Leonard Thomas Kelly (1913-1981) was an Australian premiership winning rugby league player who played in the 1930s and 1940s with St. George. He was later a senior administrator with the club in their successive eleven year winning run from 1956 to 1966.
Kelly went on to become a legend at the St. George as a player, coach and administrator. Known as 'The Deacon', Kelly played his entire football career at St George. He came to club via the junior club, Sutherland Grave-Diggers.
Kelly played twelve seasons for St. George between 1933 and 1944, the highlight being his vice-captaincy in the 1941 Grand Final winning team. In 1942 he became captain-coach. He played 208 grade games (all grades) with St. George, a record which stood till Norm Provan surpassed it late in his career.
Kelly retired from the Sydney league in 1944 to captain-coach at Picton for three years.[2]
Administrative careeredit
Kelly returned to St George as an administrator in 1950 and also became an Australian selector in 1956. He was President of the St George Football Club and a director of St. George League's Club during the club's successful run of eleven straight premierships from 1956 to 1966. He retained those positions until 1977.
He later became vice-president of the NSWRFL under President Bill Buckley. Upon Buckley's death in 1973, it was assumed that Kelly would run rugby league in New South Wales, but the position was ultimately given to a more youthful Kevin Humphreys. Kelly remained N.S.W. Rugby League vice-president until his retirement in the late 1970s.[3]
Deathedit
Len 'The Deacon' Kelly died suddenly at his Arncliffe, New South Wales home on 3 November 1981, age 68 after a long illness.[4][5]
Referencesedit
^"Len Kelly - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
^Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson. 2005 ISBN9780732908164
^"Dragons - Our Proud History - St George and Illawarra Rugby League".
kelly, leonard, thomas, kelly, 1913, 1981, australian, premiership, winning, rugby, league, player, played, 1930s, 1940s, with, george, later, senior, administrator, with, club, their, successive, eleven, year, winning, from, 1956, 1966, george, vice, captain,. Leonard Thomas Kelly 1913 1981 was an Australian premiership winning rugby league player who played in the 1930s and 1940s with St George He was later a senior administrator with the club in their successive eleven year winning run from 1956 to 1966 Len KellyLen Kelly St George vice captain 1941Personal informationFull nameLeonard Thomas KellyBorn 1913 06 17 17 June 1913Manildra New South Wales AustraliaDied3 November 1981 1981 11 03 aged 68 Arncliffe New South Wales AustraliaPlaying informationPositionSecond rowClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1933 44 St George 160 59 0 0 177Coaching informationClubYears Team Gms W D L W 1942 St George 20 13 0 7 65Source 1 Kelly seated 3rd from right in St George s 1941 premiership winning teamContents 1 Background 2 Playing career 3 Administrative career 4 Death 5 References 6 Published sourcesBackground editKelly was born in Manildra New South Wales on 17 June 1913 Playing career editKelly went on to become a legend at the St George as a player coach and administrator Known as The Deacon Kelly played his entire football career at St George He came to club via the junior club Sutherland Grave Diggers Kelly played twelve seasons for St George between 1933 and 1944 the highlight being his vice captaincy in the 1941 Grand Final winning team In 1942 he became captain coach He played 208 grade games all grades with St George a record which stood till Norm Provan surpassed it late in his career Kelly retired from the Sydney league in 1944 to captain coach at Picton for three years 2 Administrative career editKelly returned to St George as an administrator in 1950 and also became an Australian selector in 1956 He was President of the St George Football Club and a director of St George League s Club during the club s successful run of eleven straight premierships from 1956 to 1966 He retained those positions until 1977 He later became vice president of the NSWRFL under President Bill Buckley Upon Buckley s death in 1973 it was assumed that Kelly would run rugby league in New South Wales but the position was ultimately given to a more youthful Kevin Humphreys Kelly remained N S W Rugby League vice president until his retirement in the late 1970s 3 Death editLen The Deacon Kelly died suddenly at his Arncliffe New South Wales home on 3 November 1981 age 68 after a long illness 4 5 References edit Len Kelly Career Stats amp Summary Rugby League Project Rugbyleagueproject org Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players Alan Whiticker Glen Hudson 2005 ISBN 9780732908164 Dragons Our Proud History St George and Illawarra Rugby League Sydney Morning Herald death notice 5 11 1981 The Canberra Times 04 11 1981 Len Kelly Dies page 42 Article Sporting positionsPreceded byNeville Smith 1939 1941 Coach nbsp St George1942 Succeeded byNeville Smith 1943Published sources editWhiticker Alan amp Hudson Glen 2006 The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players Gavin Allen Publishing Sydney Haddan Steve 2007 The Finals 100 Years of National Rugby League Finals Steve Haddan Publishing Brisbane nbsp This Australian rugby league football biography is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Len Kelly amp oldid 1065254380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
