Kelly Heroes

Jimmy Kelly started a family dynasty when he joined the club in 1888, but a few more with the clan surname also turned out for Celtic.

- Joe Sullivan

IT was on this day, 87 years ago, on February 20, 1932, that Jimmy Kelly, former Celtic player, captain and chairman, passed away at the age of 67. Here, we take a brief look at his career and that of the other members of the Kelly Clan who turned out for the club.

JIMMY Kelly was born on October 15, 1865 in Renton, Dunbartonshire and played for Renton Wanderers, Renton and Hibernian before joining a new club named Celtic in 1888.

He wasn’t, however, one of the squad of players who moved directly from Hibs to Celtic in 1888. He did return to Renton and played in what was billed as the “World Championship” when Scottish Cup winners Renton (6-1 winners over Cambuslang) beat English Cup winners West Bromwich Albion (2-1 winners over Preston North End) that May at Hampden. Renton ran out 4-1 winners to lift the World

Football Cup, but Kelly was back at Hampden the following February when his new club, Celtic, reached their first ever Scottish Cup final in their first season of existence.

Indeed, Kelly played and scored in Celtic’s first ever game, the 5-2 win over Rangers played on May 28, 1888 – the same month he had helped win the World Cup – and from that day he was to serve Celtic until the day he died on February 20, 1932.