OVF feature: Nearly men 25: Tony Kelly, not John Rudge’s next playmaker…

[News Feed]

Yes, midfield journeyman Tony Kelly did have a brief spell with Port Vale FC, so he’s not technically a “nearlyman” but arguably it could have lasted much longer and influential… So, why feature a player who had a spell with the Valiants in a series about players who didn’t play? Well, it’s more to do […]

The post Nearly men 25: Tony Kelly, not John Rudge’s next playmaker… appeared first on onevalefan.co.uk.

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[Santa]

I think Rudge wanted Kelly to sign for another month whereas he felt he'd done enough to earn a contract for the rest of the season.

Tony Kelly was always the sort of player had a lot of quality on the ball, it was more his fitness that was a question mark for Rudge.

He did well at Wolves away I remember and he scored a great free kick at Notts County where he made Steve Cherry look a <OVF censored> from out wide.

Ray Walker was out on loan to Cambridge at about the same time to get some match fitness after a long term injury that forced him to miss all of the promotion season. A month or so later Walker was back in first team contention.

I do wonder if Rudge would have signed Bogie had he managed to get Steve Thompson a month or so earlier, a player who he was trying to sign for ages in a bit of an on-off transfer saga before eventually Burnley offered him more money.

[ValeCW]

He was a good player but did not live the life of a professional football player. That must have held him back.

[CambridgeDon]

I remember that game against Notts County, when we were outplayed the whole game, conceded two and then pinched a 2-2 draw with one from the Tin Man and a last minute free-kick by Kelly right in front of us away supporters. Daylight robbery. Thought he looked a class player and always wondered why Rudgie let him go. Know we know.

[Guitar Ray]

Suprised he only played 4 games but he didn't look fully fit, certainly for the level we were at back then.  Worked out well really as Bogie was a terrific little player for us.

[JRC]

I liked Kelly in the few games he played. The other midfield player I always really rated creatively who had too brief a career from years ago was Billy Kellock. Thought both were nailed on for new contracts but they never happened.