HILL of Beath brothers who made their mark south of the border are featured this week by local football history guru David Allan.

William Muir Kelly and Walter Muir Kelly were both born at 8 Main Street, Hill of Beath in 1922 and 1929 respectively. They were the sons of Tommy Kelly and his wife Alice Muir.

Tommy was a footballer - an outside left. He joined Cowdenbeath from Dunfermline in 1917. Tommy had previously played for local juvenile side Cowdenbeath Hibs, Hearts of Beath and Lochgelly United. Later, he played again for Hearts of Beath and also had a stint with Lochgelly United. Tommy died in December 1964.

Four of Tommy’s sons were footballers - Tom and Jimmy played for Hearts of Beath. Willie Kelly was a centre half. He played schools football for Hill of Beath and Cowdenbeath & District. In 1943, he joined Dunfermline Athletic from Hill of Beath Star. Willie proved to be an inspirational stopper centre half.

He would roll his sleeves right up to his shoulders and no quarter was asked or given by Willie. That Dunfermline side was full of local lads including fellow Hill of Beathers’ Willie Cunningham and Jimmy Baxter.

Cunningham and Kelly though were transferred to Airdrie post-War. Kelly became club captain at Broomfield. In September 1951, Blackburn Rovers pounced and paid a sizeable fee to sign Willie Kelly, who they needed to bolster their side which then was struggling at the foot of the 2nd Division. Kelly had played in 132 league matches for Airdrie and twice aided the Diamonds to promotion.

At Blackburn, he became renowned for his full-blooded centre half play – it was a man’s game when Willie was concerned. He made 186 league appearances for the Ewood Park side as they strove for promotion to the top flight.

A fine team was put together including Roy Vernon, Peter Dobing, Ally McLeod, Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas, but it took until 1958 before the long desired promotion was won – Willie Kelly though had moved on to play for non-League Mossley a year earlier.

Willie played only seven matches for Mossley. In 1958, aged 36, he was persuaded to join Accrington Stanley to help that club out as it struggled in the wake of local neighbours Burnley and Blackburn, now both ensconced in the top flight. After 24 league matches for Stanley, Willie hung up his boots.

His wee brother Walter Kelly too enjoyed a successful career. After the War, he was in the secondary juveniles with Inverkeithing United and then with Hill of Beath Ramblers. He also played for Raith Athletic.

He was set to join Crossgates Primrose but Raith Rovers took him on as a senior at the age of just 17. His youth and then National Service though meant his chances at Stark’s Park were restricted. Walter served in the RAF as a lance-bombardier based at Oswestry. Down in Cheshire, he played some non-league football. He thus was happy enough to move back down south to join Bury in August 1952.

At Gigg Lane, he was moved into the centre forward berth and never looked back. 76 goals in 160 league games was his record in 5 years with Bury. He enjoyed some titanic tussles playing directly against his brother Willie during that period.

Walter Kelly also had the distinction of scoring Bury’s 3,000th Football League goal in 1955 v Plymouth Argyle. In 1957/58, he was with Doncaster Rovers where they knew him as ‘Cowboy Kelly’ because of his bandy legs. He was often regaled by the crowd singing ‘Walter, Walter, lead me to the Altar’, the old Gracie Fields number. Further seasons were spent with Stockport County and Chester City to be followed by a stint at Hyde United. Walter amassed a very creditable 118 goals in 292 Football League games in a 9 year period.

Willie passed away in Blackburn in 1996 and Walter in Dunfermline in 1993.