Tommy Connolly (footballer) explained

Tommy Connolly
Fullname:Thomas Connolly
Birth Date:1946
Death Date:27 July 2021 (aged 74)
Birth Place:Dundalk, County Louth, Leinster, Ireland
Death Place:Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, Ireland
Position:Inside forward
Youthclubs1:Rangers
Dundalk
Clubs1:Dundalk
Years1:1969–1973
Caps1:29
Goals1:1
Manageryears1:1975–1983
Managerclubs1:Dundalk (youth team)
Manageryears2:1984–1985
Managerclubs2:Dundalk
Manageryears3:1984–1990
Managerclubs3:Leinster (youth team)
Managerclubs4:Dundalk (assistant manager)
Manageryears4:1985–1997
Managerclubs5:Dundalk (joint manager)
Manageryears5:1997–1999

Thomas O. Connolly (1946 – 27 July 2021) was an Irish footballer and manager who enjoyed a 40-year association as player, youth team coach, assistant manager and first-team manager with Dundalk.[1]

Career

After starting out with Rangers in the Dundalk Minor League, Connolly joined the Dundalk youth team in the early 1960s. He made his first-team debut under Liam Tuohy in April 1970 against St Patrick's Athletic and went on to make a total of 29 appearances between 1970 and 1973.[2] In 1975, under Jim McLaughlin, he became manager of the club's youth squad before taking charge of the Leinster youth team between 1984 and 1990. Connolly undertook his first stint as Dundalk's first-team manager in 1984. He had a further four more periods in that role, either as caretaker or joint manager, right up to 2005. Connolly's managerial services were also in demand at national level and he held the position of manager with the Irish Technical Colleges (1991), FAI U15 and U16 (1993–1995), National League U23 (1996) and the National League U20 squad (1997).[3]

Honours

Player

Dundalk

1971–72

Manager

Dundalk

1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95

1987–88

1986–87, 1989–90

Notes and References

  1. News: Tributes paid as former Dundalk manager and Ireland underage coach Connolly passes away. The 42. 27 July 2021. 27 July 2021.
  2. News: Tommy Connolly profile. Dundalk FC Who's Who website. 27 July 2021. 27 July 2021.
  3. News: RIP Tommy Connolly. Dundalk FC website. 27 July 2021. 27 July 2021.