Let's saunter down memory lane, shall we? We find ourselves in the company of Mr Liam Kelly. Scotland-born and bred, a figure of some stature at 1.89m (6ft 2in) tall, or large, depending on your viewpoint. His rather considerable bulk is shared amongst an approximate bodyweight of 82kg (12st 12lb). As for his lucky number? It's 31, if you're asking, which adorns his goalkeeper's jersey like a badge of contradiction. A man commissioned to prevent goals, yet wearing a high number typically associated with attackers. Curious.
We first caught wind of our protagonist in July 2004, when he trotted into the welcoming arms of Rangers. As for his performance, well, into the 2024-2025 season, the lad could boast a grand total of ten whole first team appearances. Fast forward into the current 2025 - 2026 season, and we're looking at a decidedly round zero. Quite the stallion, eh?
Ever the nomad, January 2016 saw Kelly transferred on loan to the parochial charm of East Fife, where he made 16 cameos in his debut season. A short vacation, mind, as he duly hotfooted it back to Rangers come July of that same year. Well, they do say there's no place like home.
However, homesickness clearly wasn't an issue when he transferred on loan to Livingston in July 2016, making 34 first team appearances in his first season, followed by an equally commendable 36 in the 2018 - 2019 season. Going from strength to strength, it would seem.
He eventually settled permanently in Livingston in July 2018, no doubt to the covert relief of his hard-pressed laundryman. He later attracted the attentions of Queens Park Rangers, crossing border and tradition by transplanting to England in July 2019. After an eighteen-game season, he found himself back on Scottish turf, loaned to Motherwell in January 2021.
Clearly, something clicked at Motherwell, as the lad made a notable 18 appearances in the season of his loan two seasons later. Such was his affection for the 'Well, he transferred there permanently in July 2021. He poured his heart into countless display, notching 38 appearances for a record four seasons in a row. One might say he was finally making a name for himself. Unfortunately, that name was 'former Celtic reject'.
Finally, we see that in July 2024, our prodigal hero returned to Ibrox with much to prove. On his record there, he concocted the inspirational total of ten appearances in the 2024 - 2025 season. Despite such show of form, he hasn't managed to break into the first team in the current 2025 - 2026 season. One wonders when the penny will drop for Kelly, but he does look striking sat on the bench, I must admit.
Oh, and let's not forget about his sterling Cup performances – a single start in both the League Cup 2025 - 2026 and Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025 for Rangers. An appearance record saturated with promise, or perhaps simply water, depending on the condition of the pitch.
