Keith Weller started his footballing career with local side Arsenal in 1961-62, but left to join Tottenham, where he made it into the first team after progressing through the youth system. While Weller came to be known as a pacy winger, with a fierce shot he made his name at clubs after leaving White Hart Lane, where he had limited opportunities.
A talented schoolboy footballer, Keith represented Islington, Hackney and Middlesex schools, playing five times for the county side. He also played for Arlington Boys Club and it was there that he was spotted by a Tottenham scout and in December 1962 he signed amateur forms with the club. He worked his way up through the youth team and by 1963-64 he was playing Metropolitan League football for the 'A' team. This step up persuaded the club to offer professional terms to Weller in January 1964 and he had made two reserve team appearances before the end of the season.
At Spurs, Weller was originally a striker, but had been moved to right wing by the time he made his first team bow. Keith scored only once (against Newcastle United in a 2-2 draw on 15th January 1966) in 21 league appearances in three seasons as he found it hard to displace Cliff Jones from the Spurs first team.
With little opportunity to make a name for himself in the senior side, Keith left to join Millwall in 1967 for a club record fee of £17,000, where he stayed for three seasons scoring 38 goals in 155 games, linking up former Spurs team-mate Derek Possee in attack.
A Young England cap in April 1969 against the national side followed, leading to a £100,000 move to Chelsea in May 1970. Was only at Stamford Bridge for a year, but won the European Cup-Winners' Cup with them in 1971 as the Pensioners beat Real Madrid in a replay, with another feather in his cap as he finished top scorer for the club with 14 goals.
Weller was sold on to Leicester City in 1971, where he enjoyed his most successful time in football, becoming a recognised First Division player and getting England honours with four full caps. At the Foxes, he became best known because of his partnership with Alan Birchenall in attack. Keith played his football at Filbert Street with a smile on his face and he became famous for his white tights that he donned when the weather was cold.
Having sought out warmer climes in the summer of 1978 by playing for the New England Tea Men and in February 1979 he made the move to the US permanent. He also went on to play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in July 1980 and then moved indoors when his journey took him onto Tacoma Stars in 1984. When he finished playing, he stayed on at Tacoma in a coaching role until 1993.
Following his eight seasons at Filbert Street, Keith moved to America, where he enjoyed his time playing for the New England Teamen, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Tulsa Roughnecks, Fort Lauderdale Sun (who he also coached in 1985) and Houston Dynamo before moving into coaching. His first role as a coach with Fort Lauderdale Sun and moved on to take up an assistant coaching post at the Dallas Sidekicks in autumn 1986, followed by a similar post with the San Diego Sockers starting in October 1988. When he was offered the post of head coach at the Tacoma Stars in December 1989 he jumped at the chance and was only relieved of his position by new owners buying the club in 1992. Had a two tear break from the game before returning as coach to the Sacramento Knights in an indoor league, staying with them until 1997.
Settled in Seattle, running a coffee shop and driving for a local news station.
In 2002, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and his former clubs Spurs, Leicester and Millwall helped fund his alternative treatment in Mexico. Unfortunately, Keith Weller died of cancer on 12th November 2004 in Seattle, USA.
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