Lloyd Kelly: Growing Up in Foster Care Gave Me Strength and Resilience

English defender Lloyd Kelly talks about playing once again under coach Eddie Howe, saying, “It feels like we have some unfinished business to complete. That’s what we said when we first met after I signed for Newcastle. It’s a mutual feeling; we think alike.” Kelly, who plays as a left-back or left-sided center-back, first played under Howe six years ago when the then-Bournemouth manager signed him from Bristol City. Given their mutual admiration, it was no surprise that Lloyd followed his former coach to Newcastle.

Two months after moving to Newcastle, there’s no sense of disappointment, and the 25-year-old Kelly says, “I’m very excited to be here; there’s a fantastic atmosphere around this club. It’s a huge club, but playing under Eddie Howe again played a big role in my decision to join this club. My relationship with Howe goes back a long way. Our relationship at Bournemouth was very good; I could turn to him whenever I needed anything. The way he wanted the team to play was really exciting, and he always worked on improving and developing his players.”

Since leaving Bournemouth, Howe has adapted to the latest tactical approaches, relying heavily on high pressing and relentless pressure on the opposition. Kelly says, “I’d say the core principles related to how he plays and trains his players remain the same, but he’s refined his philosophy, and I’m still trying to understand how he wants me to play in this team.” Former Newcastle players have talked about the pressure of playing and living in Newcastle, but Kelly says about that: “I spoke to some players about this. When I came here and looked around the city before signing, I got a really great feeling. I fully understand the pressure that comes with playing for a club of this magnitude, but I have the character to handle it. And everyone welcomed me as soon as I joined the club.”

He adds, “I grew up in foster care from the age of six or seven until I was 18. This experience shaped and molded my character. Such an experience teaches you life lessons early on. It contributed to who I am today. If I had the chance to change anything that happened to me in my childhood, I wouldn’t do it because I wouldn’t be where I am now without going through that experience.”

He continues, “This experience gave me strength and resilience. It teaches you that life can be tough, but you have to keep working hard or move on from certain situations. One can deal positively with every situation they face; it certainly helps strengthen your character.”