Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1990)

Liam Kelly

Kelly playing for Bristol City in 2013
Personal information
Full name Liam Mark Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1990-02-10) 10 February 1990
Place of birth Milton Keynes, England[2]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Oldham Athletic
Number 6
Youth career
000?–2008 Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2009–2013 Kilmarnock 100 (15)
2013–2014 Bristol City 21 (0)
2014– Oldham Athletic 63 (3)
National team‡
2007 Scotland U18 3 (1)
2011–2012 Scotland U21 9 (0)
2012 Scotland 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:31, 17 February 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:09, 16 July 2015 (UTC)

Liam Mark Kelly (born 10 February 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Oldham Athletic.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Kelly began his career at Milton Keynes Dons. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he left the club with a number of other young players when a promised one-year contract was withdrawn, as the club could no longer afford them.[3]

Kilmarnock

Kelly made his first appearance for Kilmarnock as a substitute in a match against Hamilton Academical on 26 January 2010. This was quickly followed by his first start, in a 4–4 draw with Dundee United four days later. On 6 February, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–0 Scottish Cup fifth round win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[4] On 24 March 2010, Kelly provide his first assist to let Chris Maguire score the only goal for Kilmarnock in the match as they lost 2–1 to Hamilton Academical. On 5 May 2010, Kelly scored his first professional league goal in the 69th minute of a 2–1 victory over Aberdeen.[5]

In the 2010–11 season, Kelly provided his first assist of the season for David Silva to score in a 2–1 loss against Hibernian. Kelly scored his first goal of the season and second league goal of his career in a 3–0 win over St Johnstone on 6 November 2010.[6] Kelly signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kilmarnock on 17 December 2010.[7] A day later, Kelly scored both goals for Kilmarnock as they won 2–1 against Hibernian at Rugby Park.[8] Following the match, manager Mixu Paatelainen praised his performance as showing "excellent work rate and willingness".[9] Kelly scored further goals against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (twice), St Mirren and Motherwell. In his first full season, Kelly made league 32 appearance along with 7 goals and provided 4 assists.

Later in the 2010–11 season, Paatelainen left the club to manage the Finland national team and was replaced by Kenny Shiels. In the 2011–12 season, Shiels played Kelly into the various position in midfield. On 18 March, Kelly played in the 2012 Scottish League Cup Final which Kilmarnock won after beating Celtic 1–0.[10] Shortly before Kilmarnock were due to celebrate lifting the cup, Kelly's father suffered a heart attack next to the Kilmarnock dugout and the player left the ground to go to hospital with him.[11] Kelly's father later died in hospital and his teammates, who had not been informed of the situation celebrated winning the trophy. They were informed as they presented the trophy to the fans in an open-top bus parade. Several players commented that this news had taken a lot of the joy of winning the cup final away, and that because they were a close group of players they all felt the effect of Kelly's loss.[12] Manager Kenny Shiels was visibly upset and said "I'm sounding a bit sombre because I’ve gone from one emotional high to a low. ‘It's tough to go from one of the best moments of our lives to this. The dressing-room is very despondent. We are really thinking more about Liam than our triumphalism. That's how we feel at the moment.[13] Shiels revealed he and the entire Kilmarnock squad would attend the funeral of Kelly's Dad Jack, in Milton Keynes, England the following week, where Kelly was born.[14] Kelly did not play for a while after the death of his dad. While not playing, many Kilmarnock players including Paul Heffernan, Gary Harkins and Dieter Van Tornhout wore a shirts saying "We Are All With You" in support of Kelly ahead of Kilmarnock's match against Motherwell[15] which they won 2–0 thanks to a brace from Heffernan. Kelly made his return for Kilmarnock in a match against St Mirren coming on as a substitute for James Fowler in the 87th minute. Following this, both sets of fans gave Kelly a standing ovation given and both sets of fans were praised by Shiels.[16] Kelly provided assist for Kenny Shiels's son Dean Shiels to score in a 89th minutes as Kilmarnock lost to St Mirren 4–2.[17] After the match, St Mirren manager Danny Lennon expressed condolence for Kelly.[18] On the final day of the season, Kelly scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 win over Dunfermline Athletic.[19]

The following season, Kelly maintained first team status in the first half of the season, having played all twenty two matches for Kilmarnock until leaving for Bristol City. Kelly, along with newly signed Cillian Sheridan, were on target as Kilmarnock won at Celtic Park for the first time since 1955, on 27 October 2012.[20] After the match, Shiels praised Kelly performance's.[21] Kelly, himself, says his team-mates helped him to cope with his father death.[22] Kelly soon added five more goals to his tally this season, including a brace in a 2–0 win over Aberdeen[23] and a 1–0 win over Hearts.[24] Kelly made his last appearance when he scored in a 1–1 draw against St Mirren on 2 January 2013.[25] In December 2012, Kelly attracted the attention of clubs England and Scotland like West Ham United, Norwich City, Celtic [26] and Derby County.[27]

Bristol City

Kelly signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Bristol City in January 2013, moving for an undisclosed fee.[28] The manager who signed him, Derek McInnes, was sacked just two days later following Kelly's debut, a 4–0 home defeat to Leicester City.[29][30] Kelly made 19 appearances for Bristol City in the 2012–13 season, but then suffered a cruciate ligament injury in July 2013.[31] As a result of this injury, Kelly only made two appearances during the 2013–14 season.

Oldham Athletic

Kelly signed a three-year contract with Oldham Athletic on 27 June 2014 as part of the exchange to Korey Smith.[32] Upon the move, Kelly said he was delighted to join Oldham Athletic and happy to link up with his team-mate turned manager Lee Johnson and James Dayton.[33] He was given number six shirt and was appointed as the new club captain.[34][35] Kelly made his debut in the opening game of the season, a 2–2 draw against Colchester United.[36]

International career

He was selected for the Scotland national under-21 football team to play Belgium on 24 March 2011.[37] Kelly received his first senior Scotland in November 2012, for a friendly against Luxembourg.[38] Kelly made his international debut, coming on for Charlie Mulgrew early in a second half, in a 2–1 win.[39]

Honours

Kilmarnock

References

  1. ↑ "Liam Kelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Killie Kelly's debt to Jims". The Scottish Sun.
  3. ↑ Dreams in 'tatters' as Dons cancel contracts – MK DONS – Milton Keynes Citizen
  4. ↑ "Kilmarnock 3 – 0 Inverness CT". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Aberdeen 1 – 2 Kilmarnock". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "St Johnstone 0 – 3 Kilmarnock". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Kelly signs Killie deal". Sky Sports (BSkyB). 17 December 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Kilmarnock 2 Hibernian 1: match report – Sky Sports News
  9. ↑ "Liam Kelly double inspires Kilmarnock to victory over Hibernian". The Guardian. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Celtic 0–1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport (BBC). 18 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "KILMARNOCK GAME ENDS IN TRAGEDY AS FATHER OF LIAM KELLY COLLAPSES AND DIES". Daily Express. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Celtic offer condolences to Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Kelly after father dies at cup final". The Independent. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Cup of tears: Killie joy soured by death of Kelly's father after Celtic are stunned". Daily Mail. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Kilmarnock squad to attend funeral of Liam Kelly's father". Telegraph. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Kilmarnock pay eloquent tribute to Liam Kelly's father Jack". Telegraph. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "Fans praised for ovation given to Liam Kelly". BBC News. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "St Mirren 4 v Kilmarnock 2". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "St Mirren boss Danny Lennon tells grieving Liam Kelly: Your dad will be proud of you". Daily Record. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Dunfermline 1 – 2 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 2: Kenny Shiels lauds side after stunning victory over leaders". Daily Record. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Kilmarnock: Kenny Shiels pays tribute to Liam Kelly". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Liam Kelly says pals helped him overcome Hampden tragedy". Daily Record. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "Aberdeen 0 Kilmarnock 2: Liam Kelly at the double as Kilmarnock beat ten-man Aberdeen". Daily Record. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "Kilmarnock 1 Hearts 0: spot kick seals the points for Killie in close encounter with Hearts". Daily Record. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "St Mirren 1 Kilmarnock 1: A tale of two penalties at St Mirren Park". Daily Record. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: West Ham, Norwich and Celtic to fight it out for Killie's Kelly". Daily Mail. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "Kilmarnock star Liam Kelly is target for Championship side Derby County". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  28. ↑ "This is a fantastic club". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  29. ↑ "Derek McInnes sacked by Bristol City". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013.
  30. ↑ "Bristol City 0–4 Leicester". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013.
  31. ↑ "Liam Kelly: Bristol City midfielder suffers knee injury". BBC Sport (BBC). 25 July 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Bristol City: Korey Smith signs as Liam Kelly joins Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  33. ↑ "Kelly: "I'm Delighted To Be Here"". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 30 June 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  34. ↑ "Latics Announce Squad Numbers". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  35. ↑ "Kelly handed Oldham captaincy". Sky Sports. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  36. ↑ "Colchester United 2-2 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Under-21 Squad for Belgium Friendly – The Scottish FA
  38. ↑ "Leigh Griffiths called up to Scotland squad after raft of call-offs ahead of Luxembourg clash". Daily Record. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  39. ↑ "Luxembourg 1 Scotland 2: Rhodes double seals a scrappy win for interim boss Billy Stark". Daily Record. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.

External links

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