{{short description|Irish retired-American soccer forward (born 1958)}} {{for|the Northern Irish boxer of the 1990s and 2000s|Damaen Kelly}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Damien Kelly | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|9|27}} | birth_place = Dublin, Republic of Ireland | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}} | position = Forward | youthyears1 = 1980–1983 | youthclubs1 = Eastern Illinois Panthers | years1 = 1984–1985 | years2 = 1985 | years3 = 1986–1991 | clubs1 = Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | clubs2 = Dallas Americans | clubs3 = Memphis Storm (indoor) | caps1 = 0 | caps2 = | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = | manageryears1 = 1990–1991 | managerclubs1 = Memphis Rogues }} '''Damien Kelly''' is an Irish retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Southwest Independent Soccer League.
==Youth== Kelly attended Eastern Illinois University where he was a 1980 and 1981 First Team and a 1983 Third Team All American soccer player.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=SC&yr=1980 |title=1980 All Americans |access-date=2010-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615000545/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=SC&yr=1978 |archive-date=2011-06-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1981 1981 All Americans] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829031824/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1981 |date=August 29, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1983 |title=1983 All Americans |access-date=2010-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614234422/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1983 |archive-date=2011-06-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is a member of the Eastern Illinois Panthers Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eiupanthers.com/hof.aspx?hof=176&path=&kiosk= |title=Eastern Illinois Panthers Hall of Fame |access-date=2010-07-04 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123005946/http://www.eiupanthers.com/hof.aspx?hof=176&path=&kiosk= |archive-date=2013-01-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Professional== In 1983, the Tulsa Roughnecks selected him in the North American Soccer League draft and the Kansas City Comets selected him in the first round (fifth overall) in the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. In 1984, he signed with the Dallas Sidekicks.<ref>[http://www.kicksfan.com/1984-85/guide/guide.pdf 1984-1985 Dallas Sidekicks]</ref> In 1985, he played for the Dallas Americans in the United Soccer League.<ref>"NEESKENS' GAME-WINNER LIFTS SUN, 3-1" ''Miami Herald'' Sunday, June 23, 1985</ref> In September 1986, he signed with the Memphis Storm of the American Indoor Soccer Association.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100702/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-09-16/sports/0250350043_1_indiana-pacers-philadelphia-phillies-rowdies September 16, 1986 Transactions]</ref> In 1989, the team came under new ownership which renamed it the Memphis Rogues. In 1990, the Rogues transferred to the Southwest Independent Soccer League and Kelly became a player-coach.<ref>"ROGUES' GOAL: SURVIVAL" ''The Commercial Appeal'' Sunday, January 13, 1991</ref>
Kelly also played for the Ireland Olympic and Youth soccer teams.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/G/Gribbon.Mike.htm NASL stats]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Damien}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players Category:Dallas Americans players Category:Dallas Sidekicks (original MISL) players Category:Eastern Illinois Panthers men's soccer players Category:Memphis Storm players Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers Category:United Soccer League (1984–85) players Category:USISL coaches Category:USISL players Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city) Category:All-American college men's soccer players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen