Phil Wade Kelso (26 May 1871 – 13 February 1935), born in Largs on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

football manager.

Career

Kelso was manager of Hibernian for one season,Phil Kelso
www.hibsprogrammes.co.uk before taking over as manager of newly promoted Woolwich Arsenal in 1904. He managed the club for four years, during which time he took the side to the FA Cup semi-finals two seasons in a row; however, his best in the league was seventh (in 1906-07). With the club starting to run into financial trouble and with results declining, Kelso resigned in 1908 to return to Scotland to manage a hotel; but was tempted back down south to become manager of

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...

in 1909. He stayed with the Cottagers for 15 years, making him their longest-serving manager.

Personal life

Kelso worked at the

Royal Arsenal The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich is an establishment on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England, that was used for the manufacture of armaments and ammunition, proofing, and explosives research for the Britis ...

during the First World War. After retiring from football he managed pubs in the

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. ...

area and was chairman of the Football League Managers and Secretaries Association. Kelso died in London, in 1935, aged 63. He is buried in East Sheen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelso, Phil 1871 births 1935 deaths Scottish football managers Arsenal F.C. managers Fulham F.C. managers Hibernian F.C. managers People from Largs Scottish Football League managers Sportspeople from North Ayrshire English Football League managers