Johnny Flynn (footballer) explained

Johnny Flynn
Fullname:Jonathan Joseph Flynn
Birth Date:18 November 1989
Birth Place:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Glenbawn Celtic
Youthclubs2:Newhill
Clubs1:Ballymena United
Years1:2007–2008
Caps1:15
Goals1:1
Clubs2:Blackburn Rovers
Years2:2008–2010
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalyears2:2008–2010
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Years3:2009
Clubs3:Chester City (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:1
Years4:2009
Clubs4:Accrington Stanley (loan)
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:2010–2012
Clubs5:Ross County
Caps5:37
Goals5:4
Years6:2012–2014
Clubs6:Falkirk
Caps6:71
Goals6:0
Years7:2014–2016
Clubs7:Cliftonville
Caps7:22
Goals7:3
Years8:2016–2018
Clubs8:Ballymena United
Caps8:7
Goals8:1
Years9:2018
Clubs9:Portadown
Caps9:14
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:178
Totalgoals:10
Club-Update:5 December 2018

Jonathan Joseph Flynn (born 18 November 1989) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Flynn began his career at Ballymena United, and later moved to Blackburn Rovers, where he failed to make a first-team appearance. He spent a short loan spell at Accrington Stanley in League Two, and between 2010 and 2012, he played for Ross County in the Scottish First Division before later moving to Falkirk.

Flynn has been capped by Northern Ireland at under-21 level.[1] [2]

He moved to Cliftonville for the 2014–15 season.[3]

Club career

Ballymena United

Flynn began his professional career in his native Northern Ireland with Ballymena United, after being spotted by Belfast-based scout Dominic McEnhill playing in the Down and Connor League for Newhill U16s.[4] He was then spotted by Blackburn Rovers club scout Barry Hunter in late 2007, signing for the Lancashire club in January 2008.

Blackburn Rovers

The defender spent 2 years at Blackburn and during this time failed to make a competitive appearance for the club. Flynn had two loan spells at Chester City and Accrington Stanley in the 2009–2010 season.[5]

Ross County

Flynn signed for Ross County in the summer of 2010 but only managed to make 23 appearances in his two seasons at Victoria Park,[6] scoring 4 goals.,[7] including one that secured County's First Division status in the 2010–2011 Season against Falkirk,[8] who he would eventually sign for in the summer of 2012.

Falkirk

Flynn signed for Falkirk from Ross County in the summer of 2012 for a nominal fee.[9] He made his debut for the club in the Ramsden's Cup against Stirling Albion on 28 July 2012.[10]

Flynn was a first-team regular in his first season at Falkirk, and after a nervy first few games, developed a solid defensive partnership with the vastly experienced club captain Darren Dods. In his second season, with the arrival of Will Vaulks and David McCracken, he found himself more frequently as back-up on the bench. Flynn did however start all four of Falkirk's Scottish Premiership Play-Off games; he was heavily praised for his performances in these matches, in particular the Quarter Final Second Leg 3–1 victory after extra time (4-3 agg.) against Queen of the South on 10 May 2014.[11] Fans were widely impressed and grateful for Flynn's professionalism in the play-off matches, having been on the bench for most of the season and having already agreed a deal to sign for Cliftonville for the following season. Flynn's last appearance in a Falkirk shirt was to be in the Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg defeat to Hamilton Academical on 18 May 2014.[12]

Cliftonville

Flynn signed a pre-contract with Cliftonville in March 2014 and will join them for the 2014–15 season.[3] Flynn was also to set up his own football coaching business 'JF Football Fitness' on his return to Northern Ireland.

Ballymena, Portadown and Retirement

Flynn would have spells with Ballymena and later Portadown, before then retiring mid season due to injury.

Honours

Ross County

2010–11[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squad Profiles – Under 21 Johnny Flynn . Irish Football Association . 28 January 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100108043914/http://irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2208/under-21/johnny-flynn-defender/ . 8 January 2010 .
  2. Web site: Johnny Flynn . Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats . 28 January 2010.
  3. Web site: Flynncoming . CFC . 10 March 2014.
  4. Web site: FLYNN DEPARTS SKY BLUES TO BECOME AN IRISH ROVER . The Mirror. 22 January 2008. 13 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Accrington sign Blackburn defender Flynn . 27 November 2009 . 14 March 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20130410171621/http://www.clicklancashire.com/sport/blackburn-rovers-fc/124425-accrington-sign-blackburn-defender-flynn.html . 10 April 2013 .
  6. Web site: Johhny Flynn – Player bio . 14 March 2013.
  7. Web site: Johnny Flynn – Football Statistics . Soccerbase . 14 March 2013.
  8. Web site: Ross County duo Stuart Kettlewell and Johnny Flynn earn contract extensions . Daily Record . 14 March 2013.
  9. Web site: Elvis nets a hat-trick while he's on holiday . Falkirk Herald. 14 June 2012 . 14 March 2013 . 25 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140525235418/http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/falkirk-fc/elvis-nets-a-hat-trick-while-he-s-on-holiday-1-2353130 . dead .
  10. Web site: Falkirk 3 – 0 Stirling Albion : Saturday, 28th July 2012 . SFL . 14 March 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130126090010/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/challenge-cup/results/3521886/ . 26 January 2013 .
  11. Web site: BBC Sport – Falkirk 3-1 Queen of the South (aet, agg 4-3). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140511063355/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27326191. 2014-05-11.
  12. Web site: BBC Sport – Hamilton Academical v Falkirk (agg 1-1). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140518074209/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27361996. 2014-05-18.
  13. Web site: Queen of the South 0-2 Ross County. BBC. 10 April 2011 . 1 April 2021.