Billy Kellock (footballer, born 1954) explained

Billy Kellock
Full Name:William Kellock
Birth Date:7 February 1954
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Kettering, England
Height:[2]
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1970–1971
Youthclubs1:Aston Villa
Years1:1971–1973
Caps1:35
Goals1:2
Years2:1973–1974
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:1974
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1974–1976
Years5:1976–1979
Years6:1979–1982
Caps6:134
Goals6:43
Years7:1982
Caps7:7
Goals7:0
Years8:1982–1983
Caps8:12
Goals8:3
Years9:1983–1984
Caps9:53
Goals9:8
Years10:1984–1985
Caps10:11
Goals10:4
Years11:1985–1986
Caps11:43
Goals11:17
Years12:1987–19??
Totalcaps:298+
Totalgoals:77+
Nationalteam1:Scotland schoolboys

William Kellock (7 February 1954 – 20 March 2024) was a Scottish footballer who scored 77 goals in 298 league games in an 11-year career in the Football League in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Norwich City, Millwall, Chelmsford City, Kettering Town, Peterborough United, Luton Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southend United, Port Vale, and Halifax Town. He was twice named to the PFA Team of the Year and was promoted out of the Second Division with Wolves in 1982–83.

Career

Kellock was a youth team player at Aston Villa, though went on to play for Cardiff City in the 1971 FA Youth Cup final defeat to Arsenal.[3] He broke into the first-team during the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, helping Jimmy Scoular's "Bluebirds" to 19th and 20th-place finishes in the Second Division. He turned professional in February 1972. He played in the 1973 final of the Welsh Cup as Cardiff defeated Bangor City 5–1 on aggregate, though he only played in the 1–0 away defeat at Farrar Road.[4] He scored two goals in 35 league games at Ninian Park. He then played three First Division games for Norwich City in 1973–74 as John Bond's "Canaries" suffered relegation. He left Carrow Road to sign with Millwall. However, "Lions" manager Gordon Jago never handed Kellock his league debut, who left The Den and dropped out of the Football League and joined Chelmsford City in October 1974.[5] In October 1975, he scored four goals in a 6–1 Southern League Cup win over Banbury United despite missing a penalty kick.[5] He also scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals of the Essex Professional Cup, though he was not selected for the final.[5] He scored 41 goals in 76 games for Chelmsford before being released in January 1976. At that point, he signed with Kettering Town.[5] Manager Derek Dougan led the "Poppies" to third in the Southern League 1976–77, and then new boss Mick Jones led the club to sixth place in 1977–78. He helped them to reach the 1979 FA Trophy final, where they were beaten 2–0 by Stafford Rangers.[6]

Kellock impressed at Rockingham Road and returned to the Football League with Peterborough United after he was signed for a nominal fee in August 1979.[7] Peter Morris's "Posh" finished eighth in the Fourth Division in 1979–80, before posting a fifth-place finish in 1980–81 – they ended the campaign just one place and three points behind promoted Wimbledon. By this stage Kellock had been appointed as club captain. They finished fifth again in 1981–82, six points behind fourth placed Bournemouth. In both 1980–81 and 1981–82, Kellock was named on the PFA Team of the Year.[8] [9] He scored 43 goals in 134 league games at London Road. He left the club for a £30,000 fee after being vocal in criticism of what he perceived as the club's lack of ambition. He played seven league games for David Pleat's Luton Town, but quickly left Kenilworth Road to play for Graham Hawkins's Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 1983.[10] Wolves were promoted out of the Second Division in second place in 1982–83.

Kellock was re-signed by Peter Morris, now manager at Southend United, who were relegated out of the Third Division in 1983–84. Kellock scored eight goals in 53 league games at Roots Hall. He joined John Rudge's Port Vale in December 1984.[11] He had a "stunning impact" on his debut; scoring two goals in a 5–1 win over Exeter City at Vale Park on New Year's Day.[11] [12] He was a regular in the side, scoring four goals in 11 Fourth Division games in 1984–85, before he strained a hamstring in March.[11] After refusing new terms, in June 1985, he signed for Halifax Town, who were managed his former boss Mick Jones.[11] He went on to score 17 goals in 43 Fourth Division appearances for the "Shaymen" in 1985–86, finishing as the club's top-scorer. This tally included a hat-trick against Wrexham at The Shay on 14 March. He left the club and returned to Kettering Town in 1987.

Style of play

Kellock was an all-round midfielder with excellent long-range shooting ability who was aggressive in the tackle.[13]

Post-retirement

After leaving the game, Kellock was head of sales and marketing at a Country club near Oakham.[14] He later worked as a painter and decorator.[6] He was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and a GoFundMe page was set up to support him.[6]

Kellock's death was announced on 20 March 2024. He was 70.[15]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cardiff City1971–72Second Division60310091
1972–73Second Division2924200334
Total3527300425
Norwich City1973–74First Division30001141
Millwall1974–75Second Division00000000
Peterborough United1979–80Fourth Division451911635223
1980–81Fourth Division461360415614
1981–82Fourth Division431130615212
Total1344310116516049
Luton Town1982–83First Division70101292
Wolverhampton Wanderers1982–83Second Division93000093
1983–84First Division30000030
Total1230000123
Southend United1983–84Third Division4051044459
1984–85Fourth Division1332030183
Total53830646212
Port Vale1984–85Fourth Division1140020134
Halifax Town1985–86Fourth Division431750305117
Career total29877214291234893

Honours

Individual

Cardiff City

1973[16]

Kettering Town

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Notes and References

  1. News: Rest in Peace Billy Kellock . 22 March 2024 . www.lutontown.co.uk . 21 March 2024 . en-gb.
  2. Book: Dunk . Peter . Rothmans football yearbook 1987–88 . 1987 . Queen Anne Press . London . 978-0356143545 . 182 . 14 April 2020.
  3. Book: Hayes, Dean. The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. 2006. 1-85983-462-0.
  4. Web site: WELSH CUP FINAL 1972/73 . welshsoccerarchive.co.uk . 20 March 2024.
  5. News: #THROWBACKTHURSDAY: A SERIES OF CLARETS PLAYERS, PICTURES, PROGRAMMES AND COLLECTABLES . 20 March 2024 . Chelmsford City F.C. . 2 March 2017.
  6. News: Dunham . Jon . GoFundMe page launched to support Poppies and Posh legend Kellock . 20 March 2024 . Northamptonshire Telegraph . 30 July 2022.
  7. News: Swann . Peter . The best Peterborough United free transfer signings of all time includes promotion-winners and a future top-flight stars . 20 March 2024 . Peterborough Telegraph . 25 June 2023.
  8. Book: Lynch . The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes . 143.
  9. Book: Lynch . The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes . 144.
  10. News: Wash . Roger . Rest in Peace Billy Kellock . 21 March 2024 . www.lutontown.co.uk . 21 March 2024 . en-gb.
  11. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 160. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  12. Web site: Match 261st January 1985Port Vale (a) . Published: Wednesday 02 January 1985 Newspaper: Staffordshire Sentinel . 20 March 2024.
  13. Web site: Player profile . theposhtrust.co.uk . 20 March 2024.
  14. Web site: Fissler. Neil. Port Vale – K. where-are-they-now.co.uk. 1 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405081336/http://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/port-vale/k.php. 5 April 2012. dead.
  15. News: Swann . Alan . RIP Billy Kellock, one of the great Peterborough United midfielders . 20 March 2024 . Peterborough Telegraph . 20 March 2024.
  16. Web site: Kellock, Billy . Wolverhampton Wanderers . 20 March 2024.