Tom Kelly (footballer, born 1964)

Thomas John Kelly (born 28 March 1964) is a Scottish former professional footballer.

Tom Kelly
Personal information
Full name Thomas John Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1964-03-28) 28 March 1964[1]
Place of birth Bellshill,[1] Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Gartcosh United
1981–1983 Hibernian
1983–1984 Partick Thistle
1984–1985 Queen of the South
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1986 Hartlepool United 15 (0)
1986–1989 Torquay United 120 (0)
1989 York City 35 (2)
1989–1992 Exeter City 88 (9)
1992–1996 Torquay United 117 (8)
Weymouth
Teignmouth
Ilfracombe Town
Taunton Town
Bideford
Bridgwater Town
Stoke Gabriel
Bovey Tracey
Total 375 (19)
Managerial career
Bovey Tracey
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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 into 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 William 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.

References
  1. "Tom Kelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  • Tom Kelly at Soccerbase
  • Tom Kelly at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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