Name Len Kelly | ||
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Leonard Thomas 'Len' Kelly (1913-1981) was an Australian premiership winning rugby league player of the 1930s and 1940s with the St George Dragons. He was later a senior administrator with the club in their successive eleven year winning run from 1956 to 1966.
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Playing career
Born in Manildra, New South Wales on 17 June 1913, Len Kelly went on to become a legend at the St George Dragons as a player, coach and administrator. Known as 'The Deacon', Len Kelly played his entire football career at St George. He came to club via the junior club, Stherlabd Grave-Diggers. Kelly played twelve seasons with the Saints between 1933-1944, the highlight being his vice-captaincy in the 1941 Grand Final winning team. In 1942 he became captain-coach. He played 208 grade games (all grades) with the Dragons, a record which stood till Norm Provan surpassed it late in his career. Kelly retired from the Sydney league in 1944 to captain-coach at Picton for three years.
Administrative career
Kelly returned to St George as an administrator in 1950 and also became an Australian selector in 1956. He was President of the St George Dragons Football Club and a director of St. George League's Club during the club's successful run of eleven straight premierships from 1956 to 1966. He retained those positions until 1977. He later became vice-president of the NSWRFL under President Bill Buckley. Upon Buckley's death in 1973, it was assumed that Kelly would run rugby league in New South Wales, but the position was ultimately given to a more youthful Kevin Humphreys. Len Kelly remained N.S.W. Rugby League vice-president until his retirement in the late 1970s.
Len 'The Deacon' Kelly died suddenly at his Arncliffe, New South Wales home on 3 November 1981, age 68 after a long illness.