Jay Donnelly Explained

Jay Donnelly
Fullname:Jay Donnelly
Birth Date:1995 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Glentoran
Clubnumber:9
Youthclubs1:Cliftonville
Youthyears1:-2014
Years1:2014–2019
Clubs1:Cliftonville
Caps1:133
Goals1:51
Years2:2020
Caps2:6
Goals2:9
Years3:2020–
Clubs3:Glentoran
Caps3:130
Goals3:65
Club-Update:1 June 2024

Jay Donnelly (born 10 April 1995) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Glentoran in the NIFL Premiership. He previously played for Cliftonville and had a short spell at Belfast Celtic.

Club career

Cliftonville

Donnelly netted 15 goals over his first two seasons playing for the first team squad, and was part of the sides that won the League Cup during the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.[1] He became a prolific goalscorer for the Reds, and scored 20 goals in the NIFL Premiership during the 2017–18 season. His brother Rory was his teammate.

Prison sentence

In January 2019, Donnelly was given a four-month prison sentence for sharing an indecent image of a child. He initially sent the photo in 2016 of him having consensual sex with a 16-year-old girl to a friend and Cliftonville teammates on a WhatsApp group, but the photo began to spread around the internet. The girl was subjected to taunts due to the image, and relationships with friends were affected.[2] He had admitted to the charge in November 2018 and was dropped by Cliftonville before their match against Dungannon Swifts the same week.[3] On 9 April 2019, Donnelly's sentence was reduced to three months.[4]

Cliftonville announced the termination of Donnelly's contract on 11 April 2019.[5]

Stint with Belfast Celtic and return to Irish League

In January 2020, after becoming eligible to play again, Donnelly signed for Ballymena Intermediate League side Belfast Celtic (not to be confused with the original Belfast Celtic).[6] Belfast Celtic's joint managers defended the decision to sign Donnelly, stating that they "believe in second chances".[7] He scored nine goals in six games.[8]

In September 2020, NIFL Premiership side Glentoran controversially announced the signing of Donnelly. Glentoran defended their decision to sign Donnelly on their website in the transfer announcement, stating that "Glentoran Football club believes that everyone deserves a chance to put mistakes behind them and Jay Donnelly is no different. The club acknowledges that he has both paid and atoned for his past mistakes and deserves the opportunity to rebuild his life and football career. We look forward to him making a positive contribution to the club, and to giving our supporters further reason to see the coming season as one of great opportunity for Glentoran."[9] Former NI international and Premier League footballer Gareth McAuley criticised the move, and compared it to the case of Adam Johnson.[10]

He scored 17 goals in his first season back in the Irish Premiership. He finished top scorer in the 2021–22 season, with 26 goals.[11] His brother Rory also plays for Glentoran.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[12]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cliftonville2014–15Premiership18510211[13] 0226
2015–16Premiership341223434018
2016–17Premiership291000104[14] 23412
2017–18Premiership392040334623
2018–19Premiership154001010174
Total13351731176215763
Belfast Celtic2019–20Ballymena & Provincial Football League61400614
Glentoran2020–21Premiership331720003517
2021–22Premiership372721210[15] 04129
2022–23Premiership361332214116
2023–24Premiership248301120309
Total13065103532014772
Career Total269131156161082308149

Honours

Cliftonville

2014–15

2014–15, 2015–16

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Ireland – J. Donnelly – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. 5 January 2022. uk.soccerway.com.
  2. Web site: 10 January 2019. Footballer Donnelly jailed for four months. 5 January 2022. BBC News. en-GB.
  3. News: 30 November 2018. Cliftonville drop Jay Donnelly after image conviction. en-GB. BBC News. 5 January 2022.
  4. News: Cliftonville footballer Jay Donnelly jailed for three months after sharing indecent image of child. en-GB. Belfast Telegraph. Alan . Erwin. 9 April 2019. 5 January 2022. 0307-1235.
  5. News: Football club confirms sacking of striker jailed over sex photo of teenage girl. en-GB. 11 April 2019 . Belfast Telegraph. 5 January 2022. 0307-1235.
  6. Web site: 10 January 2020. Donnelly signs for Belfast Celtic. 5 January 2022. BBC Sport. en-GB.
  7. Web site: 12 January 2020. Belfast Celtic defend Donnelly signing. 5 January 2022. BBC Sport. en-GB.
  8. BelfastCeltic1 . 1252522436026867714 . Jay Donnelly Striker . 7 April 2022.
  9. Web site: Jay Donnelly . 5 January 2022. Glentoran F.C..
  10. News: Disgraced Jay Donnelly should be shunned by Irish League clubs like jobless Adam Johnson was in England . 20 September 2020. Gareth . McAuley. en-GB. Belfast Telegraph. 5 January 2022. 0307-1235.
  11. Web site: Irish Premiership Top Scorers. 5 January 2022. BBC Sport. en-GB.
  12. Web site: J. DONNELLY . Soccerway . Perform Group . 6 May 2023.
  13. Appearance in the Charity Shield
  14. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  15. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League