Delight as council secure ‘Spider Kelly’ Lonesdale Trophy

SDLP Derry Councillor John Boyle has expressed delight at the news that Derry City Council has successfully secured at auction a prized Lord Lonesdale Trophy which was won by the legendary Derry boxer Jimmy “Spider” Kelly in 1938 at the Kings Hall, Belfast.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Feb 2013, 08:27 BST

The SDLP Northland Councillor said: “I am delighted that Derry City Council has been successful in securing an important part of our sporting heritage at an auction at Bonham’s of London. Jimmy “Spider” Kelly and his son Billy “Spider” Kelly were the first father and son duo to win British and Empire Championships at featherweight, Jimmy in 1938 and Billy in 1954. Theirs was an unparalleled feat at the time and it has quite rightly entered into the annals of our sporting history.

“The City Council securing this trophy will mean a great deal to the boxing fraternity in Derry and more so to the extended Kelly family, in particular. The Lord Lonesdale Trophy passed into a private collection in the early 1950’s and it only recently resurfaced.

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“Some weeks back I proposed that Derry City Council investigate ways of securing the trophy for the people of Derry and I am overjoyed that it will be returning to its rightful home, where it will take pride of place among other sporting memorabilia in the city’s Tower Museum.

“This is money well spent because artefacts like this are unique in history and rarely ever come up for auction. That is why it was vital to make every effort to bring the trophy home. It will now belong to the people of Derry in perpetuity and future generations will have the opportunity to view it and learn the story of the fighting ‘Spiders’.”

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