An England youth international, Dronfield-born Keith was an apprentice centre lathe turner at the time of signing professional forms for Chesterfield.He made his debut at the end of the '53-4 season, at the age of 16 years and 227 days, and was a member of the successful 1955-6 F.A. Youth Cup side. By the end of that season he had become established in the first team, despite starting National Service in February '56.

Keith scores the aggregate leveller in the FA Youth Cup final

Even as a youngster Keith was strong and powerfully built and this, allied to his great ability, made him one of the more sought-after members of the declining Spireite side of the late Fifties. Keith turned down overtures from Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday as a boy to sign for The Spireites, and when he felt the need for a higher grade of football, the club repaid that early loyalty by privately inviting enquiries for him. He was sold to Derby for £10,000 during the '61-2 relegation season and had a good first term there, but picked up a cartilage injury which stopped his career dead in its tracks. He moved to Oxford but could not hold down a first team place and had eighteen months at Kings Lynn before retiring.

In 1968 he took over a local driving school and became a familiar sight on Chesterfield's roads. One son played football locally for Staveley and Hallam, while another entered the world of professional ice hockey, appearing as the goalminder for the Sheffield Steelers.