Keizer Gerry Image 2 Arsenal 1930

Description

Amsterdam, Holland born goalkeeper Gerry Keizer joined Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 16 in 1927 and two years later made his debut for the side, against Stormvogels on 1st April 1929. For the first few years of his career he deputised for Ajax’s No. 1 Jan de Boer. In 1930, he made a move to England. Keizer at first played for Kent side Margate. An amateur initially, Keizer was outstanding for Margate, and soon he was spotted by Arsenal’s manager, Herbert Chapman. Keizer was at once pitched into Arsenal’s first team, and made his Football League debut against Blackpool on 30th August 1930. He also featured in tThe Gunners’ 2-1 1930 Charity Shield victory over Sheffield Wednesday that October but lost his place at the beginning of November to Bill Harper after 13 matches, even though only one of these was lost. He went on to play in Arsenal’s first twelve First Division matches of the 1930–31 season. With the Gunners, Keizer went on to win the First Division title of 1930-31. This victory was Arsenal’s first ever League Championship.

He left Arsenal in July 1931 for Charlton Athletic where he played 17 matches across the 1931-32 season before spending 1932-33 at Queens Park Rangers without making a first team appearance. Keizer finally returned to Amsterdam in 1933 to become Ajax’s number one keeper. He eventually played over 300 matches for Ajax, becoming a club legend. A pair of his goalkeeping boots are as so on display within Ajax’s museum. Keizer was capped for the Netherlands national team on two occasions. His debut for Ons Oranje came in a qualifier against Belgium, a 4-2 win that took the Netherlands to the 1934 FIFA World Cup. However, Keizer was not picked for the squad that actually went to the tournament.