United seeks F.A. Cup goal-scorer

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 44

United seeks F.A. Cup goal-scorer

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Eddie Kelly, who played a vital role in the Arsenal soccer team which completed an historic English League and F.A. Cup “double” in 1971, might be playing for Christchurch Brother United by the middle of April.

Now aged 30, Kelly, a former Scottish international midfielder, scored the first goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 Cup Final victory Liverpool. Kelly played 175 first division league matches for Arsenal, before having spells with Queen’s Park Rangers, Leicester City, Notts County and Bournemouth. He was back with Leicester when it reached the semi-finals of the Cup in 1983.

He is now playing for Torquay United, managed by the former Chelsea and Queen’s Park Rangers player, David Webb, which is struggling near the bottom in the fourth division.

Kelly has a full Football Association coaching badge and United is looking to bring him out as a full-time coach in Christchurch. The United coach, Laurie Blyth, is confident Kelly will be joining shortly after his Torquay commitments end.

“He would be the best player to have played in the Rothmans League on a long-term basis,” said Mr Blyth.

The connection with United came about through its London-born goal-keeper, Steve Baker. Kelly stayed with the Baker family in his early days with Arsenal and, while in Britain over the summer, Baker discussed the possibility of playing in New Zealand with Kelly. Mr Blyth said areas like Napier, Gisborne and Hamilton had set the precedent of having full-time coaches doubling as players. Napier, he pointed out, has four in its region, Mr Blyth would be looking for Kelly, as a player, to act as the steadying influence, and his ability to detect possibilities for openings in opposing defences should enhance United’s attacking strength. “The other thing is he’s a tremendous competitor,”

said Mr Blyth. “There won’t have been another player here as good as this guy.”

• United is also confident of regaining the services of the sharp little striker, David Jackson, for the season. Jackson, who scored five times in limited appearances for United in the 1981 national league competition, played for the club in both its Air New Zealand Cup matches last week-end. He is in Christchurch on holiday for several days.

The addition of the skilful Jackson, once he regains match fitness after a lengthy absence from the game, should considerably sharpen an attack which has looked distinctly blunt in early season competition. Jackson played for Napier City Rovers two seasons ago and, ironically, will be in United’s line-up for its opening national league match this week-end, against Napier, at English Park.