It seemed a strange move when Garry Hill brought in an ageing Mark Keen from Ryman Division One Braintree in January 2000. The Daggers were already on course for the title having started the season like a house on fire, but that didn’t stop the management from looking to cement this position with new signings. As it turned out, Keeno went on to become a cult figure on the terraces.
Mark first made a name for himself as a defender at Southern League Dartford in the 80s before moving onto Enfield who were relegated to the Isthmian League in 1990. He twice found himself a runner-up whilst with the E’s as our very own Redbridge Forest and then Woking the following year proved just too good. Peter Taylor was cutting his managerial teeth with both the Darts and Enfield at this time but, perhaps more tellingly for what was to follow, his assistant was a certain Terry Harris. Whilst at Southbury Road Keeno played alongside several other names that may be familiar to Dagenham supporters, such as Mark Kane, Pat Staunton, and top-scorer Graham Westley.
After leaving Enfield, Mark went on to play for Heybridge Swifts and St. Albans under Garry Hill before arriving at the Daggers following half a season with the Iron. Garry was most definitely in favour of signing players he knew with several of St. Albans’ side following him to Victoria Road, and he obviously knew the qualities Keen would bring to the promotion push.
His first start in a Daggers shirt came at Carshalton in an incredibly boring 1-1 draw, just days after the superb 3-1 win at title rivals St. Albans. Restricted mainly to substitute appearances, he was often brought on in an attacking role when a change of approach was required. His first major impact on a game was in the return game against, yes them again, St. Albans when he came off the bench to inspire the side to a 2-1 victory. However, it was against Farnborough five weeks later that he earnt hero status.
Finding ourselves 2-0 down with time ebbing away it seemed there was about to be another twist in the title race. With our loss at Aldershot and subsequent draw at Enfield a few weeks previously, nerves were fraying all around the ground, but Keeno had other ideas. Sent on for Matt Jones into a 3-pronged attack with Shipp and Cobb, he netted two goals and then set up Cobby for the winner in one of the finest comebacks seen at Victoria Road.
He wasn’t finished there. On the day that we were hoping to seal the title away at Hampton and Richmond Borough, goalkeeper Paul Newell was sent off as we led 1-0 with ten minutes left of the first half. Without a recognised keeper on the bench, Keeno was pressed into service. He could do nothing about goals either side of half-time despite an admirable performance, and even after the further sending off of Dominic Naylor, the Daggers came back to win 3-2 and seal the title in truly exceptional style.
Everybody was probably expecting Mark to be one of the close-season departures given his age and the promotion, but he actually started the first match back in the Conference away at Leigh RMI. This time he was back in defence as pre-season injuries left us with only 4 fit defenders but, of course, he scored the first goal in a 2-1 win. He actually went on to become a key squad member that season, scoring vital goals in a 4-4 draw at Forest Green, a 2-0 win at Stevenage and a 3-1 victory over Hayes in the 2nd game of an amazing FA Cup run.
Not content with his role as a defender, he reprised his goalkeeping exploits away to Morecambe at the end of the season. With Roberts sent off, his first task was to pick the ball out of the net from the resulting penalty. However, with the game now poised at 3-2, he incredibly saved a second penalty to maintain the lead and secure a 3rd place finish.
In total Mark played 45 matches for the Daggers, scoring 6 goals in surely one of the quickest ever elevations to legendary status you will find. He went on to play for Chelmsford City before hanging up his boots.
