Archie Kelly
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Archibald Kelly | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 2005 (aged 83–84) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| xxxx–1942 | Arthurlie Juniors | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1942–1947 | Heart of Midlothian | 34 | (18) |
| 1947–1949 | Aberdeen | 36 | (21) |
| 1949–1953 | Motherwell | 104 | (65) |
| 1953–1955 | Stirling Albion | 33 | (14) |
| 1955 | Ayr United | 11 | (7) |
| 1955 | Cowdenbeath | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 222 | (125) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Archibald "Archie" Kelly (9 December 1921 – 2005) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward. He is best remembered for his time with Motherwell, his goals helping the side to their first victories in both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. He was born in Glasgow.
Kelly joined Hearts from Arthurlie in 1942 and soon became a regular fixture in their wartime competition line-ups. Predominantly a centre forward, although occasionally deployed at Outside Left, he was a powerful, combative player, renowned for his bravery. A notable example of his determination occurred in a match against Kilmarnock during the 1946–47 season when, in an attempt to meet an errant cross, he collided with a goalpost at full stretch. The power of the impact shattered his collarbone but also cracked the wooden goal-frame! He was also a frequent goalscorer throughout his career, with a seven-goal haul in a 10–3 defeat of Albion Rovers in 1943 his most illustrious scoring feat.
In December 1947, with Hearts struggling in the League, their manager Davie McLean moved to sign Aberdeen's Scottish international forward George Hamilton, with Archie Kelly and £8,000 going to Aberdeen in recompense. Despite playing only half a season for the Dons, Kelly finished the 1947–48 season as their top League scorer. The following season found Aberdeen battling against relegation and was also frustrating for Kelly on a personal level, as he struggled with a bad knee injury. Aberdeen's main problem was their porous defence; in contrast, with Kelly, Stan Williams, Harry Yorston and the returning George Hamilton, they had a surplus of attacking options and when Motherwell offered £7,000 for Kelly in November 1949, Aberdeen allowed him to leave.
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