Dominic Kelly (23 June 1917 – 20 October 1982) was an English professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played as a centre half. His career was shortened by WW2. He was later a police officer and cricketer before being convicted of theft, embezzlement and manslaughter.

Early and personal life

Kelly was born in Sandbach, the younger brother of fellow footballer

John Kelly John or Jack Kelly may refer to: People Academics and scientists * John Kelly (engineer), Irish professor, former Registrar of University College Dublin *John Kelly (scholar) (1750–1809), at Douglas, Isle of Man *John Forrest Kelly (1859–1922) ...

. The two played together at Leeds United.

Career

Kelly played club football for Sandbach Ramblers, Leeds United and

Newcastle United Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, that plays in the Premier League – the top flight of English football. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End ...

. His career was interrupted by World War II; he joined the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...

, and played Army football. He retired after the end of World War II due to ligament damage exacerbated by his war service.

Later life and death

Upon his retirement from football in 1946 he joined the Newcastle upon Tyne City Police, During this time he played cricket and represented Northumberland. He was fired by the police in 1957 after being convicted of theft, and was later jailed for embezzlement in 1960. He moved to London and was convicted of manslaughter in 1969, serving five years in prison, having set fire to the hotel where he was working as a night porter, resulting in the death of a chambermaid. Kelly died on 20 October 1982 in Croydon.

References

1917 births 1982 deaths English footballers Leeds United F.C. players Newcastle United F.C. players English Football League players Men's association football defenders English cricketers Northumberland cricketers British police officers convicted of crimes English people convicted of manslaughter People convicted of embezzlement British people convicted of theft Sportspeople convicted of crimes 20th-century English criminals British Army personnel of World War II Royal Corps of Signals soldiers People from Sandbach Footballers from Cheshire {{England-footy-defender-1910s-stub