Tony Kellow
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Kellow was an English-born professional footballer. He played as a forward and made over 400 Football League appearances in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was born in Budock Water
, a village near Falmouth
, and on leaving school he found employment in Falmouth Docks
as an electrician, later turning out for the Falmouth Docks football side. At the age of seventeen he played in the South Western Football League
for Penzance AFC, helping them win the Cornwall Senior Cup
in 1973. He then moved to his home-town side Falmouth Town, before moving back to play for Penzance in 1974/75, winning a South Western League championship medal. In 1975 he returned to Falmouth Town.
A centre-forward, his profesional career began when he signed for Exeter City
from Falmouth Town in 1976, and was sold to Blackpool
, in November 1978, for £125,000, which was Blackpool's record outlay at the time. He returned to Exeter in March 1980 for a second spell (his 25 goals for them in the 1980-81 season
making him the highest scorer in any of the four Football League divisions) and joined Plymouth Argyle
in 1983. Brief spells with Swansea City
and Newport County
followed before a return for a third spell with Exeter which ended in January 1988 when he retired from playing at the age of 35, drawing the curtain on a league career which had yielded 162 goals.
Kellow died on 20 February 2011, in Truro's Treliske Hopsital of kidney failure after being found unconscious at his nearby flat. He was 58 years old. His funeral service was held at St Budock Parish Church on 28 February 2011, and his body was then cremated at Truro's Penmount Crematorium.
He was born in Budock Water
Budock Water
Budock or Budock Water is a civil parish and a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated two miles west of Falmouth....
, a village near Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
, and on leaving school he found employment in Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks are the docks of the town of Falmouth in Cornwall, England, UK.The docks are served by the Falmouth Docks railway station. Policing is by the Falmouth Docks Police.-Further reading:...
as an electrician, later turning out for the Falmouth Docks football side. At the age of seventeen he played in the South Western Football League
South Western Football League
The South Western Football League was an English association football league composed of clubs from Cornwall and the far western part of Devon. It consisted of a single division at the eleventh overall tier of the English football league system, the seventh and lowest "Step" of the official...
for Penzance AFC, helping them win the Cornwall Senior Cup
Cornwall Senior Cup
The Cornwall County Football Association Senior Cup, commonly known as the Cornwall Senior Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football for clubs based in Cornwall, run by and named after the Cornwall County Football Association...
in 1973. He then moved to his home-town side Falmouth Town, before moving back to play for Penzance in 1974/75, winning a South Western League championship medal. In 1975 he returned to Falmouth Town.
A centre-forward, his profesional career began when he signed for 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...
from Falmouth Town in 1976, and was sold to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, in November 1978, for £125,000, which was Blackpool's record outlay at the time. He returned to Exeter in March 1980 for a second spell (his 25 goals for them in the 1980-81 season
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
making him the highest scorer in any of the four Football League divisions) and joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 1983. Brief spells with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
and Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
followed before a return for a third spell with Exeter which ended in January 1988 when he retired from playing at the age of 35, drawing the curtain on a league career which had yielded 162 goals.
Kellow died on 20 February 2011, in Truro's Treliske Hopsital of kidney failure after being found unconscious at his nearby flat. He was 58 years old. His funeral service was held at St Budock Parish Church on 28 February 2011, and his body was then cremated at Truro's Penmount Crematorium.