Celtic Football Club has confirmed the death of former chairman Kevin Kelly, who passed away peacefully after a short illness at the age of 88.
Kelly was a towering figure in the history of Celtic, having served on the Parkhead board for more than three decades between 1971 and 1994.
Born in 1937, Kelly carried an extraordinary legacy, being a direct descendant of James Kelly, the Hoops’ first-ever club captain.
His deep connection to Celtic was not merely inherited but actively lived out through years of dedicated service and unwavering support for the club.
In a formal statement, Celtic said: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that former chairman, Kevin Kelly passed away peacefully yesterday morning after a short illness.”
The club continued: “Kevin was Celtic chairman from 1991-1994, and a director and passionate supporter of the club over many years.”
Celtic extended its sympathies in the statement, adding: “Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Kevin’s family at this very difficult time.”
Kelly played a significant role during one of the most consequential periods in Celtic’s modern history, helping steer discussions around the club’s future home ground in the 1990s.
Serious consideration was given during that era to relocating the club entirely to Cambuslang, a proposal that was ultimately abandoned in favour of redeveloping the existing Celtic Park.
That decision proved transformative for the club, preserving its deep roots in the east end of Glasgow for generations of supporters to follow.
When Fergus McCann completed his famous takeover of Celtic in 1994, Kelly stepped down from his position on the board as a new era began at Parkhead.
Despite his formal departure from the boardroom, Kelly maintained a connection to the club he loved in an honorary capacity following his resignation.
His family legacy stretches back to the very founding of Celtic, with ancestor James Kelly having captained the club during its earliest years of existence.
The tributes pouring in reflect the enormous respect the Celtic community holds for a man who served the club with such dedication across so many decades.
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