Paddy Connolly Explained

Paddy Connolly
Birth Date:25 June 1970
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Hamilton Thistle
Years1:1986–1996
Clubs1:Dundee United
Caps1:112
Goals1:29
Years2:1996–1998
Clubs2:Airdrie
Caps2:64
Goals2:19
Years3:1998–2004
Clubs3:St Johnstone
Caps3:109
Goals3:13
Years4:1999
Clubs4:Morton (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:5
Years5:2000
Clubs5:Ayr United (loan)
Caps5:6
Goals5:2
Years6:2004–2005
Clubs6:Ayr United
Caps6:34
Goals6:7
Years7:2005–2006
Clubs7:Stirling Albion
Caps7:36
Goals7:12
Years8:2006–2008
Clubs8:Brechin City
Caps8:30
Goals8:5
Years9:2008
Clubs9:Albion Rovers
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:396
Totalgoals:92
Nationalyears1:1990
Nationalteam1:Scotland U21[1]
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:2015
Managerclubs1:Alloa Athletic (caretaker)
Manageryears2:2015
Managerclubs2:Alloa Athletic (caretaker)

Patrick Connolly (born 25 June 1970) is a Scottish football player and coach. In a twenty-year playing career, he made over 100 appearances for both Dundee United and St Johnstone; he also played for Airdrieonians, Greenock Morton, Ayr United, Stirling Albion and Brechin City. He made three appearances for the Scotland under-21 team in 1990.

After retiring from playing, Connolly was assistant manager of Albion Rovers and Alloa Athletic, and was caretaker manager of Alloa on two occasions in 2015.

Playing career

Connolly was born in Glasgow. He started his career with Dundee United. He spent ten years at Tannadice, after which he joined Airdrie for a short time, before moving to St Johnstone in 1998. Connolly spent six years with the Saints, including short loan spells at Morton and Ayr United. Despite being sent out on loan, Connolly agreed a new three-year contract in May 2001, amidst interest from former manager and Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock.[2] Connolly missed the final year of his contract due to a cruciate ligament injury,[3] and upon leaving McDiarmid Park in 2004, returned to Ayr, where he spent a season before playing the following season with Stirling Albion. Connolly joined former Dundee United colleague Michael O'Neill at Brechin City in May 2006.[4]

Disallowed goal

During his time at Dundee United, Connolly was involved in one of Scottish football's more bizarre moments when he was denied a hat-trick in a February 1993 match against Partick Thistle at Firhill after referee Les Mottram failed to notice his shot had entered the goal and come back from the supporting stanchion. Despite Partick defender Martin Clark catching the ball and handing it to goalkeeper Andy Murdoch to restart, Mottram missed both the goal and handball to wave play on.[5] Connolly scored twice in the match in a 4–0 win. Mottram went on to officiate in the 1994 World Cup the following year. The incident resulted in the stanchions from which the ball had rebounded, previously widely used, being removed in a re-design of football goalposts.[6] In 2018, at the same end of the stadium, a similar incident occurred, with Partick Thistle this time being denied a legitimate goal.[7]

Coaching career

Connolly became assistant to brother-in-law Paul Martin at Albion Rovers in July 2008.[8] Nine months later, he left the club due to work commitments elsewhere, joining Fulham as a scout around November 2009.[9]

On 18 May 2011, Connolly was appointed assistant manager to Paul Hartley at Alloa Athletic.[10] He continued as assistant manager under Barry Smith and was appointed caretaker manager after Smith left the club in March 2015.[11] Connolly continued to work for Alloa under the management of Danny Lennon and was appointed caretaker when Lennon resigned in December 2015.[12]

Personal life

Connolly's son Aidan Connolly is a footballer who also played for Dundee United, before joining Raith Rovers in 2016.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee United1988–89Scottish Premier Division2020
1989–9015541196
1990–91102211031164
1991–92501060
1992–93421620334719
1993–94275202120336
1994–95602080
1995–96Scottish First Division512273
Airdrieonians1995–96Scottish First Division6363
1996–97358358
1997–98238238
St Johnstone1997–98Scottish Premier Division4040
1998–99Scottish Premier League911011112
1999–2000Scottish Premier League111111
2000–0121410224
2001–02Scottish Premier League2921020322
2002–03Scottish First Division3553110396
2003–0400
Morton (loan)1999–2000Scottish First Division5555
Ayr United (loan)2001–02Scottish First Division6262
Ayr United2004–05Scottish Second Division3473020397
Stirling Albion2005–06Scottish Second Division361221123915
Brechin City2006–07Scottish Second Division3055120376
Career total3969227519951447107

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paddy Connolly . www.fitbastats.com . 11 October 2012.
  2. News: Connolly boost for Saints. 25 May 2001. BBC Sport. 21 October 2008.
  3. News: Connolly blow for Saints. 19 August 2003. BBC Sport. 21 October 2008.
  4. News: Connolly joins O'Neill at Brechin. 30 May 2006. BBC Sport. 21 October 2008.
  5. Web site: Dundee United legend looks back on the goal that never was. BBC Sport. 30 January 2014 . 3 September 2018.
  6. Web site: Football's worst-ever referee blunders. Metro. 17 August 2009. 19 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Partick Thistle score ghost goal against Morton in Championship. BBC Sport. 2 September 2018. 3 September 2018.
  8. News: Connolly becomes Albion assistant. 17 July 2008. BBC Sport. 17 July 2008.
  9. News: Soccer Shorts. American Chronicle. 3 November 2009. 3 November 2009.
  10. http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/sport/alloaathletic/articles/2014/01/29/486545-alloa-athletic-caretaker-boss-paddy-connolly-insists-club-can-still-be-successful-this-season/ Alloa Advertiser
  11. News: Alloa Athletic chairman says Barry Smith's reign will help them attract top manager . Alloa Advertiser . 11 March 2015 . 15 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112303/http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/sport/alloaathletic/articles/2015/03/11/527060-alloa-athletic-chairman-says-barry-smiths-reign-will-help-them-attract-top-manager-/ . 2 April 2015 . dead .
  12. Web site: Dumbarton 5–0 Alloa . BBC Sport . BBC . 8 December 2015 . 9 December 2015 . Kenny . Crawford.