Graham Kelly

Ex-Director

Graham Kelly, the former Chief Executive of the English Football Association, was appointed to the Luton Town board in September 2000, and had a non-executive and ambassador role at Kenilworth Road.  A Blackpool fan, and former Blackpool bank clerk, Kelly was the Chief Executive of the FA from 1988 until his sudden departure after allegedly promising a £3.2 million loan to the Welsh F.A. in 1998, in return for helping another executive become vice-president of FIFA.  He was subsequently cleared by FIFA of any incorrect or improper actions.

He is possibly best known to football fans for his lack of charisma whilst hosting the televised draws for the FA Cup.  Since leaving his post, Mr. Kelly has written a book called Sweet FA, been involved with negotiating to bring a £100 million-a-year motor racing venture called Premier One Grand Prix to fruition with Colin Sullivan, writing a weekly column for The Independent newspaper, and broadcasting on the radio station Talk Sport.  In Sweet FA, he reveals that Chelsea's chairman Ken Bates "Has a sensitive side" and "Cried when a much loved pet died", and that Alan Shearer threatened to walk out on England's World Cup squad if the FA considered holding an inquiry into the incident where Shearer appeared to kick Leicester's Neil Lennon in the head.

Of his appointment, Chairman Mike Watson-Challis commented, "We're pleased Graham Kelly has joined.  We're putting a new team together behind the scenes which we firmly believe will ensure the club makes progress.  Graham brings a wealth of experience that will be available to us at Kenilworth Road."  Watson-Challis met Kelly during his time as the owner of Baldock Town Football Club.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kelly had expressed his satisfaction at returning to football, "I'm delighted to accept Luton Town's invitation to come back into football," said Kelly.  "I shall work hard to enhance the club's status."  He hopes that his presence can help the club finally gain planning permission for a new ground, which is a very high priority on the club's agenda.

"If there are any presentations to be made on the commercial or planning side I would be pleased to go along and lend my help.  I have lots of contacts and if there's a problem I might not be able to solve it, but I know who to go to after 30 years in the game."

Graham spent 3 years on the board at Kenilworth Road, but when chairman Mike Watson-Challis decided to retire and sell the club to new owners at the end of the 2002-03 season, Graham decided that he didn't want to be a part of the board under the new owners, and immediately resigned from his position.  With the new ground at Junction 10 still no closer to being realised on his departure, Graham had at least helped the club to move in the right direction, and during his time with the Hatters, the club were promoted from Division Three - their first promotion campaign for 20 years.

He left Kenilworth Road with the best wishes of the Luton Town supporters, and it will undoubtedly not be too long before Graham is back involved with football once again.

Profile By:  James Garley