Tom Kelly (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas John Kelly is a Scottish
former professional football, currently playing for South West Peninsula League
side Bovey Tracey
.
Kelly began his professional career when he joined Hibernian
from Scottish non-league side Gartcosh United. He subsequently moved on to Partick Thistle
and Queen of the South
before joining Hartlepool United
on a free transfer in August 1985. He played 15 times the following season, but was released and joined Torquay United
in July 1986.
The following season saw Torquay involved in a battle to avoid being the first side to suffer automatic relegation to the Conference
, Kelly playing in the final game of the season against Crewe Alexandra
in which Paul Dobson
's late goal saw Lincoln City
relegated. He had begun his Plainmoor career as a midfielder, but switched to left-back after the sale of Phil King
to Swindon Town
. Cyril Knowles
took over as Torquay manager in the summer and transformed the side into one battling for promotion. Kelly played 120 times for the Gulls before moving to York City
on a free transfer in June 1989.
He immediately became a regular in the York side, but in March 1990 moved back to Devon
, joining Exeter City
for a fee of £15,000. He played 88 times, scoring 9 goals, for the Grecians, winning a Division Four championship medal in 1990, before returning to Torquay United on a free transfer in January 1993 and playing his part in another of Torquay's escapes from relegation to the Conference that season. He played 117 times, scoring 8 goals in his second spell with the Gulls before being released by Eddie May
at the end of the 1995-96 season. He moved to non-league Weymouth
, before moving to Teignmouth from whom he joined Ilfracombe Town
.
Kelly left Ilfracombe in November 1997 to join Taunton Town
, managed by former Torquay teammate Russell Musker
. He quickly settled in to the side and was appointed captain, taking over as player-coach when previous assistant manager Derek Fowler stepped down in September 2000. At the end of that season he played in Taunton's 2-1 FA Vase
Final win over Berkhamsted Town
at Villa Park.
In January 2004 Kelly moved to Bideford, managed by another former Torquay colleague, Sean Joyce
. He remained with Bideford until the summer of 2006 when he joined Bridgwater Town
, where he played alongside his son Cameron, a midfielder.
In March 2007, Kelly joined Devon League side Stoke Gabriel and by 2009 he was player-manager of Bovey Tracey
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional football, currently playing for South West Peninsula League
South West Peninsula League
The South West Peninsula League is a league of football clubs in England, which was formed in 2007 from the merger of the Devon County League and the South Western League...
side Bovey Tracey
Bovey Tracey A.F.C.
Bovey Tracey A.F.C. is a football club based in Bovey Tracey, Devon, England. The club joined the South West Peninsula League's Division One East in 2008, after promotion from the South Devon League...
.
Kelly began his professional career when he joined Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
from Scottish non-league side Gartcosh United. He subsequently moved on to Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
and Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
before joining Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on a free transfer in August 1985. He played 15 times the following season, but was released and joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in July 1986.
The following season saw Torquay involved in a battle to avoid being the first side to suffer automatic relegation to the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, Kelly playing in the final game of the season against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in which Paul Dobson
Paul Dobson (footballer)
Paul Dobson is an English former professional football player. He was a prolific striker in the lower leagues during the 1980s and early 1990s, notably for Torquay United....
's late goal saw Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
relegated. He had begun his Plainmoor career as a midfielder, but switched to left-back after the sale of Phil King
Phil King (footballer)
Philip Geoffrey King is an English former professional footballer. He represented England at Under-21 level and in a B international. He was born in Bristol....
to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. Cyril Knowles
Cyril Knowles
Cyril Barry Knowles was a footballer who played full-back for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He was the brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Knowles.- Early career :...
took over as Torquay manager in the summer and transformed the side into one battling for promotion. Kelly played 120 times for the Gulls before moving to York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on a free transfer in June 1989.
He immediately became a regular in the York side, but in March 1990 moved back to Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, joining Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
for a fee of £15,000. He played 88 times, scoring 9 goals, for the Grecians, winning a Division Four championship medal in 1990, before returning to Torquay United on a free transfer in January 1993 and playing his part in another of Torquay's escapes from relegation to the Conference that season. He played 117 times, scoring 8 goals in his second spell with the Gulls before being released by Eddie May
Eddie May
Edwin Charles May is an English former footballer and football manager.May was born in Epping.-Playing career:Eddie May joined Southend United from Dagenham in January 1965, making his league debut later that season. He went on to make 100 league appearances, scoring 3 times for the Shrimpers,...
at the end of the 1995-96 season. He moved to non-league Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, before moving to Teignmouth from whom he joined Ilfracombe Town
Ilfracombe Town F.C.
Ilfracombe Town F.C. is a football club based in Ilfracombe, Devon, England. The club was founded in 1902 as Ilfracombe F.C. and became a founder member of the North Devon League in 1904. In 1920, the Town suffix was added to the club's title. In 1922, the club switched to the East Devon League...
.
Kelly left Ilfracombe in November 1997 to join Taunton Town
Taunton Town F.C.
Taunton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Taunton, Somerset, England. They compete in the Southern Football League Division One South & West, and play their home matches at their Wordsworth Drive ground which they moved into during the 1953 season...
, managed by former Torquay teammate Russell Musker
Russell Musker
Russell Musker is an English former footballer who played for Bristol City, Exeter City, Gillingham, Torquay United and Walsall between 1980 and 1992, making over 180 appearances in the Football League, before embarking on a career in the non-league game with Gloucester City, Saltash United and...
. He quickly settled in to the side and was appointed captain, taking over as player-coach when previous assistant manager Derek Fowler stepped down in September 2000. At the end of that season he played in Taunton's 2-1 FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
Final win over Berkhamsted Town
Berkhamsted Town F.C.
Berkhamsted Town F.C. was a football club from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The club was founded in 1919, played in a black & white strip, and was nicknamed the Lilywhites or Berko. The team began the 2008–09 season playing in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, but was dissolved in...
at Villa Park.
In January 2004 Kelly moved to Bideford, managed by another former Torquay colleague, Sean Joyce
Sean Joyce
Sean William Joyce is an English former professional footballer who made 200 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City and Torquay United...
. He remained with Bideford until the summer of 2006 when he joined Bridgwater Town
Bridgwater Town F.C.
Bridgwater Town Football Club are a football club from Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The original version of the club was founded in 1898. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club plays their home games at Fairfax Park...
, where he played alongside his son Cameron, a midfielder.
In March 2007, Kelly joined Devon League side Stoke Gabriel and by 2009 he was player-manager of Bovey Tracey
Bovey Tracey A.F.C.
Bovey Tracey A.F.C. is a football club based in Bovey Tracey, Devon, England. The club joined the South West Peninsula League's Division One East in 2008, after promotion from the South Devon League...
.