joined Reading on 11 January 2013, signing a -year contract. He made his debut on 19 January in Reading's 2–1 away win over Newcastle United at St James' Park, made his home debut a week later against Sheffield United in a 4–0 FA Cup win, and soon afterwards, stated that "regardless of what happens now and for the rest of the season, coming here is the best decision I've made in football". Kelly started every game in what remained of the season, and the team were relegated to the Championship. He was allocated squad number 3 for the 2013–14 season. Kelly scored his first goal for Reading on 1 January 2014, a 95th-minute header from Royston Drenthe's free kick that gave his side a draw at home to Nottingham Forest. Kelly left Reading at the end of the 2014–15 season, despite being offered a new contract by the club. Rotherham United On 19 November 2015, Kelly joined Championship club Rotherham United until the end of the 2015–16 season. He left the club at the end of the 2016–17 season. International career Kelly won Irish caps at junior levels and became a member of the senior Irish national squad, making his debut versus Chile. He represented the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team at the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship and the Under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. On 29 March 2011, Kelly was named as Ireland captain for the friendly against Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium. He was a squad member at UEFA Euro 2012 but saw no game time. Then, despite injuries to Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger, manager Giovanni Trapattoni left him on the bench for the 6-1 home defeat to Germany in 2014 World Cup qualifying. Days later, Kelly had a training ground row with assistant manager Marco Tardelli, and was left so upset by the incident that he did not want to board the plane for the game against the Faroe Islands. Career statistics Club International Honours Birmingham City Championship runner-up: 2006–07 Fulham UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2009–10 International Nations Cup: 2011 References External links Stephen Kelly profile at the Football Association of Ireland website 1983 births Living people Association footballers from Dublin (city) Republic of Ireland association footballers Republic of Ireland youth international footballers Republic of Ireland under-21 international footballers Republic of Ireland international footballers Association football defenders Belvedere F.C. players