Jon Connolly Explained

Jon Connolly
Birth Date:3 April 1981
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Currentclub:Queen of the South F.C. (goalkeeping coach)
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:St Johnstone
Youthyears2:–1998
Youthclubs2:Ipswich Town
Years1:1998
Clubs1:Albion Rovers
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:1998–2000
Clubs2:Thorniewood United
Years3:2000
Clubs3:Stenhousemuir (trial)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2000–2001
Clubs4:Motherwell
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:2002
Clubs5:Dumbarton
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2002–2003
Clubs6:Cumnock Juniors
Years7:2003–2004
Clubs7:East Stirlingshire
Caps7:19
Goals7:0
Years8:2004
Clubs8:Dunipace Juniors
Years9:2004–2005
Clubs9:Linlithgow Rose
Years10:2005–2006
Clubs10:Dunipace Juniors
Years11:2006
Clubs11:Larkhall Thistle
Years12:2006–2007
Clubs12:Bo'ness United
Years13:2007–2008
Clubs13:Fauldhouse United
Years14:2008–2010
Clubs14:Cambuslang Rangers
Years15:2010–2011
Clubs15:St. Anthony's
Years16:2011
Clubs16:Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Years17:2011–2013
Clubs17:Thorniewood United
Years18:2013
Clubs18:St. Anthony's (loan)
Years19:2013–2014
Clubs19:Kilwinning Rangers
Years20:2014
Clubs20:Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Years21:2014–2016
Clubs21:Vale of Clyde
Years22:2016
Clubs22:Rossvale
Years23:2016
Clubs23:St. Anthony's
Years24:2016–
Clubs24:Fauldhouse United
Manageryears1:2017–2020
Managerclubs1:Fauldhouse United
Club-Update:19:53, 21 February 2017 (UTC)

Jon Connolly (born 3 April 1981) is a Scottish football goalkeeper and is currently the goalkeeping coach at Queen of The South F.C.[1] Connolly has previously played in the Scottish Premier League for Motherwell.

Career

Connolly began his senior career in the academy system at Ipswich Town but returned to Scotland to sign for Albion Rovers in February 1998, making eight league appearances in the Scottish Football League Third Division before the end of the season.[2] After leaving Rovers, he dropped to Junior level with Thorniewood United before being signed by manager Billy Davies for Motherwell in the summer of 2000.[3]

With Motherwell releasing a number of high-earning first team players including Andy Goram, Connolly found himself as a second choice keeper at Fir Park behind Stevie Woods.[4] He made his Scottish Premier League debut in April 2001 against Dundee United at Tannadice and retained his place in the team for the following weeks match against Aberdeen.[5] [6]

These proved to be his only first team appearances for Motherwell and Connolly left the club on the eve of the January 2002 transfer window, signing for Dumbarton until the end of the season.[7] A year at Cumnock Juniors was followed by another Scottish Football League spell with East Stirlingshire in 2003–04 where he made nineteen league appearances.

After leaving the Shire, Connolly has enjoyed a peripatetic career in Junior football.[3] [8] [9] [10] In recent years, he joined Kilwinning Rangers in May 2013 before moving on to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in January 2014.[11] [12] Connolly signed for Vale of Clyde in the summer of 2014 and had short stints at Rossvale and St. Anthony's before joining East Superleague side Fauldhouse United in October 2016.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Connolly was appointed as player-manager of Fauldhouse in February 2017.[17]

Big JC is now seen playing Over 35 football for Lanarkshire Forest, in the Central Over 35s league. Forest has successfully won Division 1A of the 2023 season, securing promotion to the Premier Division for 2024. Big JC is also actively working at Annan Athletic as goalkeeping coach.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JON CONNOLLY IS THE NEW GOALKEEPING COACH!. 2021-07-24. Twitter. en.
  2. Web site: Jon Connolly . Pride of Anglia . 5 March 2013.
  3. News: Ex-Motherwell keeper signs up . Kenny Smith . Rutherglen Reformer . 6 August 2008 . 5 March 2013.
  4. Web site: Woods signs new Well deal . Peter O'Rourke . . 5 March 2013.
  5. Web site: United hold off Well challenge . . 28 April 2001 . 5 March 2013.
  6. Web site: Motherwell 0 Aberdeen 2 . Chris Roberts . Sporting Life . 5 March 2013.
  7. Web site: Hilcoat joins St Mirren . . 26 February 2002 . 5 March 2013.
  8. News: Thistle aim high . Daily Record . 14 August 2004 . 5 March 2013.
  9. Web site: Website player stats . Bo'ness United FC . 5 March 2013.
  10. News: Lang boss hits out at fixture madness . Kenny Smith . Rutherglen Reformer . 21 April 2010 . 5 March 2013.
  11. News: O'Donnell. Jim. McDonald: Shotts can rise from ashes. 6 June 2013. Evening Times. 6 June 2013.
  12. Web site: Connolly coup solves the No.1 problem for Rob Roy. Evening Times. 29 January 2014. 5 February 2014.
  13. News: O'Donnell. Jim. Currie's keeping calm as big guns hit the Pail trail to target starlets. 31 July 2014. Evening Times. 17 June 2014.
  14. News: O'Donnell. Jim. Rossvale boss Martin Lauchlan urges his side to get back in thick of promotion race. 10 August 2016. Evening Times. 17 February 2016.
  15. News: O'Donnell. Jim. St Anthony's co-boss Ronnie McDonald happy to get a little help from his friends. 10 August 2016. Evening Times. 16 July 2016.
  16. News: Wilson. Fraser. Have gloves will travel: Veteran keeper Jon Connolly happy to have returned home to Fauldhouse United. 21 February 2017. Daily Record. 14 October 2016.
  17. Web site: Huddlestone. Dave. Official Statement. FAULDHOUSE UNITED F.C. – Website. 21 February 2017. 21 February 2017. en.