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Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1990)

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For other people named Liam Kelly, see Liam Kelly (disambiguation).

Liam Kelly
Kelly, before pre-season friendly against Rangers in 2020
Personal information
Full name Liam Mark Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1990-02-10) 10 February 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England[2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[3]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rotherham United
Number 4
Youth career
000?–2008 Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Kilmarnock 100 (15)
2013–2014 Bristol City 21 (0)
2014–2016 Oldham Athletic 78 (7)
2016–2017 Leyton Orient 21 (4)
2017–2024 Coventry City 155 (3)
2024– Rotherham United 4 (1)
International career‡
2007 Scotland U18 3 (1)
2011–2012 Scotland U21 9 (0)
2012 Scotland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:58, 8 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ 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 defensive midfielder for League One club Rotherham United.

As a youth player Kelly played for Milton Keynes Dons, but did not make a professional appearance before leaving in 2008. Following his departure he moved to Scotland to play for Kilmarnock where he stayed for 4 seasons until a transfer to EFL Championship club Bristol City. Kelly struggled with injury in Bristol, and only managed 21 appearances in two years with the team before moving to Oldham Athletic. He was made captain at Oldham and played there for two years until July 2016 when Leyton Orient made him their new club record signing. Orient finished bottom of League Two in Kelly's first season, and he left the club in the summer to join Coventry. In seven years with the Sky Blues he made over 100 appearances and helped the side to two promotions before moving to Rotherham United in the summer of 2024.

Club career

[edit]

Kilmarnock

[edit]

Born in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England, Kelly began his career at Milton Keynes Dons but he left club at the end of the 2007–08 season with a number of other young players when their promised one-year contract was withdrawn, as they could no longer afford to keep them.[4] Following his release by Milton Keynes Dons, Kelly moved to Scotland to join Scottish Premier League side 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] Kelly signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kilmarnock on 17 December 2010.[8] A day later, Kelly scored both goals for Kilmarnock as they won 2–1 against Hibernian at Rugby Park.[9] Following the match, manager Mixu Paatelainen praised his performance as showing "excellent work rate and willingness".[10] Kelly scored further goals against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (twice), St Mirren and Motherwell. In his first full season, Kelly made league 32 appearances 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.[11] 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.[2] 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.[13] The dressing-room is very despondent. We are really thinking more about Liam than our triumphalism."[14] Shiels revealed he and the entire Kilmarnock squad would attend the funeral of Kelly's father Jack the following week in Kelly's home town of Milton Keynes.[15] 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[16] 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.[17] Kelly provided assist for Kenny Shiels's son Dean Shiels to score in a 89th minutes as Kilmarnock lost to St Mirren 4–2.[18] After the match, St Mirren manager Danny Lennon expressed condolence for Kelly.[19] On the final day of the season, Kelly scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 win over Dunfermline Athletic.[20]

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.[21] After the match, Shiels praised Kelly performance's.[22] Kelly, himself, says his teammates helped him to cope with his father death.[23] Kelly soon added five more goals to his tally this season, including a brace in a 2–0 win over Aberdeen[24] and a 1–0 win over Hearts.[25] Kelly made his last appearance when he scored in a 1–1 draw against St Mirren on 2 January 2013.[26] In December 2012, Kelly attracted the attention of clubs England and Scotland like West Ham United, Norwich City, Celtic[27] and Derby County.[28]

Bristol City

[edit]

Kelly signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Bristol City in January 2013, moving for an undisclosed fee.[29] 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.[30][31] Kelly made 19 appearances for Bristol City in the 2012–13 season, but then suffered a cruciate ligament injury in July 2013.[32] As a result of this injury, Kelly only made two appearances during the 2013–14 season.

Oldham Athletic

[edit]

Kelly signed a three-year contract with Oldham Athletic on 27 June 2014 as part of the exchange to Korey Smith.[33] Upon the move, Kelly said he was delighted to join Oldham Athletic and happy to link up with his teammate turned manager Lee Johnson and James Dayton.[34] He was given number six shirt and was appointed as the new club captain.[35][36] Kelly made his debut in the opening game of the season, a 2–2 draw against Colchester United.[37] Oldham transferred Kelly to Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee in July 2016.[38]

Leyton Orient

[edit]

Kelly signed a three-year contract for a fee believed to be a club record £210,000 for Leyton Orient in July 2016.[38]

After Orient's 3–2 win in the League 2 match at Plymouth Argyle on 14 February 2017, Plymouth reported Kelly to the FA for allegedly pushing a ball boy to the floor during the match.[39][40] Video footage showing Kelly pushing the ball boy to the ground was subsequently released.[41] The FA charged Kelly with violent conduct, claiming that a three-match suspension would be "clearly insufficient".[42][43] The player denied both the charge and the claim; however, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on 17 February, the charge of violent conduct was found proven. The standard three-match ban was deemed insufficient and was doubled to a six-match ban.[44][45] Kelly returned to the Orient starting line up for the 4–1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers on 18 March.[46] At the end of the season Leyton Orient were relegated from League Two, ending their 112-year stay in the football league.[47]

Coventry City

[edit]

On 22 May 2017 newly relegated Coventry City announced that they had agreed to sign Kelly on a two-year contract.[48] He made 38 appearances in his first season, including starting the 2018 League Two Play-off Final, as Coventry secured promotion back to League One.[49] After the end of the season, Kelly signed a new contract to keep him at Coventry until 2021.[50] Following the departure of Michael Doyle in January 2019 he was named as the new club captain.[51] Coventry finished their first season back in League One in 8th, 8 points behind the final play-off place.[52] In 2019–20, his first full season as captain, Kelly led the team to 1st place in League One before the season was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[53] A formal vote by league members confirmed Coventry as league champions in June, meaning that they would be promoted back to the Championship.[54]

On 9 May 2024, the club announced he would be released in the summer when his contract expired.[55]

Rotherham United

[edit]

On 31 May 2024, Kelly joined League One club Rotherham United on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[56]

International career

[edit]

He was selected for the Scotland national under-21 football team to play Belgium on 24 March 2011.[57] Kelly received his first Senior Scotland cap in November 2012, for a friendly against Luxembourg.[58] Kelly made his international debut, coming on for Charlie Mulgrew early in a second half, in a 2–1 win.[59]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played on 4 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kilmarnock 2009–10[60] Scottish Premier League 15 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 17 3
2010–11[61] 32 7 1 0 3 1 0 0 36 8
2011–12[62] 34 1 3 0 4 0 0 0 41 1
2012–13[63] 19 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 6
Total 100 15 6 2 7 1 0 0 113 18
Bristol City 2012–13[63] Championship 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
2013–14[64] League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0
Oldham Athletic 2014–15[65] League One 37 1 2 0 1 0 3[a] 0 43 1
2015–16[66] 41 6 2 0 1 0 0 0 44 6
Total 78 7 4 0 2 0 3 0 87 7
Leyton Orient 2016–17[67] League Two 21 4 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 24 4
Coventry City 2017–18[68] League Two 33 1 2 0 0 0 3[b] 0 38 1
2018–19[69] League One 30 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 32 0
2019–20[70] 27 0 7 0 2 0 1[a] 0 37 0
2020–21[71] Championship 23 2 0 0 1 0 — 24 2
2021–22[72] 16 0 0 0 0 0 — 16 0
2022–23[73] 10 0 1 0 0 0 3[c] 0 14 0
2023–24[74] 16 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
Total 155 3 12 0 4 0 9 0 180 3
Career total 375 29 22 2 14 1 14 0 425 32
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in the play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance in the 2023 English Football League play-offs

Honours

[edit]

Kilmarnock

Coventry City

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Liam Kelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Kilmarnock game ends in tragedy as father of Liam Kelly collapses and dies". Daily Express. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Liam Kelly - Midfielder - First Team - Coventry City". www.ccfc.co.uk. Coventry City. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Dreams in 'tatters' as Dons cancel contracts". Milton Keynes Citizen. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Kilmarnock 3 – 0 Inverness CT". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Aberdeen 1 – 2 Kilmarnock". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  7. ^ "St Johnstone 0 – 3 Kilmarnock". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Kelly signs Killie deal". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  9. ^ Kilmarnock 2 Hibernian 1: match report – Sky Sports News
  10. ^ "Liam Kelly double inspires Kilmarnock to victory over Hibernian". The Guardian. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Celtic 0–1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Celtic offer condolences to Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Kelly after father dies at cup final". The Independent. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  13. ^ Halliday, Stephen (18 March 2012). "Kilmarnock cup joy turns to sorrow as player's father has fatal heart attack". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Kilmarnock player Liam Kelly's father dies after cup final". BBC News. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Kilmarnock squad to attend funeral of Liam Kelly's father". Telegraph. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Kilmarnock pay eloquent tribute to Liam Kelly's father Jack". Telegraph. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  17. ^ "Fans praised for ovation given to Liam Kelly". BBC News. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  18. ^ "St Mirren 4 v Kilmarnock 2". www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Dunfermline 1 – 2 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 2: Kenny Shiels lauds side after stunning victory over leaders". Daily Record. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Kilmarnock: Kenny Shiels pays tribute to Liam Kelly". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Liam Kelly says pals helped him overcome Hampden tragedy". Daily Record. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Aberdeen 0 Kilmarnock 2: Liam Kelly at the double as Kilmarnock beat ten-man Aberdeen". Daily Record. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "St Mirren 1 Kilmarnock 1: A tale of two penalties at St Mirren Park". Daily Record. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  27. ^ Berry, Gavin (29 December 2012). "Liam Kelly will be like new signing if he stays, says Kilmarnock team-mate". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Kilmarnock star Liam Kelly is target for Championship side Derby County". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  29. ^ "This is a fantastic club". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  30. ^ "Derek McInnes sacked by Bristol City". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013.
  31. ^ "Bristol City 0–4 Leicester". BBC Sport. 12 January 2013.
  32. ^ "Liam Kelly: Bristol City midfielder suffers knee injury". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Bristol City: Korey Smith signs as Liam Kelly joins Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  34. ^ "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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. ^ "Latics Announce Squad Numbers". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "Kelly handed Oldham captaincy". Sky Sports. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  37. ^ "Colchester United 2-2 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  38. ^ a b "Liam Kelly: Leyton Orient sign Oldham Athletic midfielder". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  39. ^ "Liam Kelly: Plymouth Argyle report Leyton Orient captain for ball boy 'shove'". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  40. ^ "Club Statement". Plymouth Argyle FC. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  41. ^ "Leyton Orient captain Liam Kelly charged by FA over alleged ball boy incident". BT Sport. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  42. ^ "Liam Kelly: Leyton Orient captain charged by FA for ball boy 'shove'". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Plymouth ball boys says Leyton Orient's Liam Kelly should be disciplined". Sky Sports. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  44. ^ "Leyton Orient's Liam Kelly banned after Independent Regulatory Commission hearing". The FA. 17 February 2017.
  45. ^ "Liam Kelly: Leyton Orient captain banned for six games for ball boy 'shove'". BBC Sport. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  46. ^ "Leyton Orient 1-4 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  47. ^ "Crewe Alexandra 3-0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  48. ^ "Orient captain Kelly to join Coventry". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  49. ^ "How Coventry won promotion to League One". BBC Sport. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  50. ^ "NEWS: Liam Kelly Agrees New Contract". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  51. ^ "Liam Kelly - Midfielder - First Team - Coventry City". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  52. ^ "League One (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  53. ^ "British football suspended until 3 April". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  54. ^ "League One & Two seasons ended early". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  55. ^ "Liam Kelly: Departing Coventry captain praised as 'club legend'". BBC Sport. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  56. ^ "Signing | Experienced Anchorman Kelly Joins Rotherham Ranks". Rotherham United Football Club. 31 May 2024.
  57. ^ Under-21 Squad for Belgium Friendly – The Scottish FA
  58. ^ "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.
  59. ^ "Luxembourg 1 Scotland 2: Rhodes double seals a scrappy win for interim boss Billy Stark". Daily Record. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  60. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  61. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  62. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  63. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  64. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  65. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  66. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  67. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  68. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  69. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  70. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  71. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  72. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  73. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  74. ^ "Games played by Liam Kelly in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  75. ^ Law, James (28 May 2018). "Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
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