Tony Kellow - Grecian Legend

Cliff Bastin and Dick Pym were two footballer legends who played for Exeter City, but made their reputations for other clubs. However, the Cornish born forward, Tony Kellow is remembered with affection by Grecian fans for the contribution he made playing for City during the 1970s and 80s, and came second in a poll as the greatest player for Exeter, after Alan Banks

Tony Kellow, playing as an amateur for his local team Falmouth Town, was signed as a professional player for Exeter City in July 1976 for £1,500, having already scored 126 goals in 114 league starts for Falmouth. After scoring 40 goals in 107 league games for City he was sold to Blackpool in November 1978 for £125,000, a Third Division record at the time.

In March 1980 Blackpool sold Kellow back to City – he immediately made an impact and became the highest scorer in any division during 1980/81 with 25 goals. In 1983, Kellow was on the move again, this time to City's arch rivals Plymouth Argyle, much to the chagrin of local supporters. After later brief spells with Swansea and Newport County, Kellow returned to St James Park in July 1985, for the third and last time. Before his retirement, aged 35, in January 1988, Kellow scored a further 28 league goals in 82 appearances for City. In total he had scored 162 goals during his league career.

Upon retirement he ran the Eagle Tavern in Howell Road and the Clifton Arms for a while. Tony Kellow returned to Budock Water, Cornwall and died on the 20th February 2011 of kidney failure at the age of 58. He was survived by his daughter, Lucy from his first marriage.

Sources: http://www.blackpool-mad.co.uk, the Express and Echo and Wikepedia.