32 Facts About Darren Kelly

Darren Kelly was born on 30 June 1979 and is a Northern Irish professional football manager and former player who played as a centre-back.

Darren Kelly is the general manager of National League club York City.

Darren Kelly spent two seasons with the club, which included an appearance in the 2003 Football League Trophy final, after which he was released and returned to Northern Ireland with Portadown.

Darren Kelly captained the team and eventually left after his contract expired in 2006, when he rejoined Derry for a second spell.

Darren Kelly featured for the team in European competition and attracted the attention of several Scottish Premier League clubs, before eventually joining York City in the Conference Premier in 2007.

Darren Kelly then resumed his career in English non-League football, playing for Stalybridge Celtic, Garforth Town, Frickley Athletic and Scarborough Athletic.

Darren Kelly started his coaching career with spells at York and Sunderland, before being appointed manager of League One club Oldham Athletic in May 2015.

Darren Kelly was dismissed in September 2015, and took over at National League team FC Halifax Town in October, before he left by mutual agreement a month later.

Darren Kelly took over at Northern Premier League Premier Division club Hyde United in March 2016, and left the club a month later after they were relegated but was reappointed a month later.

Darren Kelly was born in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and grew up close to Derry City's ground, the Brandywell Stadium.

Darren Kelly was one of three players released by Carlisle, after which he signed a two-year contract for Portadown in August 2004.

Darren Kelly won the Harp player of the month award for February 2006.

Darren Kelly launched a stinging attack on the "prima donnas" at the club and felt some of his teammates lacked "ambition and determination".

Darren Kelly looked set to join League Two club Stockport County on a two-year contract in April 2006, but a day later he said he was yet to decide whether to join them.

Darren Kelly was chosen as the Soccer Writer's Association of Ireland Player of the Month in September 2006.

Darren Kelly was named in the Professional Footballer Association of Ireland's team of the year in December 2006.

Darren Kelly made 29 league appearances in his second spell as a Derry player.

Darren Kelly returned to Northern Ireland after re-signing for Portadown on a three-year contract in May 2009 and made 53 league appearances in his second spell with the club.

Darren Kelly joined former club York as a community coach and an under-14 Centre of Excellence coach in March 2011.

Darren Kelly signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Frickley Athletic in July 2012, and by September had been appointed to oversee under-12s to under-16s development at York.

Darren Kelly signed for Northern Counties East League Premier Division club Scarborough Athletic in January 2013.

Darren Kelly became an academy coach at Sunderland in January 2015.

Darren Kelly was capped 11 times by Northern Ireland at under-21 level from 2000 to 2001.

Darren Kelly was appointed manager of League One club Oldham Athletic on a two-year contract on 4 May 2015, with Dean Holden becoming his assistant.

Darren Kelly was handed his third managerial position in a year when being appointed caretaker at Hyde United on 31 March 2016, who were in 20th-place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division table.

Darren Kelly was appointed as manager of Scarborough Athletic on 6 December 2019.

Darren Kelly continued his day job as manager of Tadcaster Albion's i2i academy team.

Darren Kelly resigned as Scarborough manager on 18 May 2021 and was replaced by Jonathan Greening.

Darren Kelly was appointed sporting director at Newport County on 7 June 2021 to work alongside first-team manager Michael Flynn.

Darren Kelly resigned his role at Newport on 23 February 2023.

On 28 February 2023, Darren Kelly was confirmed as the new sporting director of League Two side Hartlepool United.

Darren Kelly joined York City as general manager in August 2023.