Mark Kelly (Irish footballer)

Mark Kelly

Personal information
Full name	Mark Kelly
Date of birth	27 November 1969 (1969-11-27) (age 41)
Place of birth	Basingstoke, England
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Winger (retired)
Club information
Current club	Portsmouth (Youth Coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1987–1993	Portsmouth[1]	49	(2)
1996–1997	Sligo Rovers	?	(?)
1997–1998	Farnborough Town	1	(0)
2000–2001	Finn Harps	?	(?)
National team
1988–1989	Rep of Ireland	4	(0)
1989–1990	Republic of Ireland U21	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mark Kelly (born 27 November 1969 in Basingstoke) is a former professional footballer who played for Portsmouth F.C. and also won four caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.

Although born in Basingstoke, Mark played for Ireland through the parentage rule after being recommended to Jack Charlton. His first cap came on 27 April 1988 in a 2-0 friendly win over Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road. Interestingly he won his first cap a month before he made his full debut at club level for Portsmouth at Manchester United in May 1988.

Alan Ball described the 18 year old Kelly as "the next George Best" but despite some exciting performances a series of injuries prevented him from becoming fully established in the first team. He never recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in 1991 and was forced to retire a year later, after a brief trial at Tottenham Hotspur FC in a bid to resurrect his career. Later he played part time for Sligo Rovers and Farnborough Town F.C..

He now works as head of youth development at his former club, Portsmouth.

He's joined BBC Radio Solent at the start of the 2011/12 season as their match summariser for live commentaries on Portsmouth matches.

References

1. ^ "PORTSMOUTH : 1946/47 - 2008/09". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/portsmouth/portsmouth.htm. Retrieved 21 March 2010. 

• Mark Kelly, www.soccerscene.ie

Persondata
Name	Kelly, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	27 November 1969
Place of birth	Basingstoke, England
Date of death
Place of death