John Connolly (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Connolly is a Scottish
former internationalist association footballer who later worked as a football manager.
Connolly played for St. Johnstone of Perth
, Everton
, Birmingham City
, Newcastle United
, Hibernian
, Gateshead
and Blyth Spartans during an 18-year playing career. He earned one full international cap for Scotland
. He held the role of player-manager while with Blyth and has also managed Whitley Bay
, Queen of the South
winning two trophies and then St Johnstone
.
, Scotland
. He began his football career as a junior with Glasgow United F.C. before turning professional with St. Johnstone in January 1968. He played in the 1969 Scottish League Cup
final at Hampden Park
against a Celtic
side on their way to their second European Cup final in four seasons. Saints lost narrowly 1–0 with Connolly later commenting, "We gave them the fright of their lives". With Connolly, Saints plundered league wins at Ibrox Park and Celtic Park
.
John Connolly's only experience of playing European club football occurred while at St Johnstone after finishing third in Scotland's top division. St Johnstone knocked out Hamburger SV
.
Nobby Clark
in an interview said that the most difficult opponent that he ever played against was John Connolly.
paid £75,000 to take Connolly to Goodison Park
in March 1972. Such was Catterick's determination to conclude the signing that he forced himself off his sick bed.
While at Everton, Connolly earned a full international cap playing for Scotland against Switzerland
in Bern. Connolly already had four under-23 caps.
Connolly twice had to comeback from leg breaks. Catterick was replaced by Billy Bingham
and the two did not see eye to eye. Eventually, Connolly asked for a transfer and signed for Birmingham City
in September 1977 for a fee of £90,000.
. He later played for Hibernian
, Gateshead
and Blyth Spartans, where he acted as player-manager.
club Queen of the South
in July 2000 and he in turn appointed Iain Scott
as his assistant. With the captaincy of Jim Thomson and Andy Aitken
another defensive mainstay, Connolly led the club to the Scottish Second Division title in 2002, clinched with a 3–0 win away to Forfar Athletic
. This made Connolly the first manager to give Queens a national competition victory since Jimmy McKinnell, Jr. with the same competition in 1951.
The following season Connolly's Queens side won the Scottish Challenge Cup after defeating Brechin City
2–0 in the final at Clyde
's Broadwood Stadium. Robbie Neilson
and Andy Goram
were among those lining up beside Thomson for Queens.
When Connolly left QoS Scott was promoted to replace him as Queens manager.
as manager of former club St Johnstone
, with his former assistant Iain Scott taking over at Queens. After a disappointing first season, Connolly was sacked from his position with St Johnstone on 4 April 2005, with the team finishing in 8th place and only avoiding relegation in the last few weeks of the season. He was succeeded by Owen Coyle
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former internationalist association footballer who later worked as a football manager.
Connolly played for St. Johnstone of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
and Blyth Spartans during an 18-year playing career. He earned one full international cap for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He held the role of player-manager while with Blyth and has also managed Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay F.C.
Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...
, Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
winning two trophies and then St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
.
St. Johnstone
Connolly was born in BarrheadBarrhead
Barrhead is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, southwest of Glasgow on the edge of the Gleniffer Braes. As of the 2001 census its population was 19,813....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He began his football career as a junior with Glasgow United F.C. before turning professional with St. Johnstone in January 1968. He played in the 1969 Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
final at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
against a Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
side on their way to their second European Cup final in four seasons. Saints lost narrowly 1–0 with Connolly later commenting, "We gave them the fright of their lives". With Connolly, Saints plundered league wins at Ibrox Park and Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
.
John Connolly's only experience of playing European club football occurred while at St Johnstone after finishing third in Scotland's top division. St Johnstone knocked out Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
.
Nobby Clark
Nobby Clark (footballer)
Nobby Clark is a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Partick Thistle and then served Queen of the South as both player and manager.With Partick Thistle, Clark scored a single goal in a 1-1 draw against Rangers...
in an interview said that the most difficult opponent that he ever played against was John Connolly.
Everton
Everton manager Harry CatterickHarry Catterick
Harry Catterick was an English football player and manager. As a player Catterick played for Everton and Crewe Alexandra, in a career that was interrupted by World War II, but he is most notable as a manager...
paid £75,000 to take Connolly to Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
in March 1972. Such was Catterick's determination to conclude the signing that he forced himself off his sick bed.
While at Everton, Connolly earned a full international cap playing for Scotland against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in Bern. Connolly already had four under-23 caps.
Connolly twice had to comeback from leg breaks. Catterick was replaced by Billy Bingham
Billy Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
and the two did not see eye to eye. Eventually, Connolly asked for a transfer and signed for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in September 1977 for a fee of £90,000.
Later career
Connolly spent two seasons with Birmingham, the second of which was disrupted by injury, before joining Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. He later played for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
and Blyth Spartans, where he acted as player-manager.
Queen of the South
Connolly was appointed manager of DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in July 2000 and he in turn appointed Iain Scott
Iain Scott
Iain Scott is an Englishman best known as an association football manager and coach.-Coaching and Management Career:John Connolly was appointed manager of Dumfries club Queen of the South in July 2000 and appointed Scott as his assistant manager...
as his assistant. With the captaincy of Jim Thomson and Andy Aitken
Andy Aitken (footballer born 1978)
Andrew "Andy" Robert Aitken is a Scottish professional footballer who made over 300 appearances for Queen of the South. A left sided central defender, he also played for Gretna and Ayr United...
another defensive mainstay, Connolly led the club to the Scottish Second Division title in 2002, clinched with a 3–0 win away to Forfar Athletic
Forfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
. This made Connolly the first manager to give Queens a national competition victory since Jimmy McKinnell, Jr. with the same competition in 1951.
The following season Connolly's Queens side won the Scottish Challenge Cup after defeating Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
2–0 in the final at Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
's Broadwood Stadium. Robbie Neilson
Robbie Neilson
Robbie Neilson is a Scottish internationalist professional association footballer who plays as a right back or centre back. He is currently contracted to Dundee United until the end of the 2010-11 season. Neilson started his league career with Heart of Midlothian, for whom he made 200 Scottish...
and Andy Goram
Andy Goram
Andrew Lewis Goram is a former Scotland international association football goalkeeper. He started his career with Oldham Athletic and Hibernian, but he is best remembered for playing for Rangers during the 1990s, when he earned the moniker "The Goalie"...
were among those lining up beside Thomson for Queens.
When Connolly left QoS Scott was promoted to replace him as Queens manager.
St. Johnstone
Connolly left Queens in May 2004 to replace Billy StarkBilly Stark
Billy Stark is a Scottish football former player and coach. He is currently head coach of the Scotland national under-21 football team.- Player :...
as manager of former club St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
, with his former assistant Iain Scott taking over at Queens. After a disappointing first season, Connolly was sacked from his position with St Johnstone on 4 April 2005, with the team finishing in 8th place and only avoiding relegation in the last few weeks of the season. He was succeeded by Owen Coyle
Owen Coyle
Owen Columba Coyle is a Scottish-born Irish international former professional player and professional association football manager . He is currently the manager of Bolton Wanderers....
.