Des Kelly (footballer)

Born in Limerick to an Irish father and an English mother,[2] Kelly studied at Limerick CBS, cousin to former Norwich City and Republic of Ireland footballer Phil Kelly. Des Kelly joined hometown club Limerick following youth spells with Hyde Rovers, Fairview and Drogheda United, before joining his cousin Phil's former club Norwich in 1970, where he had spent time on trial. He joined Southend United on trial in October 1971 whilst with Norwich, but never made a first-team appearance for the club. Following his release from Norwich, Kelly joined Colchester United on trial.[3]

Kelly signed for Colchester in June 1972[4] and would go on to make a single Football League appearance for the club.[5] The club's manager at the time was Jim Smith, who had been watching Kelly during a reserve-team game and discovered from the club doctor that Kelly was blind in one eye. An injury to U's first-choice keeper Barry Smith allowed Kelly an opportunity into the first-team.[6] His only league game for Colchester came in a 3–0 away defeat to Bradford City on 4 November 1972.[7] He would only play once more for Colchester in an FA Cup first round 6–0 win against Bognor Regis Town on 18 November.[8]

Following his release from Colchester, Kelly joined another of his cousin's former clubs, Lowestoft Town.[1] He would later start coaching football at St Benedict's Catholic College in Colchester. From here, he trained to become a teacher in London and landed a job at St John Payne Catholic Comprehensive School in Chelmsford, becoming head of physical education.[2] He taught at St John Payne for 34 years, 20 of those as deputy head teacher, also teaching religious education alongside P.E.[9]

In 2010, Kelly was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope Benedict XVI for his work in Catholic Education, evangelisation and bereavement in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood.[9]