Keaghan Jacobs

Keaghan Jacobs

Personal information
Date of birth	(1989-09-09) 9 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Gala Fairydean Rovers
Youth career
2006–2007	Livingston
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2015	Livingston	171	(22)
2015–2016	Bidvest Wits	1	(0)
2017–2022	Livingston	81	(1)
2022	→ Falkirk (loan)	12	(0)
2022–2024	Arbroath	27	(0)
2024–	Gala Fairydean Rovers	19	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 December 2024

Keaghan Jacobs (born 9 September 1989) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Scottish club Gala Fairydean Rovers, having previously had two spells at Livingston, a short spell with Bidvest Wits, and a loan to Falkirk before going onto Arbroath for two seasons.

Club career

Livingston

A product of Livingston's youth system, Jacobs made a scoring debut for the first-team on 24 November 2007 in a 4–0 home win against Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Cup.[1] He made his first league appearance on 1 December 2007 in a 2–2 draw against Greenock Morton.[2] He made 5 more appearances in the 2007–08 season.[3] The following season, he gained more first-team experience, making 17 appearances largely as a substitute.[4]

Although born in South Africa, Jacobs was eligible to play for Scotland through residency eligibility rules.[5] He was considered for selection b the Scotland U21 team, but never played for them.[5]

Jacobs remained with Livingston following their financial difficulties and subsequent demotion to the Scottish Third Division. In December 2009, he signed a new contract with the club keeping him at Almondvale until the summer of 2012.[6] He played a key role in helping the club win back to back Third and Second division championships on their ascent back to the Scottish First Division. On 19 April 2012, Jacobs signed a new two-year contract with the club.[7]

Bidvest Wits

On 10 July 2015, Jacobs signed for Premier Soccer League club Bidvest Wits.[8] He left the Clever Boys in July 2016, after just one year with the club.[9]

Livingston return

After 17 months away from the club, Jacobs returned to Livingston, then in Scottish League One, signing a deal until the end of the 2016–17 season.[10]

On 3 September 2017, in Livingston's match against The New Saints in the Scottish Challenge Cup, Jacobs made his 220th appearance for the club becoming their record appearance holder passing the previous total set by Liam Fox.[11][12] In April 2018, he signed a new contract with Livingston which also included a testimonial.[13] In the 2017–18 Scottish Premiership play-offs Jacobs scored in both legs of the final as Livingston defeated Partick Thistle 3–1 on aggregate to gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership.[14][15]

On 6 October 2018, Jacobs scored an equalising goal for Livingston in a draw against Motherwell and in doing so became the first player to score in all four divisions of Scottish football for Livingston.[16] On 22 March 2019, he signed a new three-year contract at Livingston.[17]

On 13 October 2019, Jacobs was rewarded for his time at Livingston with a testimonial match as the club's current side faced a team of Livingston 'legends', including his three brothers.[18]

Falkirk (loan)

On 29 January 2022, Jacobs joined Scottish League One side Falkirk on loan until the end of the season.[19]

Arbroath

On 25 May 2022, following the end of his contract at Livingston Jacobs joined Scottish Championship side Arbroath[20]

Gala Fairydean Rovers

Jacobs signed a pre-contract agreement with Gala Fairydean Rovers in May 2024.[21]

Personal life

Jacobs was also a decent cricketer, having played for West Lothian County Cricket Club and Fauldhouse Cricket Club; he also represented Scotland at under-13 and under-15 levels before deciding to make a career in football.[22]

He has a set of triplet brothers, Devon,[23] Sheldon[24] and Kyle who all played for Livingston. On 27 April 2010, all four brothers played together in a Scottish Third Division match against Albion Rovers. This is believed to be the only occasion in professional football where four brothers have been on the field, playing for the same team.[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 14 August 2021

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Livingston	2007–08[3][26]	Scottish First Division	6	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
	2008–09[4][27]		14	0	1	0	1	0	2[a]	0	18	0
	2009–10[28][29]	Scottish Third Division[i]	34	6	3	1	1	0	1[a]	0	39	7
	2010–11[30][29]	Scottish Second Division	27	4	0	0	1	0	1[a]	0	29	4
	2011–12[31][29]	Scottish First Division	31	4	2	0	2	1	3[a]	0	38	5
	2012–13[32][29]		11	3	1	0	1	0	1[a]	0	14	3
	2013–14[33]	Scottish Championship	32	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	34	4
	2014–15[34]		32	1	1	1	2	0	4[a]	0	39	2
	Total		187	22	11	3	9	1	12	0	219	26
Bidvest Wits	2015–16[29]	South African Premier Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Livingston	2016–17[35]	Scottish League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2017–18[36]	Scottish Championship	20	0	1	0	6	1	5[b]	2	32	3
	2018–19[37]	Scottish Premiership	31	1	1	0	1	0	1[c]	0	34	1
	2019–20[38]		24	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	29	0
	2020–21[39]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2021–22[40]		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		79	1	3	0	12	1	6	2	100	4
Falkirk (loan)	2021–22[40]	Scottish League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			267	23	14	3	21	2	18	2	320	30

1. Livingston were demoted to the Third Division after entering administration

1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
2. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup; Four appearances and two goals in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
3. Appearance as an over-age player for Livingston under-21s in the Scottish Challenge Cup in which age-restricted teams from the Scottish Premiership clubs compete against senior clubs

Honours

Livingston

• Scottish Third Division: 2009–10
• Scottish Second Division: 2010–11
• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2014–15[41]

Individual

• Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month: November 2009[42]

References

1. "Livingston 4–0 Alloa Athletic match report". BBC. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
2. "Morton 2–2 Livingston match report". BBC. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
3. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
4. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
5. "Keaghan Jacobs is in my thoughts for Scots call admits under 21 boss Billy Stark". West Lothian Courier. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
6. "Livingston FC sign promising youngster Keaghan Jacobs on new deal". West Lothian Courier. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
7. "Star midfielder extends stay". Livingston F.C. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
8. "Clever Boys confirm new arrivals". Premier Soccer League. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
9. May, Edward (8 July 2016). "Bidvest Wits likely to part ways with Faty due to health issues". Goal. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
10. "Back to the Future as Keaghan Jacobs returns". Livingston FC. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
11. "TNS 1-1 Livingston (6-5 PENS)". Livingston F.C. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
12. Carson, Callum (7 September 2017). "Record breaker Keaghan Jacobs reflects on Livingston career". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
13. Carson, Callum (12 April 2018). "Livingston midfielder Keaghan Jacobs 'honoured' to be handed testimonial". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
14. Dowden, Martin (17 May 2018). "Livingston 2–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
15. McLauchlin, Brian (20 May 2018). "Partick Thistle 0–1 Livingston". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
16. "Motherwell 1–1 Livingston". BBC Sport. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
17. "Livingston: Keaghan Jacobs and Scott Pittman sign new deals". BBC Sport. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
18. Carson, Callum (16 October 2019). "Legends return to honour Livingston hero Keaghan Jacobs in testimonial match". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
19. "KEAGHAN JACOBS JOINS THE BAIRNS". Falkirk Football Club. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
20. "Keaghan Jacobs". Arbroath FC. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
21. "Former Livingston and Arbroath midfielder Keaghan Jacobs signs for Gala Fairydean Rovers". The Southern Reporter. 10 May 2024.
22. "Jacobs wants a shot at Scotland dream". West Lothian Courier. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
23. D. Jacobs, Soccerway
24. S. Jacobs, Soccerway
25. "Jacobs quartet make history". Livingston FC. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
26. "Livingston 2–0 Cowdenbeath F.C." Scottish Football Association. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
27. "Leigh rises to the challenge of Blues". Daily Record. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
28. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
29. Keaghan Jacobs at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
30. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
31. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
32. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
33. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
34. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
35. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
36. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
37. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
38. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
39. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
40. "Games played by Keaghan Jacobs in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
41. Lindsay, Clive (5 April 2015). "Livingston 4–0 Alloa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
42. "IRN-BRU PHENOMENAL AWARDS – NOVEMBER, 2009". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

External links

• Keaghan Jacobs at Soccerbase