John Kelly (born 20 October 1960) is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End, Chester City, Swindon Town, Oldham Athletic, Walsall and Huddersfield Town.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Kelly[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 1960[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bebington,[1] England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1979 | Cammell Laird | ||
| 1979–1981 | Tranmere Rovers | 64 | (9) |
| 1981–1985 | Preston North End | 130 | (27) |
| 1985–1987 | Chester City | 85 | (17) |
| 1987 | Swindon Town | 7 | (1) |
| 1987–1989 | Oldham Athletic | 52 | (6) |
| 1989–1991 | Walsall | 39 | (1) |
| 1989 | → Huddersfield Town (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 1990–1992 | Huddersfield Town | 18 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | Chester City | 31 | (1) |
| 1993–199? | Rhyl | ||
| International career | |||
| 1982–1983 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
The son of former Tranmere Rovers manager Noel Kelly, John established himself as a stylish midfielder in the lower divisions after joining Tranmere from neighbours Cammell Laird in September 1979. In 1985–86 he struck up a successful partnership with fellow new signing Milton Graham at Chester City, with Kelly scoring eight times as Chester were promoted from Division Four. A year later he moved up to the second tier with Swindon Town for £20,000, although he struggled to establish himself with the Wiltshire club and soon moved on to Oldham Athletic.
After spells with Walsall and Huddersfield Town, Kelly returned to Chester in the summer of 1992. Unfortunately, the 1992–93 season brought relegation to Division Three and Kelly was released at the end of the campaign. This marked the end of his professional career and he went part-time by joining Welsh side Rhyl.
Kelly made two appearances for the Republic of Ireland U21s, a nation he was eligible to represent as his father was born in Ireland.
Honours
editChester City
- Division Four runners-up: 1985–86
References
edit- ^ a b c "John Kelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
External links
edit- John Kelly at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database