Garry Kelly coming Home!

Just read this on elevenaside.com:

"Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin admits he would relish the chance to sign former Republic of Ireland international Gary Kelly at the end of the English League season.

Kelly is expected to sever his ties with the Elland Road club next summer after 17 seasons in Yorkshire.

The 32-year-old – second only to Jack Charlton in the club’s all-time appearance list – wants to return to Ireland when the Coca-Cola Championship season finishes in May.

And Doolin would love to bring Kelly on board at his hometown club. He told the Irish Sun: “I know it is Gary’s last year over there and that he has told people he is coming home. He may be 32 years old but he is certainly a fit fella. He was in the Championship Team of the Year last season. If he is coming home then of course we would be interested.”

Kelly has fostered strong links with the club in recent years after helping to establish the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in the town following the sad death of his sister Mandy in 1998.

Among fund-raising ventures organised in recent times were a friendly between Drogs and Leeds in March 2005 and the recently-launched Drogheda United DVD, all proceeds of which go to the cancer support centre."

You're that excited you spelt his name wrong.

How good is Kelly these days ? Leeds are pish - Drogheda would probably beat them.

Is this a rerturn to the days of the EL being a benevolence home for retiring Irish professionals ?

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Is this a rerturn to the days of the EL being a benevolence home for retiring Irish professionals ?

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He can hardly be called a 'retiring professional' at the age of 32. As regards how good he is, well he did make the championship team of the season last year, and after so long away, he probably just wants to come home.

I'm sure he would receive offers if he stayed in the UK.

Leeds are pretty dire this season but they made the play-off final last year and Kelly was in the team of the season with Doyle. Of the the whole team of the year only Doyle and Jason Koumas aren't in the premiership.

i dont think there is one Drog fan who wouldnt welcome Gary back with open arms.Think of his experience in the champions laegue in Leeds hay day.Would be a great asset for the UEFA Cup next season!

I reckon it could only be good for the league if it starts attracting more experienced quality professionals in the 30-34 age bracket. At this stage they're unlikely to be past it and if the league can hold on to young talent it will only do good to have players with experience like Gary Kelly to help them along.

why when I saw the title of this thread did the lyrics 'you don't win fans with hasbeens' set to the tune of Homer Simpson's 'you don't win friends with salad' run through my head?

It think it's a bit unfair to characterize Kelly as a has been, Jebus. He's still a decent player and would certainly be a decent signing for Drogheda, IMO.

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Originally Posted by John83

It think it's a bit unfair to characterize Kelly as a has been, Jebus. He's still a decent player and would certainly be a decent signing for Drogheda, IMO.

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Ah Gary has been a hasbeen (geddit?) since about 1996 in my eyes, any defender that peaks in their abilities before he reaches 22 is a bit of a waste of space if you ask me. Couldn't care less if he got into the Championship team of the season last year, he was supposed to become one fo the top right backs in England when he broke into the Leeds team initially, but since that day when he had Ryan Giggs in his pocket back around 1994 (I think) his career has gone downhill. Since that was 10 years ago I'm gonna stick by my hasbeen comment.

Just dirtied myself by going on to the Unofficial Leeds United fansite and apparantly this 'loyal' servant of the club was picking up his 28k a week until the start of this season, and has only now reduced it to a miserly 18k a week. I can't see him going from that to Eircom Laegue wages to be honest, especially as Celtic apparantly have expressed an interest in signing him

Anyone who says Kelly couldn't play for a top team in our league clearly doesn't watch Championship football. Championship players are bigger, fitter, stronger, and generally better than eL players. By some stretch.

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Originally Posted by Jaime

Anyone who says Kelly couldn't play for a top team in our league clearly doesn't watch Championship football. Championship players are bigger, fitter, stronger, and generally better than eL players. By some stretch.

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I disagree that they're generally better players.

Unquestionably stronger as a group though. Absolutely no doubt about that. We're light years behind in this area of player development.

9 of last seasons Championship team of the season are now in the premiership and Kelly would still be capable of playing in the top flight. To suggest that at 32 he would be past it an not capable of producing for an EL club is preposterous nonsense.

I personally would love to see Gary Kelly playing in LOI .Great mone by Doolin if he signs him.

Two words: Alan Moore.

Another two words: Gareth Farrelly.

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Two words: Alan Moore.

Another two words: Gareth Farrelly.

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Four words; what is your point?

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Two words: Alan Moore.
Another two words: Gareth Farrelly.

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Hmm I recall both of them gracing the Champions league and playing in 2 world cups 8 years apart..... Oh no they were both journeymen who were only bit part players in their very short premiership careers and spent most of their careers in and out of average teams in the Championship (or equivalent) and below.:confused:

Two words - Joey Ndo
Another two words - David Kelly (I think - Derry fans' views welcome!)

It'd be a gamble, but I think Kelly is still at more than a good enough level to be one of the best players in the eL. And it makes a change from signing Efan Ekoku and the likes!

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Originally Posted by Jaime

Four words; what is your point?

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Championship/Premiership players who came back home with a fanfare and disappeared with a whimper.

It must Be True! It made the Championship headline for EuroSports WebSite... Oh the JOY!

http://www.eurosport.com/football/ch...hip/2006-2007/

If I was a Drogheda fan I'd be concerned about what his wage demands could be. But I'm not so I hope he wants a fortune and they give it to him.

Another 2 words: Curtis Fleming

ok....how many caps did Kelly win and how many did Flemming win.Kelly is clearly a better and fitter player

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Originally Posted by Rossi

ok....how many caps did Kelly win and how many did Flemming win.Kelly is clearly a better and fitter player

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That's not the issue.

This would be a great move for Drogheda.Also, it might encourage other good Irish players, the likes of Graham Kavanagh to come back for one or two seasons, granted they can perform well enough.

While nobody would want a return to the farcical days of players making 'appearances' in the eL; Kelly is still a supremely fit footballer playing regularly at a higher level. And yes, the Championship is a higher level than the eL at the top end. I know Leeds aren't impressing, but Kelly clearly has if he made the Championship team last season. It can only be beneficial to our younger players to train and play with dedicated professionals of Kelly's calibre.

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Originally Posted by holidaysong

If I was a Drogheda fan I'd be concerned about what his wage demands could be.

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Why? We dont badly need him so we'll get him if it suits us too.

Gary has made his money in england, owns a few properties in drogheda, is a proud drogheda man, has invested ALOT of his own money into setting up a cancer centre in the town of drogheda and has often spoke of his desire to finish out his career with drogheda (and to get a coaching role with us when he retires).

Im sure its taken that when he finally ends up at drogheda he'll be on a very modest paypacket compared to what he was on!

The only thing that might stand in his way would be if celtic go for him as he's a massive celtic fan!


He'd be a fantastic addition to not only Drogheda United, but to the Eircom League.

i'll second that. gary has shown over the years that he is a true drog. not only has he invested in the town, he has given his time and support to the people of the town. his cancer support centre close to united park is a wonderful gift to the people of drogheda. gary also makes regular trips to underage training when he's home and is a real football fan. spoke to him at lansdown last year and he was delighted to make the trip to see his hometown club in a cup final.
on top of his regular acts of selfless generosity to the town he is also a quality footballer and better at 32 than any other right back in the league imo. i'm sure one day he will have a role in the club but think it unlikely as a player next season. although he has gone on record to say he wnats his kids to grow up in drogheda. a real family man so you'd never know.
would be welcomed in drogheda with open arms by everyone.

If Drogheda get him without high wages it will be a great signing and he could be the best right full in the league since Heary came along :cool: :D

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Originally Posted by Jaime

Championship players are bigger, fitter, stronger, and generally better than eL players. By some stretch.

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Yeah - that's why Kevin Doyle and Shane Long really struggled over there.... :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by robbiesdrogs

im with diamond.i think a man who spurns the big pay day to set something like the cancer centre up in his home town has his head in the right place

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Did Kelly turn down offers or wages to open the Cancer Centre or something...?? :confused:

Potentially the best signing we could make. On the field is one area where the team could benefit, this is clear. Gary isn't coming home for money so I doubt he will hold the club to randsom. Seeing him playing for us would be a great feeling for everyone in Drogheda. Personally, I'd love to see him. As the other lads have said, he's well like around the town and many appreciate the work he has done and the things he has achieved, not just the eircom league faithful in and around Drogheda. Overall it would strengthen the town and be a great boast to the league in general.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Did Kelly turn down offers or wages to open the Cancer Centre or something...?? :confused:

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As far as I can recall, all the money he got from a testamonial with leeds went into it. He didnt go bragging to everyone about it like Niall Quinn although what Niall did was also very good.

I think its a great thing and as they say above I doubt he will be looking for crazy money. He will bring great experience to the league and Im he will turn to coaching in due course.
This is almost exactly like the Sweden model that we are all going on about for the league and yet many people are calling him a has-been which is unfair.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Did Kelly turn down offers or wages to open the Cancer Centre or something...?? :confused:

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Leeds gave him a testamonial and he used around €1M to set up the cancer centre after his sister died of breast cancer a few years ago. With the remainder of the money he set up something similar in Leeds.

I don't think that the issue here is Gary dropping down to play for the Drogs. He has always said that after his contract runs out he and his wife (also a Drog) were coming home. We are all assuming that if he is living in Drogheda then he will continue to play or coach and that would be with the Drogs.

He hasn't been playing recently. Is he injured or has Wise discarded him. I think he would be a great boost to Drogheda and to the EL.

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Originally Posted by bawn79

This is almost exactly like the Sweden model that we are all going on about for the league and yet many people are calling him a has-been which is unfair.

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What's the "Sweden model" ? Is this just because Larsson went home to play for Helsingborg..?

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

What's the "Sweden model" ? Is this just because Larsson went home to play for Helsingborg..?

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Not just Sweden (and not just Larsson - Anders Limpar, Glen Hysen, Roland Nillson), but there is a much higher proportion of ex international scandinavian players that return to their home countries either at or towards the end of their careers. Oyvind Leonhardsen, Tore Andre Flo, Jan Age Fjortoft all played a year or two in Norway to finish off their careers, while peolple like Stig Inge Bjornebye returned to Norway to get into management there.
The model talked about is that the people who leave to ply their trade in another country end up coming back and giving the league here the benefit of their experience. It doesn't help that Ireland is so close to Britain both physically and culturally (language, tv etc.) that players can easily settle over there whereas scandinavian players often want to return home more than Irish players would.

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Originally Posted by bigmac

Not just Sweden (and not just Larsson - Anders Limpar, Glen Hysen, Roland Nillson), but there is a much higher proportion of ex international scandinavian players that return to their home countries either at or towards the end of their careers. Oyvind Leonhardsen, Tore Andre Flo, Jan Age Fjortoft all played a year or two in Norway to finish off their careers, while peolple like Stig Inge Bjornebye returned to Norway to get into management there.
The model talked about is that the people who leave to ply their trade in another country end up coming back and giving the league here the benefit of their experience. It doesn't help that Ireland is so close to Britain both physically and culturally (language, tv etc.) that players can easily settle over there whereas scandinavian players often want to return home more than Irish players would.

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What he said!!
To have a truly sustainable league this is the way to go, sell players when they have been developed at 22-23, they spend 10years abroad and finish their careers in ireland and a percentage move into management.

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Originally Posted by bawn79

What he said!!
To have a truly sustainable league this is the way to go, sell players when they have been developed at 22-23, they spend 10years abroad and finish their careers in ireland and a percentage move into management.

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That sort of logical well thought out reasoned argument has no place here, he hasn't spent 10 years earning his Eircom League stripes at tolka/dalymount/turners cross (delete where applicable) therefore he is crap and washed up:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by endabob1

That sort of logical well thought out reasoned argument has no place here, he hasn't spent 10 years earning his Eircom League stripes at tolka/dalymount/turners cross (delete where applicable) therefore he is crap and washed up:rolleyes:

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I think the argument, like many things, is somewhere in the middle.

There are examples of previously decent players coming back from England and their performance here ranging from brilliant to absolutely atrocious. There's no absolute guarantee of success and as they say in the financial ads, past performance is no guarantee of future return.