Saddlers Legends

It’s strange to think that up to this day the highest price we have ever recieved for one of our players is £600,000. I don’t know about anyone else but I find that slightly worrying as well!

The player in question was David Kelly and although he went on to play for Wolves he is still popular amongst many fans.

Whilst not the most prolific striker ever to pull on a Walsall shirt, he was certainly one with a passion and desire that many teams envied. This said 63 goals in 147 appearances is not too shabby by anyone’s standards!

Possibly Kelly’s greatest moment for Walsall came in 1988 when a hat-trick in the play-off final saw the Saddlers promoted into the Second Division. This proved to be his parting gift to Walsall as in August of that year he was sold for that £600,000 to West Ham.

During his career he played for a number of other clubs including Newcastle, Leicester, Sheffield United and Tranmere (where he is currently assistant manager).

There has been talk of Kelly becoming assistant boss at Premiership new-boys Derby but at the current time this is still only a rumour.

Kelly will forever be remembered by Walsall fans for his energy and ability to be in the right place at the right time and if you have any memories of David Kelly you can share them with us on our forum- go on you know you want to!

(For the record, there will be no Saddlers Legends feature over the next 2 weeks as Cannock Saddler is off on holiday. A trip to Gran Canaria to recharge the batteries, funny I’m sure someone else did that earlier this year!)