Graham Kelly (footballer, born 1997)

Graham Kelly (born 16 October 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for NIFL Premiership side Larne. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-18 and under-19 level.

Graham Kelly
Personal information
Full name Graham Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-16) 16 October 1997
Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Larne
Number 7
Youth career
2014–2015 Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Sheffield United 1 (0)
2016 → Stalybridge Celtic (loan) 9 (0)
2017–2018 Port Vale 0 (0)
2017 → Bradford Park Avenue (loan) 10 (1)
2018 → Southport (loan) 11 (0)
2018– Larne[lower-alpha 1] 25 (0)
National team
2014–2015 Republic of Ireland U18 4 (0)
2015 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 8 March 2020 (UTC)

He began his career at Sheffield United, where he made his senior debut on April 2016. He played on loan at Stalybridge Celtic later in the year, before he was transferred to Port Vale in June 2017. He played on loan at Bradford Park Avenue and Southport during the 2017–18 season. He joined Northern Irish side Larne in August 2018 and helped the club to win the NIFL Championship title in 2018–19.

Club career

Sheffield United

Kelly came through the Academy at Sheffield United to make his senior debut for the "Blades" as a late substitute for Matt Done in a 3–1 defeat to Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena on 30 April 2016.[3] He joined Stalybridge Celtic of the National League North on loan in August 2016.[4] He made ten appearances for the "Celts" over a five-week stay at Bower Fold.[5]

Port Vale

Kelly signed a one-year contract, with the option for a second year, at newly relegated EFL League Two club Port Vale in June 2017.[6] He said he was looking forward to working with manager Michael Brown and being reunited with former Sheffield United coach Chris Morgan.[7] On 8 September 2017, he joined National League North side Bradford Park Avenue on a one-month loan after manager Mark Bower needed cover for the injured Shane Killock, Matt Hill and Luca Havern.[8] He scored his first goal in senior football in his final appearance for Avenue, after combining well with Oli Johnson in a 2–0 win over Brackley Town at the Horsfall Stadium.[9] On 26 January 2018, he joined Kevin Davies's National League North side Southport on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[10] He recovered from a car accident on the M6 motorway to make a total of 11 appearances for the "Sandgrounders".[11] Upon his return to Vale Park he was informed by manager Neil Aspin that he would not be retained beyond the summer.[12]

Larne

On 2 August 2018, Kelly joined NIFL Championship side Larne.[13] He established himself in the side as a left-sided centre back in the club's favoured three at the back formation, as Larne went on to win the 2018–19 NIFL Championship. He made 27 appearances before the 2019–20 season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland.[14]

International career

Kelly won four caps at for the Republic of Ireland at both under-18 and under-19 level, and scored for the under-19s against Latvia in November 2015.[15]

Career statistics
As of match played 8 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League National Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield United 2015–16[16] League One 1000000010
2016–17[17] League One 0000001[lower-alpha 2]010
Total 1000001020
Stalybridge Celtic (loan) 2016–17[18][19] National League North 90100000100
Port Vale 2017–18[20] League Two 0000000000
Bradford Park Avenue (loan) 2017–18[18] National League North 101100000111
Southport (loan) 2017–18[18] National League North 110000000110
Larne 2018–19[18] NIFL Championship 20000020
2019–20[18] NIFL Premiership 250101000270
Total[lower-alpha 1] 250301000290
Career total 561501010731
  1. League statistics for Larne in the 2018–19 campaign not known.
  2. Appearance in the EFL Trophy

Honours
Larne

References
  1. Graham Kelly at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. "FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2017/2018". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. "Coventry City 3–1 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. "Three of United's development squad will spend a month out on-loan in non-league in a bid for regular first-team football". sufc.co.uk. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  5. "Stalybridge Celtic – Official Site – Player Profile Graham Kelly". www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. Baggaley, Mike (22 June 2017). "Port Vale sign Sheffield United left back Graham Kelly". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. Baggaley, Mike (22 June 2017). "Kelly targets Port Vale first team after Sheffield United move". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  8. "Kelly Joins Bradford On Loan". Bradford Park Avenue Community Football Club. 9 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  9. "A game of two halves as excellent Avenue see off Brackley". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  10. "Graham Kelly joins Southport on loan". port-vale.co.uk. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  11. Baggaley, Michael (26 March 2018). "Port Vale defender Graham Kelly okay after motorway accident". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  12. "Port Vale: Neil Aspin releases 10 players from struggling League Two club". BBC Sport. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  13. "Latest News | Larne Football Club". www.larnefootballclub.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  14. "Irish Premiership: Season curtailed and mathematical formula to decide final standings". BBC. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  15. "Welcome To Port Vale – Graham Kelly". port-vale.co.uk. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  16. "Games played by Graham Kelly in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  17. "Games played by Graham Kelly in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  18. Graham Kelly at Soccerway
  19. "Stalybridge Celtic – Official Site – Player Profile Graham Kelly". www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  20. "Games played by Graham Kelly in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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