Midfielder Eddie Kelly was an important part of Arsenal's legendary 1971 Double-winning squad.
Although not blessed with blistering pace, his strength and tough tackling gave the team the steel needed to challenge for honours.
Eddie had a habit of chipping in with crucial goals, most notably in the 1970 Fairs Cup Final against Anderlecht and the 1971 FA Cup Final against Liverpool.
The midfielder joined as an apprentice in 1966 before turning professional in February 1968.
He made his league debut as a substitute in a goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday in September 1969 and played 16 times in his first season.
Kelly was a regular in the squad for the next three seasons and finally nailed down a first-choice starting spot in 1973/74.
He left for QPR in in 1976 after 222 games and 19 goals. The midfielder later played for Leicester City (twice), Notts County, Bournemouth, Kettering Town and Torquay United.
WHAT THE FANS SAID:
I think I am right in saying that Eddie made his debut on a miserable night against Leeds in front of the smallest ever crowd at Highbury for a first-team game (just over 4,000). After he had been busying around quite lively for the first quarter, Mr Bremner and Mr Giles (particularly) gave him a real example of the Leeds attention. Needless to say his Possilpark temperament was soon on show in London and we were down to 10 men! I loved him straight away.
Ernie Collins, Gidea Park, Romford
