JIMMY Kelly, who passed away on Sunday, was born at Lynton, near Morpeth, Northumberland on 11 November 1931.

As a wing half, he started his football at Linton County School and Blyth Grammar School before graduating to Blyth Spartans where he attracted the attention of a number of scouts from League clubs.

He had trials with Sunderland, Newcastle United and Watford but it was the last named that he joined as he wanted to make his name away from his native north east.

He went on to make 19 League appearances for the club, scoring four goals and, during his National Service, he made 10 appearances for the RAF representative side when he was the only Third Division player in the team.

He came to Blackpool's attention in 1954 when, once again, a number of clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea, had been watching him.

But Blackpool manager Joe Smith and chairman Harry Evans travelled secretly to London to sign him before any of the other clubs had the opportunity. The fee was £15,000, then Blackpool's record fee for a half back.

He made his Blackpool debut immediately in 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United on 16 October 1954 and just prior to his debut he said: "I think that by joining such a first class club I shall be able to improve my game and maybe one day, with luck, play for my country."

He suffered an ankle injury during his first season with the club and his appearances were restricted to 10 League games, in which he scored one goal in a 3-1 defeat against Preston North End on 26 February 1955, one FA Cup tie and 12 Central League games.

He displayed his ability for as well as appearing at right half, he also appeared at inside right and left half.

The directors were shocked for in October 1955 he asked for a transfer. "I think a move would benefit me. I have no complaints against the club or any player," he said.

But the directors knew his worth and they turned down his request, a second of which was similarly turned down in January 1956.

He rapidly became a regular in the strong Blackpool side and his efforts were rewarded with inclusion in the FA touring party to the West Indies in the summer of 1955.

He was later to appear for an FA XI against the Army in 1958 and during that same close season he went on the Blackpool FC tour of the United States of America and Australia but he missed the Hong Kong leg of the tour as he had return home for treatment to an injury.

He was appointed Blackpool captain at the start of the 1959/60 season and in November 1960 he spoke as Blackpool captain about the proposed players' strike.

He said: "We are disgusted with the decision of The Football League not to grant a pay increase. I must say that most, if not all of us, expected that at the League's extraordinary meeting at St Annes this week some sort of increase would have been granted.

"The Blackpool players do not want to strike, but they are solidly behind their union, and will support it in any action which it decides to take."

He was always thinking ahead and he gained his FA coaching certificate at Lilleshall and he also did some work for the Lancashire Football Association in coaching at schools.

He had played in a total of 198 League games, scoring nine goals, eight FA Cup ties, two League Cup ties and 10 Central League games in the 1960/61 season.

Jimmy Kelly. 1931-2003

* Whether or not Blackpool agreed to release him from his contract, he and his wife were bound for Australia in May 1961 to make a new life outside English football.

* Consequently he joined South Coast United, New South Wales, Australia during the close season of 1960/61. As a result of his actions, Blackpool suspended him from 16 to 30 June 1961.

* He was voted player of the year by three Sydney newspapers, Sydney Morning Herald, Illawarra Mercury and the Sydney Telegraph, at the end of 1961. He said from Australia: "Australia is a naturally sports minded nation and their sportsmen look after themselves much more than English sportsmen.

"Australian players are very alert and are constantly kept on their toes by their fast game. I am sure they will be able to give England a run for their money in a couple of years from now."

* He was player-coach for South Coast and coach to the Australian international side and to the New South Wales Federation by season 1963/64.

* He won the Sydney First Grade League Competition for South Coast United in the 1964/65 season and he was offered a new contract. But he returned from Australia in December 1965 and, at 33, was uncertain as to his football future. "Although I would like to play again my big aim is to go into business," he said.

* He played no more League football and signed for non-league Fleetwood.

* He subsequently went into the financial business in Blackpool.

* He died on 10 August 2003.