Oh, Brothers! Update

Early in the year, we were of the belief that a unique event in English football could have occurred when three Holsgrove brothers all scored in Windsor & Eton’s 3-3 draw with Heybridge Swifts in a Ryman League Premier Division game on Saturday 8 January 2005.
We now know that - although very rare - it is not the first time it has happened.Early in the year, we were of the belief that a unique event in English football could have occurred when three Holsgrove brothers all scored in Windsor & Eton’s 3-3 draw with Heybridge Swifts in a Ryman League Premier Division game on Saturday 8 January 2005. We now know that - although very rare - it is not the first time it has happened.

Paul, Peter and Lee all put the Holsgrove name on the score sheet for the Royalists at Stag Meadow.

We are now aware that three other brothers - Tom, Frank and Harry Keetley - all scored for Doncaster Rovers in a 5-1 win against Durham City in the Third Division (North) at Belle Vue on 9 April 1927.

The lads were three of the 11 sons (and one daughter) of Mr and Mrs William Keetley of Graham Street in Derby.

Nine of the boys went on to play for a local amateur team called Victoria Ironworks, six of them played in the Football League and, generally, they weren’t lacking in the ability of scoring goals.

Tom, who also played for Derby County, Bradford Park Avenue, Notts County, Lincoln City and Gresley Rovers, became one of the first greats in Doncaster’s history by virtue of 180 goals in 231 league appearances including six against Ashington on 16 February 1929.

He wasn’t the only Keetley to hit six. Frank did it for Lincoln City in the space of 21 minutes in a 9-1 drubbing of Halifax Town on 16 January 1932. Usually operating as a winger, Frank counted Derby County, Bradford City, Hull City, Margate and Worcester City amongst his other clubs.

Tom, Frank and Harry were joined at Doncaster by Joe - also of Bolton Wanderers, Accrington Stanley, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham and Horwich RMI.

All four were signed by manager Dick Ray who went on to sign a fifth Keetley - Charlie - when he was later in charge of Leeds United. In keeping with the family tradition, Charlie - later of Bradford City and Reading - made himself popular with an avalanche of goals. He started scoring on his debut against South Shields on 31 December 1927 and went on to score 110 goals in 169 games during his time at Elland Road.

Albert made three appearances in the Football League for Burton United while Billy, Arthur and Jack all played professionally. The two remaining brothers (named in various sources as either Sid and Lawrence or George and Jim) played at amateur level.

We would like to thank Bob Dunning for his help. His football speciality is the 1970-71 season as you’ll discover at his Bob and the 1970-71 Footballers site.

Naturally, if you think there are more examples of three of more brothers scoring in a game, we’d be delighted and grateful to hear from you. Please forward the details to mark@11v11.com