In an ongoing series we are highlighting the young players who are part of the JD Academy, the Irish Football Association’s elite development programme. Today Liam Kelly is in the spotlight…
Name: Liam Kelly
DOB: 7 August 2010
Position: Midfielder
Club: Derry City
School: Campbell College, Belfast
Hometown: Derry-Londonderry
As a young kid the first player Liam Kelly idolised was Lionel Messi, winner of the Ballon d'Or a record eight times.
The young midfielder often wished he could replicate the Argentinian’s skill, even for a single day, to experience being the greatest in football.
“I look up to Messi, the way he can just take the game by the scruff of the neck and just say ‘give me the ball, I’ll do it’.”
Now with Derry City, Kelly’s first memory of playing football was when he was six years old representing his first club, Oxford United.
He says being part of Northern Ireland’s elite pathway has been “an incredible honour”.
“So far my journey in the academy has been very good,” said Kelly. “I feel like I have settled in well, and I believe earning player of the month in my first month shows that. I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested.”
Despite viewing the gym sessions as the most challenging part of the academy’s training schedule, Kelly wants to improve his strength and recognises the importance of following strength and conditioning programmes to help him reach his goal.
A personal achievement that Kelly is proud of was playing for Northern Ireland Under-17s despite only being 15.
He was part of the squad that competed in Group 11 in round one of the qualifiers for U17 Euro 2026 back in October/November.
An unused substitute in a win against Armenia (2-1), he came off the bench in a goalless draw against hosts Cyprus and then started the crucial draw against Finland (1-1) which saw them finish second in their group and advance to the elite round of qualifiers this spring.
Using the advice to “get one per cent better every day”, the young midfielder’s ultimate career goal is to play in the Premier League like his favourite Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley.
Kelly’s favourite song, ‘Showed Em’ by American rapper and singer Gunna, features some powerful lyrics: “Thought I wasn’t goin’ to make it, I showed ‘em. Thought I wasn’t goin’ to do it, I showed ‘em.” For the midfielder, it is not just some lines in a song, it is a mantra he believes in.
