St Roch’s juniors lead tributes after manager dies aged 57
ST ROCH’S have fittingly led the tributes to their highly regarded team manager Paul Kelly who has died at the age of 57. Paul had been hospitalised for the past couple of months as a result of battling severe Covid complications and his Garngad club, announced the devastating news of his passing with a statement on Thursday.
It read: “It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of St Roch’s manager Paul Kelly who passed away peacefully this afternoon.
“Paul was respected and loved well beyond the world of football, and we share our deepest condolences and sympathies with his family at this time.
“We have requested to postpone all football activities this weekend as a mark of respect to the Gaffer and his family.”
The postponement of the Candy Rock’s scheduled Conference C Division game at home to East Kilbride Thistle has allowed officials of the famous old Glasgow outfit to further acknowledge the affection held for Paul through their stated intention to open the James McGrory Stadium, both today and tomorrow, to facilitate anyone wanting to post a message in a book of remembrance commemorating Paul.
It’s an all too rare occurrence to have the mid-season death of a current team boss therefore it’s poignantly pleasing to see the WoSFL asking all its member clubs, and not just those he played for or managed in his career, Pollok, Cambuslang Rangers, Ashfield, Petershill (as assistant manager to Willie Patterson) and of course St Rochs, to show due respect for Paul by observing a minute’s silence at their matches.
His close friends would argue this combined tribute is no less than he deserved and they would also claim it is no exaggeration to say the world of football (or at the very least a sizable slice of it) will be united in mourning the passing of this charismatic and knowledgeable character.
That’s because it’s one of the unassuming Paul’s little known career snippets that after first coming to prominence as a 16-year-old St Rochs prospect, he had joined Under-21 amateurs Milngavie Wanderers where his performances earned a dream opportunity to sign for Rangers…the Hong Kong variety on the south coast of China.
Paul’s stay on the Orient lasted all of 18 months prior to him returning to these shores to intermingle playing spells with Clyde, when Craig Brown was at the helm, East Stirling, Stenhousemuir and latterly Alloa from where then Pollok manager Tommy Reynolds reinstated him back into the Junior ranks in 1990.
Tributes for him have poured in from all walks of life, not just football, though one of the most heartfelt and personal salutes was offered up by Rob Roy manager Stewart Maxwell.
Last night, he said: “He was an absolute gentleman of a guy yet blessed with a wonderful sense of humour that made any time spent in his company an absolute joy.”