Robert Kelly (football chairman)
Robert Kelly | |
---|---|
Born | Robert McErlean Kelly 17 October 1902 |
Died | 21 September 1971 | (aged 68)
Nationality | Scottish |
Known for | Celtic Football Club Chairman SFA President |
Board member of | Celtic F.C., Scottish Football Association |
Spouse |
Marie Josephine Reilly
(m. 1933) |
Parent(s) | James Kelly Margaret (née McErlean) |
Sir Robert McErlean Kelly (1902 – 21 September 1971) was appointed a member of the board of
Early life
Robert Kelly was born on 17 October 1902 in
Kelly and his brothers were educated at St Joseph's College, Dumfries, a fee-paying school opened to develop a professional Catholic middle class in Scotland.[6] His eldest brother, Frank, went on to play a handful of games for Celtic in 1918,[7][8] but was killed trying to jump onto a train in France in 1919.[9] Three other brothers played for Queen's Park.[8] Kelly himself played football for a spell at junior level for Blantyre Victoria, but was limited due to an injury sustained to his arm in a childhood traffic accident,[8] and he soon gave up playing at his father's behest.[10] Despite his arm injury, Kelly was also an excellent tennis player.[1] Kelly went on to become a stockbroker by profession.[8]
Celtic director and football legislator
Following the death of his father, Kelly joined the Celtic
Kelly was a prime advocate in Scotland for use of the new all-weather white ball, in preference to the then standard brown leather ball which generally got heavier as the match progressed and was difficult for spectators to see on dark afternoons.[12]
He also resolutely defended Celtic's right to fly the Eire flag at Celtic Park when the SFA made efforts in 1952 to have it removed.[13] He had a close working relationship at Celtic with manager Jimmy McGrory, and indeed had the final say on team selection in most instances. This resulted in decisions on line-ups that on occasion appeared somewhat eccentric.[13]
Despite this, Celtic's performances improved in the early 1950s, and a Scottish Cup Final win in 1951 was followed three years later by a league and cup double.[13] In the late 1950s, he introduced a youth system,[1] nicknamed 'Kelly's Babes', signing up a large group of talented local teenagers in an effort to emulate the Busby Babes of the era.[14]
In 1960, Kelly was elected as president of the SFA, and his tenure in that role coincided with an upturn in Scotland's football success.[1][8] He expressed strong views on a variety of footballing matters, opposing the live television coverage of matches, due to concern that the fees obtained would not compensate for loss of atmosphere within the ground.[8] He was, however, dismissive of the World Cup, stating regarding the 1962 tournament in Chile – "I can see no sense in playing... [in]... a remote country in which I understand it takes one year to become acclimatised."[8] He also initially lacked enthusiasm for European club competitions, instead advocating the setting up of a British Cup tournament.[8]
Celtic, however, were once again struggling in the early 1960s. By early 1965 they had gone over seven years without a major trophy. At this time, Kelly approached
In the 1969 New Year Honours, Kelly became the first club chairman in Scotland to be knighted, for services to Scottish football.[1][20] He regarded the honour as belonging to Celtic and Scotland as much as to himself.[1]
Kelly stood down as chairman in April 1971, where he was then given the honorary title at Celtic of Club President. Desmond White succeeded him as Celtic chairman. After several months of illness, Kelly died at his home on 21 September 1971.[1]
Jock Stein stated that "No man has done more for the club [Celtic] in every way than Sir Robert Kelly." Scottish League president, James Aitken, described Kelly as one of the "giants" of Scottish football, and that he was "a most outstanding legislator."[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sir Robert Kelly, supreme football administrator". The Glasgow Herald. 22 September 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Bob Kelly – Mr Celtic". Evening Times. 21 September 1971. p. 28. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-00-218230-0.
- ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ISBN 0-00-218230-0.
- ^ "Kelly, Francis". FitbaStats. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ^ "Francis Kelly - Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ISBN 0-00-218230-0.
- ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
- ISBN 978-1-84502-975-3.
- ^ Rafferty, John (13 February 1965). "Jock Stein to have full control over Celtic players". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ "Celtic revive old tradition". The Times. 26 April 1965. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (9 May 1966). "Celtic win League Championship". The Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ Cuddihy, Paul (27 April 2014). "Nine-in-a-row was sealed 40 years ago". Celtic FC. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ "Celtic win European Cup 1967". BBC – A Sporting Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 44740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1968. p. 2.