A wildy-celebrated Toon goal

IT was a solitary goal against modest Portsmouth, but it was one of the most wildly celebrated at St James’ Park in recent decades.

When David Kelly scored a desperate late winner on April 25, 1992, such was the frenzied leaping about among the 26,000 crowd that many on a (terraced) Gallowgate End found themselves yards from where they’d been standing only moments earlier.

To put the game, the goal, and the scorer into perspective, this was a time as dark and ominous as any in the club’s chequered history.

In Newcastle United’s centenary year, they were third bottom of the old second division and in real danger of dropping into the third for the first time.

This was the penultimate game of a wretched campaign and the priceless goal by Kelly - along with the unlikely last-gasp win at highflying Leicester the following week effectively saved United from footballing oblivion.

So, happy birthday to Birmingham-born David “Ned” Kelly, pictured, on the occasion of his 52nd birthday.

Signed from Leicester City for £250,000 in December, 1991, the under-rated Kelly endeared himself to United’s fans during his two years at Gallowgate with his dedication to the black and white cause and a regular supply of goals.

The return of Peter Beardsley to St James’, as United regained their top-flight status, saw Ned perhaps rather prematurely packed off to Wolves in June, 1993.

But that was not before the wheel had turned almost full circle.

A year after the gut-churning anxiety of the Portsmouth match, Kelly signed out of Toon with a superb hat-trick as Premier Leaguebound United demolished Leicester 7-1 in the final game of the 1992-93 season.

He would go on to appear for the Republic of Ireland in the 1994 World Cup finals, and play for a host of clubs before kicking his last competitive ball, for Derry City, in 2002.

David has coached at a number of clubs in recent years.

His Newcastle goals record of 39 goals in 83 games remains highly respectable.