Hughie Kelly was Blackpool through and through. He spent his entire career playing for the Tangerines clocking up almost 500 appearances for the club.
He made his league debut for Pool in 1946 against Aston Villa. The wing-half played in the 1948 and 1951 FA Cup finals for Blackpool but sadly missed the 1953 triumph because of injury.
Two years later Kelly captained Blackpool to second place in the league – our highest ever league position – behind only Manchester United.
Kelly won his only Scottish cap in 1952 against the USA.
He left Blackpool in 1961 to join non-league Ashton United as player/manager.
He returned to Blackpool on the backroom staff years later and was involved in business on the Fylde coast.
The Blackpool players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to Kelly at Saturday’s home game with Plymouth.
The thoughts of everyone at Blackpool Vital are with Hughie Kelly’s family at this difficult time.
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Always sad to lose an old player especially one like Hughie …RIP