Dane Kelly

Dane Kelly (born 9 February 1991) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a striker for Charlotte Independence. With 106 regular season goals, Kelly is the all-time leading scorer in the USL Championship.

Dane Kelly

Kelly with the Riverhounds, April 2022
Personal information
Full name	Dane Kelly
Date of birth	(1991-02-09) 9 February 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Charlotte Independence
Number	9
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2014	Tivoli Gardens	37+	(10)
2011–2013	→ Charleston Battery (loan)	62	(21)
2014–2015	Charleston Battery	45	(21)
2016	Swope Park Rangers	20	(6)
2017	Reno 1868	27	(18)
2018	D.C. United	1	(0)
2018	→ Richmond Kickers (loan)	4	(1)
2019	Indy Eleven	32	(10)
2020	Charlotte Independence	16	(11)
2021	Bnei Sakhnin	15	(0)
2021	Charlotte Independence	23	(11)
2022	Pittsburgh Riverhounds	23	(7)
2023–	Charlotte Independence	31	(8)
International career‡
2017–	Jamaica	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2018

Professional career

Tivoli Gardens

Kelly began his career in his native Jamaica with top-flight Jamaica National Premier League side Tivoli Gardens. He led the U21 JPL league in scoring in 2010–2011 with 15 goals.^{[citation needed]}

Charleston Battery

Kelly moved to the United States in 2011 after to attend open tryouts with the Charleston Battery after being spotted by the club during a scouting trip to Jamaica. After impressing coach Mike Anhaeuser during a 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup game against Toronto FC,^[1] Kelly signed with the Battery on 16 March^[2] and made his debut with the team on 9 April 2011 in a game against the Charlotte Eagles.^{[citation needed]}

In 2014, Kelly was named the club's player of the year and earned first team all-USL honors. In 2015, he scored 11 goals in 26 league appearances and had a man of the match performance with a goal and an assist in a 3–2 victory over NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With his final goal of the season, the 42nd of his Charleston career, Kelly became the all-time leading scorer in the current United Soccer League, passing Matthew Delicate.^{[citation needed]}

Swope Park Rangers

Kelly signed with Sporting Kansas City's USL affiliate side Swope Park Rangers on 16 December 2015.^[3] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 April against Tulsa Roughnecks FC.^[4] Kelly suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for nine games before returning against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on 12 June.^[5]

Reno 1868

Kelly signed with Reno 1868 of the USL in 2017. He earned the 2017 USL MVP and Golden Boot award, leading the league with 18 goals scored.^[6]

D.C. United

On 9 March 2018, Kelly signed with MLS club D.C. United.^[7] He scored his first unofficial goal for D.C. on 19 September 2018, in a friendly against C.D. Olimpia.^[8]

Indy Eleven

On 16 January 2019, Kelly signed with USL Championship side Indy Eleven.^[9]

Charlotte Independence

On 27 January 2020, Kelly moved again, joining USL Championship side Charlotte Independence.^[10] He scored a hat trick against Charlotte's in-state rival North Carolina FC on 5 September 2020.^[11]

Bnei Sakhnin

In early 2021, Kelly signed with Israeli Premier League side Bnei Sakhnin. His only goal for the club came in an Israel State Cup game against Hapoel Hadera.^[12][13]

Return to Charlotte Independence

On 19 May 2021, Kelly re-signed with Charlotte Independence following his spell in Israel.^[14]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Following the 2021 season, Charlotte Independence voluntarily self-relegated to USL League One. Kelly stayed in the USL Championship by signing with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on January 7, 2022.^[15] On March 15, 2022, Kelly was named USL Championship Player of the Week for Week 1, having scored his 100th regular season goal in the league against Memphis 901 on March 12, 2022.^[16]

Third spell at Charlotte Independence

On 2 March 2023, Kelly returned to Charlotte Independence for the third time, joining ahead of the 2023 USL League One season.^[17]

International career

In 2017, Kelly was called up to the Jamaica senior national team. He scored his first goal against South Korea an exhibition match that ended 2–2^[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 May 2019^[19][20][21]

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		Continental		Other[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tivoli Gardens	2009–10	National Premier League	0	1	0	0	–		–		0	1+
	2010–11	National Premier League	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	2011–12	National Premier League	19	2	0	0	–		–		19+	2+
	2012–13	National Premier League	16	6	0	0	–		–		16+	6+
	2013–14	National Premier League	2	1	0	0	–		–		2+	1+
	Total		37+	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	37+	10+
Charleston Battery (loan)	2011	USL Pro	22	5	2	1	–		1	0	25	6
	2012		17	5	1	1	–		0	0	18	6
	2013		23	11	2	1	–		2	1	27	13
Charleston Battery	2014		19	10	1	2	–		1	1	21	13
	2015	USL	26	11	2	2	–		2	1	30	14
	Total		107	42	8	7	0	0	6	3	121	52
Swope Park Rangers	2016	USL	20	6	–		–		4	2	24	8
Reno 1868	2017	USL	27	18	0	0	–		1	0	28	18
D.C. United	2018	MLS	1	0	1	0	–		0	0	2	0
Richmond Kickers (loan)	2018	USL	4	1	0	0	–		–		4	1
Indy Eleven	2019	USL Championship	8	4	0	0	–		0	0	8	4
Career total			204+	81+	9+	7+	0	0	11	5	224+	93+

1. All appearances in the U.S. Open Cup
2. All appearances in the USL Cup Playoffs

International goals

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.^[21]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 January 2018	Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey	South Korea	1–0	2–2	Friendly
2.	14 October 2018	Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao	Bonaire	6–0	6–0	2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification

Honors

• USL
  • Champions (1): 2012
  • MVP (1): 2017
  • Golden Boot (1): 2017