Tony Kelly (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Gerald Kelly (born 1 October 1964 in Prescot
, Merseyside
) is an English
former footballer, who played mainly in central midfield
. During his career he played over 100 appearances for Wigan Athletic
, Shrewsbury Town
and Bolton Wanderers
.
before joining non-league Prescot Cables
in 1983. He returned to the Football League
in January 1984, signing for Wigan Athletic
. He just just over 100 appearances for Wigan before moving on to Stoke City
in April 1986 for a £80,000 fee. He played 36 league games for the "Potters" and in July 1987 was sold to West Bromwich Albion
for £60,000. He didn't make much of an impact at The Hawthorns
and had successive loan outings with Chester City
and Colchester United
in 1988.
secured his services for £30,000. Just as with Wigan some years previous, he scored 15 goals in 101 league appearances, however this time after two years he was sold on to Bolton Wanderers
for £100,000.
In three years with Bolton Kelly became a firm favourite with the fans who nicknamed him Zico
in honour of the Brazilian great who Kelly's footballing style had certain similarities with despite his (at times) obvious weight and fitness problems. He was a cult figure with the fans during his stay at Burnden Park
and was a key figure in the exciting team that Bruce Rioch
built where Bolton rose from Third Division obscurities to FA Cup
'giant killings' and pushing at the door of the newly formed FA Premiership. In total he amassed over 100 league appearances for the club before in September 1994, at age 30 he was given a free transfer to Port Vale
.
In a poll of Bolton fans Kelly has been voted the 34th greatest player to ever don a Bolton shirt,
and Wigan Athletic
before signing for Peterborough United
and soon after Wigan Athletic again and then finally dropping out of the Football League as he represented non-league Altrincham
and League of Ireland
outfit Sligo Rovers under Jimmy Mullen and scored his only league goal the winner on his home League of Ireland
debut. He made a total of 17 appearances for Sligo.
Kelly is a 'converted' Bolton fan and has a weekly column in the Bolton News where he gives an insight into recent events at the Wanderers. He now also coaches Bolton Wanderers' U18s alongside David Lee
, Kelly's former team-mate.
Prescot
Prescot is a town and civil parish, within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is 8 miles to the east of Liverpool city centre and lies within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. At the 2001 Census, the population was 11,184 .Prescot marks the beginning of the...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer, who played mainly in central midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. During his career he played over 100 appearances for Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Early years
Kelly began his career as an apprentice at LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
before joining non-league Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
in 1983. He returned to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in January 1984, signing for Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. He just just over 100 appearances for Wigan before moving on to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in April 1986 for a £80,000 fee. He played 36 league games for the "Potters" and in July 1987 was sold to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for £60,000. He didn't make much of an impact at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
and had successive loan outings with Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in 1988.
Shrewsbury and Bolton
In January 1989, Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
secured his services for £30,000. Just as with Wigan some years previous, he scored 15 goals in 101 league appearances, however this time after two years he was sold on to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
for £100,000.
In three years with Bolton Kelly became a firm favourite with the fans who nicknamed him Zico
Zico
Arthur Antunes Coimbra , better known as Zico , is a Brazilian coach and former footballer. He is the current head coach of the Iraq national football team. Often called the "White Pelé", he is commonly considered one of the most skilled finishers and one of the best passers ever and possibly the...
in honour of the Brazilian great who Kelly's footballing style had certain similarities with despite his (at times) obvious weight and fitness problems. He was a cult figure with the fans during his stay at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
and was a key figure in the exciting team that Bruce Rioch
Bruce Rioch
Bruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
built where Bolton rose from Third Division obscurities to FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
'giant killings' and pushing at the door of the newly formed FA Premiership. In total he amassed over 100 league appearances for the club before in September 1994, at age 30 he was given a free transfer to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
.
In a poll of Bolton fans Kelly has been voted the 34th greatest player to ever don a Bolton shirt,
Post-Bolton
Post-Bolton and over 30 Kelly struggled to regain his form and fitness that had made him selected for the PFA divisional teams twice and he drifted downb the leagues via trials with MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
before signing for Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and soon after Wigan Athletic again and then finally dropping out of the Football League as he represented non-league Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
and League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
outfit Sligo Rovers under Jimmy Mullen and scored his only league goal the winner on his home League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut. He made a total of 17 appearances for Sligo.
Post-retirement
In 2008, Kelly rejoined Bolton as Fans Liaison Officer. Like his former teammate John McGinlayJohn McGinlay
John McGinlay is a Scottish former footballer who is perhaps best known for his spell at Bolton Wanderers in the mid to late 1990s.-Early Career:...
Kelly is a 'converted' Bolton fan and has a weekly column in the Bolton News where he gives an insight into recent events at the Wanderers. He now also coaches Bolton Wanderers' U18s alongside David Lee
David Lee (footballer born 1967)
David Mark Lee is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Lee, a right-winger, began his career with Bury in 1986. In five years at Gigg Lane, he made just over 200 league appearances and scored 35 goals.Southampton came in for his services in 1991 with a successful £350,000 bid...
, Kelly's former team-mate.