Hugh (Hughie) Kelly was born in Valleyfield Fife on 23rd July 1923. He played football for Jeanfield Swifts before Joe Smith, the manager of Blackpool, bought him in 1943.

In the 1947-48 season Blackpool beat Chester (4-0), Colchester United (5-0), Fulham (2-0), Tottenham Hotspur (3-1) to reach the final of the FA Cup. However, Blackpool lost the game 4-2 to Manchester United.

In the 1950-51 season Blackpool finished in 3rd place in the First Division of the Football League. Blackpool beat Stockport County (2-1), Mansfield Town (2-0), Fulham (1-0) and Birmingham City (2-1) to reach the final of the FA Cup. Newcastle United won the game 2-0.

Hughie Kelly won his first and only international cap for Scotland against the USA on 30th April 1952. Scotland won the game 6-0 but Kelly never played for his country again.

Joe Smith had built a very good team that included Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen, Harry Johnson and Bill Perry. In the 1952-53 season beat Huddersfield Town (1-0), Southampton (2-1), Arsenal (2-1) and Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) to reach the FA Cup final for the third time in five years. Unfortunately for Hughie Kelly he was injured and was unable to play in Blackpool's 4-3 victory.

In the 1955-56 season Blackpool finished 2nd in the First Division of the Football League. Kelly remained with the club until 1961 when he became player-manager of Ashton United.

In 1963 Hughie Kelly became a grocer in Blackpool.

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