Bournemouth Captain Lloyd Kelly Has One Of The Most Inspirational Stories In English Football
Bournemouth captain Lloyd Kelly's journey to this point is incredibly unique and inspirational.
At the age of just seven, Kelly, along with his sister Mary and brother Marcus, was placed into foster care.
He would go on to spend 11 years in the system and only left five years ago when he was making waves as a youngster at Bristol City.
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He lived in three different foster homes as a youngster and as of last year, was still weighing up whether to get back in touch with his mother, Anna, who he went without seeing for seven years.
But Kelly has not let his his less than ideal upbringing affect him.
He left school with 10 GCSEs, has gone on to captain England at Under 20's level, play in the Premier League with Bournemouth, turn out for England Under 21's and even train with the senior Three Lions squad.
He started skippering Bournemouth at the start of the season and took on the armband permanently when Steve Cook for Nottingham Forest.
"It wasn't easy. Being taken away from your mum, once that happens you have to grow up quickly," Kelly reflected in an honest interview with BBC Sport.
"I was such a young age I didn't know what was happening. It was not until I was older that I realised what was going on and the reasons behind it.
"You hear cases where some homes are not able to take three children and they are split up.
"Fortunately the three of us stayed together and we're really close although it has affected us in different ways.
"We moved to three different places throughout the years, different families for three or four years each. I believe those experiences have given me a better outlook on life."
Kelly has been capped ten times for England Under 21's and his last foster carer, Thelma, was there in person to see him play at European Under-21 Championship in 2019 three years back.
He remains in touch and is hoping she can see him in action for the Cherries in the near future.
"What she did for the three of us is extraordinary," Kelly added.
"She took us in, treated us as her own and still does. She has a son and daughter who are grown up and we see them as family as well.
"When I was at Bristol City, Thelma came to every game she could with her son and daughter. They were there to support me.
"We have a really good connection. I've seen first hand how the foster care system works and there are many positives about it."
The 23-year-old could well be back in the top flight again next term, with Bournemouth second in the Championship after taking 69 points from 36 games.
Scott Parker's side beat Huddersfield 3-0 in their latest league outing.
Topics: Bournemouth, England
Josh Lawless