Kevin Tully Explained

Kevin Tully
Fullname:Kevin Francis Tully
Birth Date:18 December 1952
Birth Place:Manchester, England
Height:[1]
Position:Left winger
Youthclubs1:Prestwich Heys
Years1:1972–1973
Clubs1:Blackpool
Caps1:11
Goals1:0
Years2:1973–1975
Clubs2:Cambridge United
Caps2:44
Goals2:8
Years3:1975–1978
Clubs3:Crewe Alexandra
Caps3:86
Goals3:4
Years4:1978–1980
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:13
Goals4:2
Years5:1980
Clubs5:Chorley
Years6:1980–1981
Clubs6:Bury
Caps6:10
Goals6:1
Years7:1981–1983
Clubs7:Barrow
Years8:1983–1985
Clubs8:Witton Albion
Totalcaps:164+
Totalgoals:15+

Kevin Francis Tully (born 18 December 1952) is an English former footballer. A left winger, he made 164 league appearances in a nine-year career in the Football League.

He began his career with non-League Prestwich Heys before signing with Blackpool in 1972. He transferred to Cambridge United the following year, before joining Crewe Alexandra in 1975. After three seasons with the "Railwaymen", he was traded to Port Vale in a player-exchange deal in October 1978. He left the club in February 1980 and then joined Bury via Chorley before heading into non-League football with Barrow and Witton Albion in 1981.

Career

Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972, he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven Second Division appearances. He made his debut for the club on Boxing Day, in a 2–1 defeat at Lancashire neighbours Burnley, and went on to make a further four starts and one substitute appearance before the end of the 1972–73 campaign.[2] Under Harry Potts, who was installed as manager at Bloomfield Road in the latter stages of the previous season, Tully started the first five league games of 1973–74, before leaving to join Cambridge United.[2] United were relegated out of the Third Division at the end of the season under the management of Bill Leivers. Ron Atkinson then took charge at Abbey Stadium, and the club went on to finish sixth in the Fourth Division in 1974–75, just two places and three points behind the promotion places.

Tully joined Crewe Alexandra for the 1975–76 campaign, as the "Railwaymen" finished just three points above the Football League's re-election zone. Crewe rose to 12th in 1976–77 and then 15th in 1977–78 under the stewardship of Harry Gregg. He left Gresty Road soon after Warwick Rimmer was appointed manager and joined Dennis Butler's Port Vale in exchange for Neil Wilkinson and £3,000 in October 1978.[3] He featured nine times in 1978–79, scoring once in a 3–0 win over Halifax Town on 14 October.[3] He played just seven games for the "Valiants" in 1979–80, before having his contract cancelled at Vale Park "by mutual consent" by new boss John McGrath in February 1980.[3] He moved into Cheshire County League football with Chorley, before returning to the Fourth Division with Jim Iley's Bury in 1980–81. He played ten games for the "Shakers" before leaving Gigg Lane and returning to the non-League scene with Barrow (Alliance Premier League) and Witton Albion (Northern Premier League). He made nine starts and three substitute appearances for Witton in the 1983–84 season and featured three times in the 1984–85 campaign.[4] [5]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackpool1972–73Second Division60001070
1973–74Second Division50001060
Total1100020130
Cambridge United1974–75Fourth Division3872000407
1975–76Fourth Division61000061
Total4482000468
Crewe Alexandra1975–76Fourth Division1800000180
1976–77Fourth Division3420000342
1977–78Fourth Division2823020332
1978–79Fourth Division60003090
Total8643050944
Port Vale1978–79Fourth Division81100091
1979–80Fourth Division51002071
Total1321020162
Bury1980–81Fourth Division1010030131
Career total164156012018215

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rollin . Jack . Rothmans football yearbook . 1980 . Queen Anne Press . London . 0362020175 . 299 . 14 April 2020.
  2. Book: Calley, Roy. Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. 222. 1992. 978-1-873626-07-8.
  3. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 293. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  4. Web site: 1983–84 PLAYERS RECORDS . wittonalbionfc.co.uk . 11 February 2022.
  5. Web site: 1984–85 PLAYERS RECORDS . wittonalbionfc.co.uk . 11 February 2022.