Spotlight on Scarborough Athletic stalwart Kieran Weledji
Versatile defender Kieran Weledji passed a major Scarborough Athletic landmark in the loss at Radcliffe, making his 250th competitive appearance for the Seadogs.
Weledji is closely related to an iconic national figure, as his Cameroon-born grandmother Marianne Weledji came to the UK to study law in 1965.
She attended Oxford University, Holborn College of Law and University College London, graduating as Batchelor in Law in 1969.
She then returned to Cameroon where she registered as a lawyer at the Supreme Court, becoming the first ever female lawyer in her country, running her own law firm for many years, and passed away, aged 86 in March 2024.
Marianne had six children, including Kieran’s dad Patrick, who also later came to the UK with his wife Elizabeth and settled in Middlesbrough.
Elizabeth later enrolled at Aberdeen University to study pharmacy, and while there she gave birth to Kieran in June 1995.
He was raised and went to school in Middlesbrough, and after excelling as a schoolboy footballer, he joined the Middlesbrough FC Academy, spending four years at the club, culminating in helping the U21s win the Premier League 2 (Div 2) title in 2014-15.
He was then released, and joined NPL side Whitby Town for the 2015-16 season, quickly becoming established as an all-round player capable of slotting in to various positions, but primarily at full-back or centre-back.
In five hugely successful seasons at Whitby, he made 195 senior appearances, scoring 15 goals.
He played in their 3-1 win against Pickering Town in the 2017 NRSC final at the Riverside, and came to the attention of Boro supporters when he scored in Whitby’s 2-0 derby win against Boro at the Turnbull Ground in September 2019.
In May 2020 manager Darren Kelly persuaded him to sign for Boro, and in the six years since, he has become one of the most popular players ever to play for the club.
Unfortunately Kieran’s Boro debut lasted just 21 minutes, as he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in a pre-season friendly at Garforth Town on August 4 2020 just as the Covid 19 pandemic began to sweep the country.
He was sidelined for 11 long months, but because of the spread of Covid, he didn’t miss too many games as the 2020-21 season had been abandoned, and when he finally returned to action for the 2021-22 pre-season friendlies, Jono Greening had replaced Darren Kelly as Boro manager.
Kieran has played a huge part in Boro’s success in recent seasons, helping the team win promotion to National League North, two FA Cup First Round appearances, three NRSC successes, and a place in the National League North Play-Offs last season.
He was voted Supporters Player of the Year, and also named in the National League North team of the season in 22-23.
A qualified physiotherapist, Kieran (31) now lives in York with partner Jess (they are getting married next year) and works for the NHS, currently at Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.
They have three children, 3-year-old Alora, and 1-year-old twins Otto and Ettie.
His parents are both professional people, his mum a pharmacist and his dad a doctor, now back in Cameroon.
Having now reached 250 competitive appearances for Boro, he says he has so many happy memories and has made many good friends while with the club, picking out the brilliant 2022 NPL Play-Off final win against Warrington Town as his most memorable Boro game, and also highlights the two tremendous FA Cup runs to the first round proper.
He loves the great team spirit at the club, and also wants to thank the fantastic fans for their love and support over the years.
Team captain Will Thornton said “ Kieza has been a huge part of our success in recent years, and is one of those players that every club needs. He leaves everything out on the pitch, and can do a fantastic job in several positions as we all know, even up front haha…More importantly, he is a great person and definitely a friend for life.
"I’m grateful I’ve been able to share the pitch with him so many times over the years, and hopefully many more to come.”
The final word from boss Greening, who said: “Kieza has been immense for me since I became manager.
"His performances at right-back/centre-back or sometimes centre-forward are always to a high level.
"He always gives his all, both in training and games. He is a special player, and an even better person.”
BORO STATS (Competitive matches)
APPEARANCES 250 (222 + 28 sub)
GOALS 34
ASSISTS 20
MAN OF MATCH 18