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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: Charles Kelly
aka: Charlie Kelly
Born: c1867
Died: 20 September 1898, Airdrie
Birthplace: […]
Signed: Oct 1891 (Loan)
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic, League, 3 Oct 1891
Internationals: none
Biog
Hibernian goalkeeper Charles Kelly played three games for Celtic as a loan replacement for first choice Tom Duff.
Charles Kelly was a former player for the short-lived Glasgow Hibernian side before later moving to the original Hibernian FC (Edinburgh) in December 1889. It should be noted that he had signed on loan for Celtic when the original Hibernian club was out of competition and out of business, and later had to be set up anew in 1892.
He’d only actually played three games previously for Hibs in the major competitions, all in the Scottish Cup, conceding 18 goals! This included a 9-1 drubbing to Dumbarton, and then a 4-3 win over Kirkcaldy Warriors followed by a next round 6-2 loss to Abercorn. So Celtic must have been really in need to take on Charlie Kelly, or maybe saw some the true talent beyond the scorelines.
Tom Duff suffered rheumatics after being soaked in a game played in non-stop torrential rain against Dumbarton. Consequently Celtic borrowed Charles Kelly for two league games, with the first being a 2-1 league victory at St Mirren on October 3rd 1891, and then a 3-1 victory over Hearts. He also played in the 3-0 victory away to Partick Thistle in the Glasgow Cup.
So three victories across the competitions with just two goals conceded is a fine record to reflect back on, and far superior to his record at the original Hibernian.
Celtic just missed out on the title that season (1891/92), finishing just two points behind Dumbarton, so losing Charlie Kelly a chance of a place in history of having played with a league title winning side (and would have been Celtic’s first league title).
A benefit game on his behalf between Hibs & Celtic was played in May 1896 to help him as he had long been in ill-health, with his doctor even ordering a sea voyage to help him. He was described in one match report as “a champion goalkeeper in his day for both of the Irish combinations“.
Sadly he died prematurely of the dropsy in September 1898.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1891 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Shut-outs | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
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