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Note: There has been more than one player with the same name to play for Celtic. So please check the other namesakes if need be.
Personal
Fullname: Francis Kelly
aka: Frank Kelly
Born: 21 May 1923
Died: […]
Birthplace: Old Kilpatrick
Signed: 27 February 1943
Left: April 1947 (free)
Position: Full-back, Left-back, Defender
Debut: Queen of the South 0-0 Celtic, Regional League, 2 Jan 1946
Internationals: none
Biog
Defender Frank Kelly was signed from Renton BG as a centre-half in February 1943 and made his debut as a left-back in a 0-0 Regional League draw at Queen of the South on 2nd January 1946. He was taking the place of the injured Roy Milne, and played alongside fellow debutant Jimmy Sirrell who went on to make his name in club management.
He won one more first team place in a 4-2 defeat on 26th January 1946 v Falkirk. Taking in that Falkirk had the great Charlie Napier in their side and ex-Celt Doc Fitzsimmons, then it helps to explain the scoreline.
Roy Milne retook his place and Frank Kelly never got a chance with the first team again.
Capable of playing centre-half or at full back Frank Kelly was released by the club in April 1947 after just those two senior appearances.
It was war-time and Celtic were a mess, so maybe he was unlucky not to get more chances to prove himself but we’ll never know.
Celtic were a disaster round this time, finishing far behind in 4th place in 1945/46 (Southern Scottish League) and then 7th in season 1946/47 (the first season the Scottish football league had reverted back to the full league system after the regional system split during the war years).
As Celtic were to endure a nightmare the following season in 1947/48 in which the first team ended the season perilously close to relegation, maybe Frank Kelly was lucky to be away.
After Celtic he was on trial at Ipswich (1947) and Raith Rovers (Penman Cup 1947), but signed up for his hometown side Dumbarton in September 1947. However from records it seems that he left very sharpish, being freed on 2 October 1947, and does not appear to have played any first team games for the club.
Seems to not have sadly been able to settle down at a club to make a career, giving up the game at just 24.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | REGIONAL LEAGUE |
SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1943-47 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Goals: | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
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