Portsmouth Football Club are saddened to learn of the death of long-serving former scout and coach Keven Leahy.
Keven joined the club in 1980, initially as a youth scout and coach. Upon Alan Ball’s appointment in 1984, he was tasked to set up a School of Excellence in Basingstoke to scout the best talent in the area and coach them for the club.
Under Keven’s leadership, the highly successful centre went on to provide Pompey with the services of Lee Sandford, Kit Symons, Mark Kelly, Shaun Gale, Sammy Igoe, Rowan Vine and Jason Pearce among others.
Keven followed Ball throughout his career and upon the World Cup winner's reappointment at Fratton Park in 1998, he returned to scout opposition teams, tactics and potential players for the manager, as well as coaching.
Keven passed away on January 10 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. His family would like to pass on their thanks to Portsmouth FC, all his ex-colleagues and fans at Fratton Park, past and present, for the great years.
His funeral will be held at Basingstoke Crematorium on Friday, February 7 at 2.45pm, with a wake at Overton Memorial Institute (RG25 3NN) for those that would like to attend.
The thoughts of everyone associated with the club go out to the friends and family of Keven at this difficult time.