Former Wolves forward David Kelly talks about life after playing the beautiful game, once he had hung up his boots.
How did you feel after retiring?
Towards the end of my career, I was in Scotland, but I left Motherwell to join Mansfield for a couple of months. By this time, I’d already started a business with a couple of partners, one of them was Steve Froggatt, and I thought my time was up after Mansfield and I could put my focus on the business. But I got a phone call in the summer asking me to play for Derry City and then I went to a Leicester City game out of the blue and I bumped into my old Tranmere Rovers coach, Ray Mathias, and he asked if I’d ever thought about coaching and he wanted me to go to Tranmere with him. It was a chance meeting, but I was more than happy to go back to Tranmere.
Did it take time for your life to adjust?
I didn’t really have time to adjust because on the weekend I played my last game for Derry, which was in the Irish Cup final against Shamrock Rovers, and we won 1-0, and on the Monday, I was working for Tranmere. I was fortunate at Tranmere because Ray was a really good coach. I knew him well from my time as a player there and he just wanted someone familiar with him. I still knew a few of the players as well, but I hadn’t got a clue what I was doing though! It was massively learning on the job because I hadn’t done any coaching courses, I’d been to a couple of talks, but I hadn’t done a lot, but Ray was brilliant in helping me.
How did you take to coaching?
I felt I took to it quite well and I really enjoyed it. We did ok at Tranmere as we had the backend of a decent squad, so when you’ve got a couple of senior players who care about the job and care about the club, as a young coach you can tap into their experience and things that work out in the training ground are good, but things that don’t work out, the older guys will have a conversation about it. I was only with Tranmere for 12 months because Paul Devlin had recommended me to Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, saying I was interested. I wasn’t really interested because I’d already got a job, but Neil approached Tranmere and everything was done in the correct manner. I then had 18 months of so with Neil who was absolutely fantastic.
What did you miss most about football?
Being a coach was really enjoyable and when you’re out of the game, you do miss the interaction you have with the players. At all football clubs and training grounds, there’s always interesting people and characters, and a coaches job is trying to make the best football team out of all the characters that amass in your group. I also missed playing because you lose that buzz you get on the pitch when you score or do something really well, because you don’t get that as much as a coach. It’s all about the team and the camaraderie of the group, rather than any individual accolades.
What are the parts of football you don’t miss?
I don’t miss getting abused by supporters! I’ve had people saying horrible things, calling me nasty names and slagging your family off – and I don’t miss any of that. But most sports people, in general, have got thick skin and you learn to cope with the difficulties you face, although there’s not a sports person out there, at any level of any sport, that doesn’t go through dark times.
Do you still watch and follow football?
I follow Wolves, I follow Newcastle, I follow Alvechurch, Mansfield, Motherwell, Walsall, West Ham, Leicester – I follow all my former clubs. Northampton, Port Vale, every club I’ve ever been involved in, I look out for them because I’m grateful that I was able to represent those clubs at different times.
Do you still catch up with your teammates?
I’ve been doing some commentary for Radio WM over the last few years, so I see Thommo and Bully at the Molineux every time I’m down there, and just last week I was asked to do a charity function by Geoff Thomas, so I saw him, Don Goodman and a few other of the guys as well, so it was nice to catch up with them.
What a way to grab your hatrick!
— Masters Football (@mastersfootball) January 27, 2021
David Kelly delivers the goods for @Wolves ⚽️🐺#MastersFootball pic.twitter.com/ot0IVU0xvO
If you could play again now, would you?
Of course I would, because I would be worth 10 times the amount of money! But that would be the only reason. Finances in football have gone through the roof since I stopped playing, and that’s not me complaining whatsoever because I’m very grateful for what I’ve got and what I was able to do in my career, but I’m sure every player would come out of retirement and play today because the lads are on completely different salaries these days and it sets you up for life.
What do you hope you’re remembered for at Wolves?
Hopefully with a little bit of respect, which I think that I have. I’ve always been welcomed back at Molineux and everybody is really kind when you go back to the football club. But most of the clubs I’ve been at, I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and I’m very grateful for that, and it’s very nice to have that having not been there for 30 years.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2023/24 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
