Obituary: Hugh Kelly

Apr 10 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ONE of Jeanfield Swifts’ most successful former players, Hugh Kelly, has died at his home in Blackpool, aged 85.

Born in Culross, Fifeshire, on July 23, 1923, “Hughie” played at wing-half for Jeanfield whilst working for the Ministry of Food in Perth.

Part of the famous Swifts half-back line alongside Fraser and Cranston, his performances brought him to the attention of Blackpool and he was transferred from the Fair City in May, 1943, for a £10 signing-on fee.

He scored his first league goal for the Seasiders against Manchester United on September 1,1948, and the following summer he married local girl Joan Cousens at the town’s St Cuthbert's Church on May 11,1949.

By now a first pick, he battled back from injury to make his only appearance for Scotland during a 6-0 win against the USA at Hampden Park on April 30, 1952 – becoming the only Swifts player to represent the national side.

Having helped Blackpool to the FA Cup Final for the third time in 1953, he was injured in the season’s penultimate league game and sat out the famous 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers, later referred to as the “Matthews Final.”

Describing Hughie, Clifford Greenwood, a football reporter at the time, said: “If there is a wing-half stronger in the tackle than Hugh Kelly, giving 20 shillings in the pound in every game, I have not yet met him.”

He wound his career down as player-coach of Ashton United until 1963, where he won the Lancashire Combination Second Division Championship in his first season.