The former goalkeeper, who made a record 513 appearances for the club and has a stand at Deepdale named after him, is recovering in the USA after life-saving colon cancer surgery.

Our fans' panellist John Roper said: "The word legend is sometime used out of context, but not when describing the greatest keeper this famous club has ever had.

"Get well soon, Kel, and come back to see us at Deepdale – our thoughts are with you."

Alansh66, from Whittle, said: "I'm gutted for the guy – hope he pulls through. He was in goal when I first started watching North End so I have fond memories of him. Get well soon Alan."

And Roy David, a North End supporter in Kent, was there for Kelly's final game in a North End shirt.

>> Kelly: 'There's life in the old dog yet'

"I saw Alan play many times and was at Deepdale the day he hurt his shoulder which ended his career," said Roy.

"He was a top-notch keeper and all best wishes to him for a speedy recovery."

Keith, from Bristol, tells a great tale of when Kelly starred on the wing for North End, he said: "I remember Alan when I started
watching just after the World Cup in 1966.

"I remember him going up for the ball and being clipped from the side, he then spun upside down and came down vertically, on to his shoulder.
"It was at the right-hand post as the keeper looks towards the Town End.

"It was an age before he was taken off the pitch, and as we'd played our one and only substitute, he came back out on the wing, in that sling! Amazing."

Here are a selection of other messages:

- "Mr Kelly, thoughts are with you, hope you pull through and beat this awful illness," Jatty.

- "All the best to a great man and thanks for the wonderful memories," Graham Nelson.

- "Good luck and get well. I know his grandson and play cricket with him," Sam-pne.

- "I remember him playing on the wing with his shoulder in a sling.

Best wishes to a great servant to the club," Diggerbarnes, Fulwood.

- "I remember we sang from the Kop, 'Alan Kelly, Alan Kelly Alan Kelly on the wing'.

Send your best wishes to william.watt@lep.co.uk or leave a comment below. A selection of which will feature in Friday's Lancashire Evening Post.