Errington Kelly
{{Short description|British-Vincentian footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Errington Kelly
| fullname = Errington Edison Kelly
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1958|4|8}}
| birth_place = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Ledbury Town
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1981–1983
| clubs2 = Bristol Rovers
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 1983
| clubs3 = Lincoln City
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1983
| clubs4 = Bristol City
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 1983
| clubs5 = Coventry City
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1984–1986,1987–1988
| clubs6 = Peterborough United
| caps6 = 118
| goals6 = 28
| years7 = 1986,1988
| clubs7 = Grebbestads IF
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 8
| years8 = 1989
| clubs8 = Gimonäs CK
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| totalcaps = 143
| totalgoals = 32
}}
Errington Edison Kelly (born 8 April 1958) is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Lincoln City, and Peterborough United in England. He had more than 100 appearances during his five seasons at Peterborough United, and later played in Sweden for Grebbestads IF and Gimonäs CK.
Early life and career
Kelly was born on the island of Saint Vincent,{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Jim |date=16 March 2013 |title=Inconsistency has become predictable |work=Coventry Telegraph |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1317135321 |access-date=2022-09-23 |id={{ProQuest|1317135321}} |via=ProQuest}} and moved to Coventry as a young boy.{{Cite news |date=6 March 1982 |title=Swindon Town FC v. Bristol Rovers |work=Swindon Town FC |url=http://www.stfcnewspapers.co.uk/images/Programmes/1981-1982/PDF/1982-03-06%20Swindon%20Town%20Vs%20Bristol%20Rovers.pdf |access-date=2022-09-23}} His younger brother Tony also became a football player.
Early in his career, he joined AP Leamington and played for VS Rugby for one season. He briefly joined Ledbury Town in the summer of 1981, but transferred a month later to Bristol Rovers for £1,000.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Leigh |date=9 September 2017 |title=Leamington: The Unlikely Lads |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Leamington-programme-2017-09-09.pdf |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Darlington Football Club}}
Career
In September 1981, Kelly was signed by manager Terry Cooper at Bristol Rovers,{{Cite web |last=6TownsRadio |date=1 July 2014 |title=Errington Kelly talks about his time with Bristol Rovers Peterborough United player |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTHf9xIUeBA |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=YouTube}} shortly before Bobby Gould took over as manager. His first League appearance was in February 1982, during the Rovers' 3–2 win against Exeter City.
He briefly moved to Lincoln City in January 1983, and joined Terry Cooper and his brother Tony Kelly at Bristol City two months later.{{Cite news |date=2 March 1983 |title=Case gives Brighton a lifeline |page=22 |work=The Times |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS369986658/TTDA |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=The Times Digital Archive}}
In July 1983, he linked up with Gould again at First Division Coventry City. Initially joining Coventry with a three-month contract, the deal was extended for two months after Kelly scored four goals in six games for the reserve team.{{cite news |author=Swain, Martin |date=29 October 1983 |title=Kelly's chance |page=18, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109474405/sports-argus/ 19] |newspaper=Sports Argus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109474386/sports-argus/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Although Kelly appeared in a couple of pre-season friendlies, he did not break through to the first team.
Kelly moved to Peterborough United on loan in March 1984.{{Cite news |last=Plummer |first=Russell |date=15 May 1986 |title=Posh Drop Six Players in Clear Out |page=61 |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110058994/posh-drop-six-players-in-clear-out/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}} After netting seven goals in 11 appearances, Kelly was made permanent. Over five seasons with Peterborough, Kelly made more than 100 appearances. He was once considered "Peterborough's only skilful player",{{Cite book |last=Pugh |first=Rob |title=We'll Support You Evermore |publisher=G. Duckworth |year=1992 |isbn=0715624474 |editor-last=Bull |editor-first=David |location=London |pages=85 |chapter=And Smith Must Be Forgiven}} the team's "leading marksman in 1984–1985", and "on his day, the division's most dangerous striker".{{Cite news |date=13 February 1986 |title=News behind the names |page=57 |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110069250/news-behind-the-names/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Although he was popular with Peterborough fans, over time he developed a public love-hate relationship with manager John Wile, and was disciplined on multiple occasions. By 1986, the Peterborough Standard referred to Kelly as "the exciting but controversial striker", and lamented that he was "unfortunately, very inconsistent". In May 1986, Kelly was released on a free transfer, along with five other players.
During the 1986 Swedish football season, Kelly played for Grebbestads IF in the Third Division, and won the team award for top goalscorer, with six goals.{{Cite web |title=Errington Kelly |url=https://www.grebbestadsif.se/person.asp?person=488 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Grebbestads IF}} By January 1987, he had returned to England to play for Peterborough United,{{Cite news |date=5 January 1987 |title=Cooper gives a hint of end to Villa Park groans |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110061885/cooper-gives-a-hint-of-end-to-villa/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}} signing a one-year contract in June of that year,{{Cite news |date=4 June 1987 |title=Arsenal play at London Road |page=66 |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110060991/arsenal-play-at-london-road/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}} but struggled with injuries.{{Cite news |date=24 September 1987 |title=Cantwell pleased with Kelly's knee |page=74 |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109474218/peterborough-standard/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=29 October 1987 |title=Another Setback on Road to Glory |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110069013/on-road-to-glory/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Kelly left for Sweden once again in April 1988 to play for Grebbestads IF,{{Cite news |date=21 April 1988 |title=Posh still in with a chance |work=Peterborough Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110057695/posh-still-in-with-a-chance/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |via=Newspapers.com}} and moved to Gimonas the following season. He later returned to England and became a football coach and English teacher.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player2/erringtonkelly.html Errington Kelly stats] at Neil Brown stat site
- [https://www.grebbestadsif.se/person.asp?person=488 Errington Kelly stats] at Grebbestads IF
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTHf9xIUeBA Errington Kelly interview with 6TownsRadio] on YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Errington}}
Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines men's footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English Football League players
Category:Ledbury Town F.C. players
Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:English people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent