Connell Rawlinson Explained

Connell Rawlinson
Fullname:Connell Patrick Rawlinson[1]
Birth Date:22 September 1991[2]
Birth Place:Wrexham, Wales[3]
Height:1.85m
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Chester
Years1:2009–2010
Clubs1:Chester City
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2010–2018
Clubs2:The New Saints
Caps2:142
Goals2:9
Years3:2012
Clubs3:Newtown (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:28
Goals4:1
Years5:2019–2024
Clubs5:Notts County
Caps5:141
Goals5:3
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Chester
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2011–2018
Nationalteam1:Wales C
Club-Update:19:53, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

Connell Patrick Rawlinson (born 22 September 1991) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Chester.

He began his career at Chester City, making three Conference Premier appearances before the club was liquidated in March 2010. He joined The New Saints the following season and went on to spend the next eight years with the club, winning seven Welsh Premier League titles, four Welsh Cups, and five Welsh League Cup titles. He was also named in the 2017–18 Welsh Premier League Team of the Season. He switched to the English Football League when he signed with Port Vale in May 2018. He was given a free transfer to National League side Notts County in August 2019. He was named County's Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season. Though the club lost the play-off final, they secured promotion out of the play-offs in 2023. He left Notts County after five years at the club and signed with Chester in July 2024.

Early life

Rawlinson was born in Wrexham after his mother chose that maternity hospital rather than Chester due to the family living between the two locations.[4]

Career

Chester City

Rawlinson began his career with Chester City, making his debut as a substitute against Oxford United at the age of 17 in 2009. He made two further Conference Premier substitute appearances in the 2009–10 season, which were officially chalked off after the club's records were expunged following their liquidation in March 2010.[5]

The New Saints

Rawlinson joined The New Saints and made his debut in the Welsh Premier League on 29 August 2010, coming on for Phil Baker as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory over Bala Town at Park Hall.[6] He was handed his first start on 4 September, in a 2–1 defeat at Llanelli.[7] He went on to play in the final of the Welsh League Cup, as TNS recorded a 4–3 victory over Llanelli on 2 May.[8] He appeared a total of 21 times in the 2010–11 campaign and was offered professional terms at TNS for the 2011–12 season.[9] He won a Wales semi-professional cap against Estonia in October 2011.[9] He scored his first senior goal on 28 January, in a 4–0 victory over Newport County in the Fourth Round of the Welsh Cup.[10] He was sent off for the first time in his career on 18 February, during a 2–1 win at Llanelli.[11] TNS won the Welsh Premier League at the end of the 2011–12 season. Rawlinson was also an unused substitute as they won the 2012 Welsh Cup with a 2–0 victory over Cefn Druids at Nantporth.[12]

He was loaned out to Newtown for six weeks in November 2012.[9] His arrival at Latham Park allowed manager Bernard McNally to move Andy Jones from central defence to centre-forward.[13] Rawlinson featured in five Welsh Premier League games for the "Robins", and played just six games for the "Saints" by the end of the 2012–13 season, who successfully defended their league title. One of these appearances were in the Welsh League Cup final, which ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Carmarthen Town following a 3–3 draw after extra time.[14] He scored his first goal in the Welsh Premier League on 1 April 2014, in a 3–1 home win over Newtown.[15] He ended the 2013–14 season with 16 appearances, helping the club to retain their league title again. TNS also won the Welsh Cup, though Rawlinson was again an unused substitute during the 3−2 victory over Aberystwyth Town at the Racecourse Ground.[16]

He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 15 July 2014, in a 1–0 defeat at Slovakian side ŠK Slovan Bratislava, during the Second Round of qualification.[17] He scored four goals in 37 appearances across the 2014–15 campaign, helping TNS to a fourth consecutive league title. On 25 January, he played in a 3–0 win over Bala Town in the final of the Welsh League Cup.[18] He also won his third Welsh Cup as TNS secured a domestic treble with a 2–0 win over Newtown at Latham Park on 2 May, though was substituted after ten minutes for Christian Seargeant.[19] [20] He was restricted to 19 appearances in the 2015–16 season, though TNS again won the league. He did though feature in the final of the Welsh League Cup, as TNS defeated Denbigh Town 2–0 at Maesdu Park.[21] TNS also secured the Welsh Cup and another treble with a 2–0 victory over Airbus UK Broughton.[22] [23]

He re-established himself in the first team during the 2016–17 season, scoring two goals in 40 league and cup games, as TNS clinched a sixth straight league title. TNS won the League Cup for the fourth consecutive time with a 4–0 win over Barry Town United at Cyncoed Stadium.[24] [25] During the season the club set a World record by winning 27 consecutive top-flight games.[26] However, they failed to retain the Welsh Cup, losing out 2–1 to Bala Town in the final.[27] On 20 January 2018, he lifted his fifth Welsh League Cup title after helping TNS to overcome Cardiff Metropolitan University 1–0 in the final.[28] On 2 February, he scored both TNS's goals in a 2–2 draw at Cefn Druids.[29] Later that month he turned down the club's offer of a new contract, which was due to expire in the summer.[30] He captained Wales C in a 3–2 defeat to England C in March 2018.[31] He ended the 2017–18 campaign with three goals in 35 appearances, as TNS won a seventh consecutive league title. He was named in the 2017–18 Welsh Premier League Team of the Season.[32]

Port Vale

On 23 May 2018, Rawlinson signed with Port Vale of the English Football League.[33] He made his debut for the "Valiants" on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, a 3–0 win over Cambridge United at Vale Park on 4 August.[34] After the game manager Neil Aspin said that "he has set his standards and proved that he can play at this level, but now he has to do it consistently".[35] He remained one of the first names on the team sheet, though was frequently utilised at right-back rather than at his favoured spot as a centre-back.[36] On 27 November, he scored with a "towering header" in a 3–0 win at Yeovil Town. He was named on the EFL team of the week.[37] He dropped out of the first-team picture after Aspin left the club in January and was replaced by John Askey.[38] He was transfer-listed in May 2019,[39] though after a good pre-season managed to force himself back into Askey's first-team plans.[40]

Notts County

Rawlinson signed for newly-relegated National League club Notts County on 5 August 2019.[41] He scored two goals in 40 appearances for the "Magpies" in the 2019–20 season, which was permanently suspended on 26 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with Notts County in the play-offs in third-place.[42] County reached the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, though Rawlinson was an unused substitute as they lost the match 3–1 to Harrogate Town.[43] Supporters voted him as Player of the Season, whilst he shared the Players' Player of the Season award with Kyle Wootton.[44]

He played 43 games in the 2020–21 campaign, helping the club to again qualify for the play-offs, and said he was keen to extend his stay at Meadow Lane for as long as possible.[45] Though County's defensive record was sound, new manager Ian Burchnall – who succeeded Neal Ardley in March – wanted the team to improve in front of goal. Rawlinson admitted he needed to do more in this regard as he failed to register a goal during the campaign.[46] Notts County reached the play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten 4–2 by Torquay United after extra time.[47] He featured 29 times in the 2021–22 season, helping County to qualify for the play-offs with a fifth-place finish. However, he was an unused substitute as they were beaten 2–1 by Grimsby Town after extra-time in the play-off quarter-finals.[48] He made 28 league appearances in the 2022–23 campaign, as County finished as runners-up to his hometown club Wrexham despite amassing over 100 points.[49] He played in the 2023 National League play-off final as County secured their place in the Football League with a penalty shoot-out victory over Chesterfield.[50] He signed a new two-year contract in May 2023.[51] He was transfer-listed at the end of the 2023–24 season,[52] before leaving the club by mutual consent on 30 June 2024.[53]

Chester

On 2 July 2024, Rawlinson signed a one-year deal with Chester, a phoenix club of his first club, Chester City, who are now members of the National League North.[54]

Personal life

Rawlinson married 27-year-old Georgia Panton at Mold, Flintshire in July 2021 following an eight-year relationship.[55] At the time of his wedding he had an eight-year-old daughter, Amelia-Lily, from a previous relationship.[55] He supports Everton,[56] and family members support Wrexham.[4]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chester City2009–10Conference Premier3000000030
The New Saints2010–11Welsh Premier League160005000210
2011–12Welsh Premier League140212000181
2012–13Welsh Premier League4010100060
2013–14Welsh Premier League151001000161
2014–15Welsh Premier League293304110374
2015–16Welsh Premier League120201040190
2016–17Welsh Premier League282302070402
2017–18Welsh Premier League243102080353
Total142912118120019211
Newtown (loan)2012–13Welsh Premier League5000000050
Port Vale2018–19EFL League Two281101061362
Notts County2019–20National League341300031402
2020–21National League380000050430
2021–22National League220200051291
2022–23National League281100030321
2023–24EFL League Two181200030231
Total139380001921675
Chester2024–25National League North0000000000
Career total3171321118146340418

Honours

The New Saints

2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18

2012, 2014, 2015, 2016; runner-up: 2017

2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; runner-up: 2013

Notts County

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club List of Registered Players As At 18th May 2019 . EFL . 13 July 2019.
  2. Web site: FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2019/2020 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 1 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Connell Rawlinson: 2016/2017 Biography & Statistics - Welsh Premier League . www.wpl.cymru . 18 August 2019.
  4. News: 'Wrexham family members are now Notts fans'. BBC Sport . 3 March 2023 .
  5. News: Powell. Dave. Former Chester City youngster finally gets shot at the Football League. 25 May 2018. Chester Chronicle. 24 May 2018.
  6. Web site: The New Saints vs. Bala Town - 29 August 2010 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  7. Web site: Llanelli vs. The New Saints - 4 September 2010 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  8. Web site: Llanelli vs. The New Saints - 2 May 2011 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  9. News: Connell Rawlinson departs The New Saints. 25 May 2018. Shropshire Star. 23 May 2018. en.
  10. Web site: The New Saints vs. Newport County - 28 January 2012 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  11. Web site: Llanelli vs. The New Saints - 18 February 2012 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  12. News: Welsh Cup final: Cefn Druids 0-2 The New Saints. 25 May 2018. BBC Sport. 5 May 2012.
  13. News: How McNally uncovered a Christmas cracker. 25 May 2018. welsh-premier.comwelsh-premier.com. 23 December 2012.
  14. Web site: Carmarthen Town vs. The New Saints - 12 January 2013 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  15. Web site: The New Saints vs. Newtown - 1 April 2014 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  16. News: Welsh Cup final: Aberystwyth 2-3 The New Saints. 25 May 2018. BBC Sport. 3 May 2014.
  17. Web site: Slovan Bratislava vs. The New Saints - 15 July 2014 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  18. Web site: Bala Town vs. The New Saints - 25 January 2015 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  19. News: Welsh Cup final: The New Saints 2-0 Newtown AFC. 25 May 2018. BBC Sport. 2 May 2015.
  20. Web site: The New Saints vs. Newtown - 2 May 2015 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  21. Web site: The New Saints vs. Denbigh Town - 23 January 2016 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  22. News: Welsh Cup final: The New Saints 2-0 Airbus UK Broughton. 25 May 2018. BBC Sport. 2 May 2016.
  23. Web site: Airbus UK vs. The New Saints - 2 May 2016 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  24. News: FAW / TNS beat Barry Town United to lift first silverware of season. 25 May 2018. www.faw.cymru. 22 January 2017. en.
  25. Web site: The New Saints vs. Barry Town United - 21 January 2017 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  26. News: New Saints' world-record run of victories is ended by 3-3 draw with Newtown - BBC Sport. 14 January 2017. BBC Online. 14 January 2017.
  27. News: Williams. Aled. Welsh Cup final: Bala Town 2-1 The New Saints. 25 May 2018. BBC Sport. 1 May 2017.
  28. Web site: Andy. Houldsworth. Jon. Harris. Match Report: - Welsh Premier League. www.wpl.cymru. 25 May 2018.
  29. Web site: Cefn Druids vs. The New Saints - 2 February 2018 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2018. en.
  30. News: Cox. Lewis. Interest in The New Saints stopper Connell Rawlinson. 25 May 2018. Shropshire Star. 10 February 2018. en.
  31. News: Jones. Dean. Wales C edged out by England. 25 May 2018. Border Counties Advertizer. 20 March 2018. en.
  32. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale signing Connell Rawlinson named in Welsh league team of the season . 4 June 2018 . stokesentinel . 4 June 2018.
  33. Web site: Leon Legge: Port Vale sign Cambridge United centre-back on one-year deal. 23 May 2018. 24 May 2018. BBC Sport.
  34. News: Port Vale v Cambridge United . 4 August 2018 . BBC Sport . 4 August 2018.
  35. News: Baggaley . Michael . Neil Aspin challenges Connell Rawlinson to build on impressive Port Vale debut . 9 August 2018 . Stoke Sentinel . 9 August 2018.
  36. News: Connell Rawlinson dedicates recent Vale form to the fans . 1 December 2018 . port-vale.co.uk . 28 September 2018 . en-gb.
  37. News: Matchday 20: Team of the Week . 8 October 2019 . www.efl.com . 29 November 2018 . en-gb.
  38. News: Sherwin . Phil . From local heroes who impressed to lost boys: Port Vale class of 2018/19 rated . 19 May 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 19 May 2019.
  39. News: Baggaley . Michael . Ben Whitfield and Connell Rawlinson told they can leave Port Vale . 22 May 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 22 May 2019.
  40. News: Baggaley . Michael . Transfer- listed defender back in Port Vale's plans . 30 July 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 30 July 2019.
  41. Web site: Notts bolster defence by signing Port Vale centre-back. Tom. Leach. 5 August 2019. nottinghampost.
  42. Web site: National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately . BBC Sport . 22 March 2020.
  43. News: National League promotion final: Harrogate Town beat Notts County 3-1 to secure place in League Two . 2 August 2020 . BBC Sport . 2 August 2020 . en-gb.
  44. News: Awards: Rawlinson voted Player of the Season . 16 May 2021 . www.nottscountyfc.co.uk . 21 August 2020 . en-gb.
  45. News: Curtis . Leigh . Rawlinson fires heartfelt message over Notts County future . 1 June 2021 . NottinghamshireLive . 20 April 2021 . en.
  46. News: Curtis . Leigh . Rawlinson delivers blunt verdict on Notts' goals record . 1 June 2021 . NottinghamshireLive . 21 April 2021 . en.
  47. News: Law . James . Torquay win in extra time to make final . 15 June 2021 . BBC Sport . 12 June 2021.
  48. News: Grimsby beat Notts County in dramatic play-off tie . 26 May 2022 . BBC Sport . 23 May 2022.
  49. News: Aloia . Andrew . 'Wrexham family members are now Notts fans' . 9 May 2023 . BBC Sport . 3 March 2023.
  50. News: Aloia . Andrew . Notts clinch promotion to EFL with shootout win . 14 May 2023 . BBC Sport . 13 May 2023.
  51. News: Allen . Sam . Rawlinson eyes back-to-back promotions after signing new contract . 9 June 2023 . NottinghamshireLive . 31 May 2023 . en.
  52. News: 2023-24: Retained list . 29 April 2024 . Notts County F.C. . 29 April 2024 . en-gb.
  53. News: Departure: Connell Rawlinson. 30 June 2024 . Notts County FC . 30 June 2024.
  54. Web site: Connell Rawlinson is home. 2 July 2024. 2 July 2024.
  55. News: Craddock . Steve . Footballer Connell Rawlinson ties the knot in Mold . 26 May 2022 . The Leader . 4 July 2021 . en.
  56. News: Notts County defender Connell Rawlinson speaks about Sunday's FA Cup game against Rochdale . 26 May 2022 . Pride of Nottingham (Notts County Community) . 5 November 2021.