keatings
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-01-20) 20 January 1992
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Youth career
Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers
2003–2011 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Celtic 0 (0)
2012 → St Johnstone (loan) 4 (0)
2012 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 8 (2)
2013–2014 Hamilton Academical 30 (13)
2014–2015 Heart of Midlothian 29 (11)
2015–2017 Hibernian 52 (14)
2017–2018 Dundee United 16 (3)
2018–2019 Hamilton Academical 17 (1)
2019– Inverness Caledonian Thistle 21 (5)
National team‡
2007–2008 Scotland U16 6 (4)
2008 Scotland U17 6 (1)
2009–2010 Scotland U19 6 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:10, 2 April 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:29, 6 May 2017 (UTC)

Keatings has also represented Scotland at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level.

Club career

Celtic

Raised in Wishaw, Keatings joined Celtic's youth system from local boys club Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers at a young age and captained the under-17 side.[1] While a member of the Glasgow club's under-19s, he was named as a substitute for the first team's game against Hibernian on 10 November 2010.[2] He made the bench on one further occasion[3] before suffering a cruciate knee injury in April;[4] despite the injury, he still finished the under-19s' top scorer with 25 goals.[5] In June 2011, he was rewarded with a new three-year contract extending his stay until 2014.[4]

After a long rehabilitation and playing with the Celtic development squad, he was sent out on loan to aid his recovery.

St Johnstone (loan)

On 30 January 2012, Keatings joined fellow Scottish Premier League club St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.[6][7] He made his debut on 5 February as a substitute against Hearts in the Scottish Cup,[8] with his SPL debut coming on 25 February against Dunfermline Athletic.[9] In all he made five appearances for the club.[10]

Hamilton Academical (loan)

On 24 August 2012, Keatings joined First Division club Hamilton Academical on a loan deal.[11] The next day, he made his debut coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 1–0 loss against Cowdenbeath. On 22 September 2012, Keatings came on as a second-half substitute scored twice, in a 3–3 comeback against Dumbarton.[12] By the January transfer window, Keatings' spell with Hamilton had been terminated after his loan was cancelled.[13]

Hamilton Academical

After ten years with Celtic, Keatings was released by the club in summer 2013.[14] Ahead of the new 2013–14 season, he went to Australia to have trials at Brisbane Roar[15] and Newcastle Jets.[16] Despite an offer in Australia[17] he joined Hamilton on a permanent deal on 18 July, signing a one-year contract having impressed the club during pre-season training.[18] At the time, he said that he hoped joining the club would help him get his career back on track.[19]

Keatings made a perfect start for the club when he scored twice in the first round of the League Cup as they beat Stirling Albion 3–0.[20] In the league, he scored three goals in two games against Raith Rovers[21] and Dumbarton.[22] He scored twice in a 2–0 win over Livingston on 5 October 2013, ending a goalscoring drought of six matches.[23] However, he sustained a calf injury during a match against Raith Rovers and was sidelined for two weeks.[24] He made his return in a 3–0 loss to Dundee on 23 November 2013. Keatings would score another three goals in two games against Cowdenbeath[25] and Dumbarton, which put his goal tally at ten.[26] After the match, he stated that he believed the promotion race in the Scottish Championship would go all the way in the remaining 15 matches.[27] Keatings scored his 15th goal of the season in all competitions in a match against Raith Rovers on 25 March 2014. He said after the match: "I hadn't scored in three games and managed to put a header in the corner. The position I'm playing in means I haven't had many chances like that, it's probably the only one that has dropped to me in the box, and I'm delighted. Hopefully I get more and achieve my target."[28]

Despite initially indicating he would sign a new contract with Accies following their promotion to the Scottish Premiership,[29] Keatings rejected the club's offer.[30] In all he made 35 appearances, scoring 15 times over the course of the season.[31]

Heart of Midlothian

On 13 June 2014, it was announced Keatings had signed a two-year contract with recently relegated Scottish Championship side Heart of Midlothian.[32] After joining Hearts, Keatings said joining the club made him "over the moon to have the opportunity to sign for a big club like this after leaving Hamilton."[33] In his first league start, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 victory over Raith Rovers at Stark's Park.[34] Keatings scored a "fantastic" goal against Queen of the South at home in a 4–1 victory,[35] for his fifth league goal of the season. He was released by Hearts at the end of the 2014–15 season, having only served half of his initial two-year contract.[36]

Hibernian

On 1 June 2015, Keatings signed a two-year contract with Hearts' Edinburgh rivals, Championship side Hibernian.[37] In his first league start for Hibs he scored the opening goal in a 2–0 victory over Raith Rovers at Easter Road.[38] On 7 November, he scored a hat-trick for Hibs in a 4–1 win at St Mirren.[39] He netted twice against Falkirk in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, although Hibs eventually lost the match 3–2. He came on as a substitute in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, which Hibs won 3–2 against Rangers.[40]

Keatings scored eight goals in 30 appearances for Hibs during the 2016–17 season,[41] as they earned promotion to the Premiership.[42]

Dundee United

Dundee United announced on 8 May 2017 that they had reached an agreement to sign Keatings when his contract with Hibernian expired, the player having made a decision to make a 'fresh start'.[41][43] He spent one season with United, during which they failed to achieve promotion and he struggled with his mental and physical health.[44] Having decided to commute to Dundee from his home in Lanarkshire,[45] he later remarked that the travelling distances were a factor in his ongoing depression during the period, as well as injuries and upsetting issues involving family members.[46][43]

Return to Hamilton

On 31 August 2018, Keatings signed for Hamilton Academical for a third time, with the club having remained in the Premiership throughout the four years since his previous departure.[47] His mental health improved at a club he knew well and which was far closer to his home.[43] Keatings left Hamilton in May 2019 after his contract was mutually terminated.[48]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

On 13 May 2019, Inverness Caledonian Thistle announced the pre-contract signing of Keatings on a two-year deal.[49]

In February 2020, Keatings was at the centre of widespread media attention after he was sent off (a second yellow card) for simulation (diving) in the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final win over Rangers Under-21s despite appearing to be body-checked by his opponent, meaning he would miss the final through suspension.[50] After the club appealed in an effort to overturn the referee's decision, it was ruled the ban would be upheld with no further explanation, to the surprise of most of the footballing community.[51] This led to reactions from fans and from pundits such as Gary Lineker, who stated "Not even close to a dive. Would be an injustice to miss out on a cup final for this."[52] The Scottish Football Association then rescinded the ban a week later, stating that the original appeal panel members had not considered all the available evidence, meaning their decision was "not competent".[53]

International career

Keatings has represented Scotland at under-16,[54] under-17[55] and under-19 level.[56]

Career statistics
As of 12 September 2019[57]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2010–11[58] Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
2011–12[59] 00000000—00
2012–13[60] 00000000—00
Total 000000000000
St Johnstone (loan) 2011–12[59] Scottish Premier League 401000——50
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2012–13[60] Scottish First Division 820020—00102
Hamilton Academical 2013–14[61] Scottish Championship 30130022—3[lower-alpha 1]03515
Heart of Midlothian 2014–15[62] Scottish Championship 29111020—1[lower-alpha 2]03311
Hibernian 2015–16[63] Scottish Championship 2895140—4[lower-alpha 3]24112
2016–17[64][nb 1] 24533102[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 2]0318
Total 5214845020527220
Dundee United 2017–18[65] Scottish Championship 1630031—2[lower-alpha 2]0204
2018–19[66] Scottish Championship 000010—0010
Total 16300410020214
Hamilton Academical 2018–19[66] Scottish Premiership 1710000——171
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2019–20 Scottish Championship 420041—0083
Career total 160481041943010220253
  1. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs
  2. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. Appearances in the Premiership play-offs
  4. Appearances in the Europa League

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

Hibernian

Notes
  1. Soccerbase did not record two appearances made by Keatings against Brondby IF on 14 July and 21 July 2016. It also wrongly recorded an appearance by Brian Graham against Dundee United on 10 March 2017 as being made by Keatings.
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References
  1. "School pals captain Celtic and Aberdeen U-17s". Daily Record. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  2. "Hearts 2–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  3. "Aberdeen 0 – 3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  4. "Celtic hand teenager James Keatings pro contract". The Scotsman. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  5. "James Keatings Celtic Profile". Celtic. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  6. "James Keatings moves to St Johnstone on loan". Celtic. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  7. "Spurs' Kudos Oyenuga and Celtic's James Keatings join St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  8. "Hearts 1- 1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  9. "Murray and Callum Davidson combined to help secure a St Johnstone win that means double trouble for Dunfermline's hopes of avoiding relegation". BBC Sport. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  10. "Games played by James Keatings in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  11. "Cowdenbeath versus Accies Preview". accies.co.uk. Hamilton Academical F.C. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  12. "Billy Reid pleads for patience after Hamilton's late late show against Dumbarton". Daily Record. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  13. "Transfer roundup: No money changes hands in SFL". The Scotsman. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  14. "5 players have left Celtic so far this summer". Sports Blog. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  15. "Striker heads for Australia". Video Celts. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  16. "Burns on radar as Jets kick off pre-season". Newcastle Herald. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. "Keatings more than happy with Accies ahead of Australia". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  18. "Hamilton Accies Sign Ex-Celtic Striker". Hamilton Advertiser. 18 July 2013.
  19. "Striker James Keatings Hopes To Fire Hamilton to the Big Time". dailyrecord.co.uk. Hamilton Advertiser. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  20. "Stirling Albion 0 – 3 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
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  22. "Hamilton 4–1 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
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  24. "Blow for Accies as striker James Keatings ruled out for at least two weeks". Daily Record. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
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  33. "Keatings: I've joined one of Scotland's big guns". Edinburgh Evening News. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  34. Hannan, Martin (24 August 2014). "Raith Rovers 0 - 4 Hearts: Keatings crushes Rovers". The Scotsman.
  35. "Match Report - Hearts 4 - 1 Q of South - 06 Dec 2014". Sky Sports.
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  53. James Keatings: Inverness CT striker's ban revoked by Scottish FA tribunal, BBC Sport, 27 February 2020
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  56. "James Keatings – U19 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  57. James Keatings at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
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  62. "Games played by James Keatings in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  63. "Games played by James Keatings in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  64. "Games played by James Keatings in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  65. "Games played by James Keatings in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
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