Hugh Kelly (goalkeeper)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hugh Redmond Kelly | ||
| Date of birth | 17 August 1919 | ||
| Place of birth | Lurgan, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 30 September 1977 (aged 58) | ||
| Place of death | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1936–1941 | Glenavon | ||
| 1941–1949 | Belfast Celtic | ||
| 1949–1950 | Fulham | 25 | (0) |
| 1950–1952 | Southampton | 28 | (0) |
| 1952–1956 | Exeter City | 99 | (0) |
| 1956–19?? | Weymouth | ||
| National team | |||
| 1949–1950 | Ireland | 4 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Hugh Redmond Kelly (17 August 1919 – 30 September 1977) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in Northern Ireland and England, making four international appearances for Ireland.
Kelly was born in Lurgan and played Gaelic football with Clan na Gael while working in the family drapery firm. He also represented Armagh in Gaelic handball. He was invited to play Association football for Glenavon by manager Andy Wylie, who had been impressed with his ball-handling skills.
He started his career with Glenavon as an inside-forward, but played as goalkeeper when the regular custodian failed to arrive for a match. He became established as the first choice 'keeper for Glenavon from early in 1937, and soon became recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Northern Ireland, being selected to represent the Irish League XI against a Scottish League XI in September 1938.
In 1940, he helped Glenavon reach the final of the Irish Cup, losing 2–0 to Ballymena United. In January 1941, Glenavon suffered a nightmare defeat at the hands of Belfast Celtic, losing 13–0 with Peter O'Connor scoring eleven – this remains an individual British Isles record.
Despite this embarrassing defeat, Belfast Celtic's manager, Elisha Scott (a former goalkeeper), signed Kelly in the summer of 1941 to replace Tommy Breen. Whilst with the Celtic Park club, Kelly claimed two Irish Cup winner's medals with victories over Glentoran in 1943 (1–0) and Linfield in 1944 (3–1).
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