Lochee Harp supremo Jim Kelly was recently given a long-service award from the Scottish Junior FA.
Well, better late than never I say as Jim has amassed an incredible 64 years in junior football, and has been at Beechwood Park for the last 55 years of that amazing tally.
As a junior footballer, Jim was fairly successful, picking up a few trophies and medals along the way.
In his time with St Joseph’s, Alyth United, Stobswell, Downfield and Harp, Jim twice won the old Dundee Junior League, plus success in the Forfarshire Cup, Courier Cup. Loftus Cup and Keddie Cup.
In no way detrimental to the other clubs mentioned, Jim, of course, will always be associated with Lochee Harp, having put together that marvellous number of years with the Beechwood Park club.
“I started with St Joseph’s at age 17,” recalled Jim.
“After playing with Alyth United, Stobswell, Downfield and, of course, Harp, I joined the coaching staff at Harp.
“From there, it just seemed a natural progression to secretary and then eventually chairman.
“In actual fact, I don’t mind being tagged with being just a general ‘dog’s body’.”
Jim’s dedication to the junior game didn’t end with his club as he has enjoyed several posts within the various governing bodies.
“Among other things, I’ve been treasurer with the Dundee Junior League, and also treasurer with the Tayside Region Junior League,” he revealed.
“I’ve also served as a finance and general committee member of the Scottish Junior FA.
“Indeed, in my time with the SJFA, there were three different presidents from this (Tayside) area Frank Fraser (Kinnoull), Jim Paterson (Luncarty) and a lad from Fife, whose name escapes me.”
Jim told me that, despite being part of the SJFA set-up, he initially resisted any attempt to regionalise the leagues.
“Most local clubs were against it and myself, Downfield’s Alex Connelly, Charlie Fairfield of St Joseph’s, Broughty Athletic’s Eddie Whitton and others threatened to pull away and form our own league,” said Jim.
“We could have done that no bother as there were 12 teams in Dundee at the time.
“The SFA president came through to meet us to try to talk us round and therein lies another amusing tale.
“We had a meeting with him at North End Park and were initially threatened with some form of blacklisting if we didn’t comply with the SJFA’s plans.
“North End Park, at that time, also housed quite a number of huts which were used by the local pigeon fanciers.
“They used to let the pigeons out around 11am on Saturdays.
“After our meeting in the football clubrooms, we went out to watch North End playing their game.
“Suddenly, just after 3pm, the homing pigeons started returning in their 100s.
“There were feathers and droppings everywhere, and we were ducking and diving away from them. It certainly lightened the mood.
“Anyway, history shows we eventually did join in with the regionalisation plans and we are now where we are.”
There have been many Kellys linked with the famous green jersey of Harp, some staying on for decades with the club in various capacities.
Jim’s son Mike had a lengthy spell as a player and manager, while grandson Mark also pulled on the famous strip.
Indeed, in Mike’s ‘spell’, he amassed an incredible 1,050 games for the Beechwood side surely a tally which will never be bettered or beaten.
Jim’s brothers Jack and Albert aren’t too far away from Jim as they have given 50-plus years’ service each to the club and still turn up week in week out.
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