Rest in Peace – Keith Strong

Keith Strong died on Friday after a long illness aged 39. Keith was an all-round sportsman who played his cricket at Binfield CC and his football at Binfield FC and Finchampstead FC.

We would like to invite people to send their memories of Keith for us to post. This is the first from Mark Baker.

I first met Keith when I was 10 years old at trials for the Bracknell Primary Schools District U11’s side, Keith by this time had already played a season for the district side, playing a year above his age. A tricky right-winger full of pace, who would terrorise the opposition, with a right foot full of power and a pair of Adidas Beckenbaur-super football boots, the coveted boot of the time.

Most of us of course will remember Keith for his goal-keeping prowess, a fantastic keeper (both football and cricket) who would pull a ball heading for the top corner out of the air, being ever self critical if he failed to hang on to it. Playing for both footballing codes, the blues (Finch) and the reds (Binfield) the difficulty each club had was convincing Keith that goal keeping was actually his best position! If you where to ask Keith himself, he would tell you his best position was ‘librero’, a reference to Franz Beckenbauer and those boots he wore as a 10 year old.

A true sportsman and a great friend to all he knew him, he will be sorely missed.

Mark Baker

If you would like to send in your tribute to Keith, click here.