Football: Father and son to fore

Matt Kelly with dad Phil Kelly at Robin Hood Park yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Matt Kelly with dad Phil Kelly at Robin Hood Park yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

There were two Kellys on the scoresheet for Mosgiel on Saturday in its Football South Premier League win over University.

Nothing unusual in that perhaps, but it was not two brother or cousins scoring the goals but father and son.

Matt Kelly scored a goal in the first half for Mosgiel in the match at Logan Park and then his dad, Phil, came on as a second-half substitute and proceeded to score a goal near the end.

It is not known whether this is a first for football in Dunedin but it is a rarity.

Matt (19) said he had played with his dad on and off over the past couple of years but it was the first time they had both got on the scoresheet in the same game.

"It is kind of cool. Not everyone gets to play with their dad and then to manage to both get a goal is great,'' Matt said.

"We played a whole season together when I was 17. Sometimes it is good playing with him, sometimes not so much. At the start he'll be telling you what to do but then I'll start yelling at him and he'll start yelling at me.''

Matt, a teacher aide at Kavanagh College, said his father always stressed any success in the game came though time on the training paddock.

"He's always preached that if we want to get somewhere then you've got to work hard for it.''

Matt and a couple of friends have booked to go to the United Kingdom early next year to have a crack at the football scene.

Phil Kelly (51), who described his goal as getting on the end of a cross, has been playing top-grade football for many years and had also played as high as the national league.

He said it was unusual to score in a game along with his son but it was something of which he was proud.

"I did not think it would happen. I was lucky enough to get on and then to get the goal was a real bonus.''

Phil, who works in the Health Science division at the University of Otago, usually turns out for the second team at Mosgiel but the side did not have a game on Saturday so he sat on the bench for the first team.

The father of five had coached all his kids up through the grades and said he was lucky enough with injury to still be playing.

"The fitness is usually pretty good although I take a bit longer to get over injuries. I've been fortunate as I'm not carrying any niggles.''

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