Phil Kelso

Phil Kelso
Personal information
Full name Philip Wade Kelso
Date of birth (1871-05-26)26 May 1871
Place of birth Largs, Scotland
Date of death 13 February 1935(1935-02-13) (aged 63)
Place of death London, England
Managerial career
Years Team
1903–1904 Hibernian
1904–1908 Woolwich Arsenal
1909–1924 Fulham

Phil Wade Kelso (26 May 1871 – 13 February 1935), born in Largs on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, was a Scottish football manager.[1]

Career

Kelso was manager of Hibernian for one season,[1] before taking over as manager of Woolwich Arsenal shortly before their promotion in 1904.[2] He managed the club for four years, during which time he took the side to the FA Cup semi-finals two seasons in a row; however, his best in the league was seventh (in 1906-07).[3]

With the club starting to run into financial trouble and with results declining, Kelso resigned in 1908 to return to Scotland to manage a hotel;[4] but was tempted back down south to become manager of Fulham in 1909. He stayed with the Cottagers for 15 years, making him their longest-serving manager.[5]

Personal life

Kelso worked at the Royal Arsenal during the First World War.[6] After retiring from football he managed pubs in the Hammersmith area and was chairman of the Football League Managers and Secretaries Association.[5] Kelso died in London, in 1935, aged 63. He is buried in East Sheen.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Phil Kelso, www.hibsprogrammes.co.uk
  2. ^ Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin (2005). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. p. 31. ISBN 0-600-61344-5.
  3. ^ "Woolwich Arsenal". Football Club History Database.
  4. ^ Soar & Tyler (2005) p. 32
  5. ^ a b c "Phil Kelso". FulhamFC.com.
  6. ^ "Fulham Players and the First World War – University of Wolverhampton". www.wlv.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2020.