| James Connolly | |
| Full Name: | James Alfred Connolly[1] |
| Birth Date: | 2 November 2001 |
| Position: | Central defender |
| Currentclub: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Clubnumber: | 18 |
| Youthclubs1: | Blackburn Rovers |
| Youthyears2: | 2020–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | Cardiff City |
| Years1: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Cardiff City |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022 |
| Clubs2: | → Bristol Rovers (loan) |
| Caps2: | 24 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs3: | Bristol Rovers |
| Caps3: | 41 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | → Morecambe (loan) |
| Caps4: | 13 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Caps5: | 2 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | Wales U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 18:19, 17 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 11:24, 15 June 2022 |
James Alfred Connolly (born 2 November 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a central defender for club Crewe Alexandra. He is a former Wales under-21 international.
Connolly began his career with Blackburn Rovers, signing a two-year scholarship contract with the club in June 2018.[2] Despite missing the majority of the 2019–20 season through an injury sustained in October 2019, Connolly had his scholarship extended by a further year[3] being released by the club at the end of the following season.[4] In June 2021, Connolly signed with Cardiff City. Connolly was retained by the club ahead of the 2022–23 season.[5]
On 8 January 2022, Connolly joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[6] He made his senior debut later that day in a 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Peterborough United, and his league debut came on 22 January 2022. Connolly formed a solid defensive partnership with fellow Championship loanee Connor Taylor, being praised for his composure on the ball and his ability to adapt to the physical demands of League Two football.[7] Connolly scored a first senior goal in a vital match against promotion rivals Port Vale, turning home an Antony Evans cross to give Rovers the lead having fallen behind early on, Rovers going on to win 3–1.[8] Connolly's first season in professional football ended in success as Rovers were promoted on the final day of the season, a 7–0 victory moving Bristol Rovers into third place, beating Northampton Town to automatic promotion on goals scored.[9]
He re-joined Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal, transferring for an undisclosed sum, in June 2022, signing a three-year contract.[10] On 6 August 2022, Connolly scored his first goal since returning to the club on a permanent basis with the second in a 4–0 thrashing of Burton Albion.[11] On 27 August 2022, it was revealed that Connolly had suffered a stress fracture in his back that would see him out of action for a 'long period'.[12] On 29 October, Connolly made his return to first-team football as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Derby County.[13]
On 31 August 2023, Connolly joined League Two club Morecambe on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.[14] He was recalled by his parent club on 3 January 2024.[15]
On 1 August 2024, Connolly joined League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a two-year deal.[16] He made his debut in the side's league 1–0 defeat away at Barrow.[17]
In May 2022, Connolly was called up to the Wales U21 team for the first time for the final 2023 U21 European Championship qualifiers against the Netherlands and Gibraltar.[18] Connolly made his debut in the latter of these matches as Wales won 2–0.[19]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Cardiff City | 2021–22 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2021–22 | League Two | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Bristol Rovers | 2022–23 | League One | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Total | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 2 | |||
| Morecambe (loan) | 2023–24 | League Two | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2024–25 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Career total | 80 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 93 | 5 | |||
Bristol Rovers