Karl Connolly
Encyclopedia
Karl Andrew Connolly is a former Wrexham, QPR
, and Swansea City
footballer.
, initially to play in a left-wing position. However, following the departure of Gary Bennett
to Tranmere Rovers
in 1995, Connolly was played as the main striker. Connolly went on to score 88 goals in 358 league games.
Connolly played in many of Wrexham's finest FA Cup
games, including the 2-1 win against Arsenal
, the 2-1 win against Ipswich Town
, the magnificent cup run of 1996-97, and the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough
in 1999.
on a bosman free transfer in the summber of 2000, where he played 72 League games scoring 12 goals, mostly from a left-wing position. Spells as Swansea City
and Prescot Cables
followed, and then he returned to the Wrexham
area, to play for NEWI Cefn Druids
in January 2008. He re-signed for Prescot in the summer of 2008. Joined Warrington Town in August 2009 and retired from the game in 2011 at the age of 41.
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
footballer.
Football career
Connolly started his football career at Napoli, in the Liverpool Sunday League, where he was spotted by a Wrexham scout, and was signed by the then Wrexham manager Brian FlynnBrian Flynn
Brian Flynn, is a Welsh football manager and former Welsh international player.On 13 September 2010 Flynn was confirmed caretaker manager of the Wales national football team after John Toshack stepped down...
, initially to play in a left-wing position. However, following the departure of Gary Bennett
Gary Bennett (footballer born 1962)
Gary Bennett was a professional footballer in the 1980s and 1990s. He played for six different clubs in the Football League, with the majority of appearances being made for Chester City and Wrexham....
to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
in 1995, Connolly was played as the main striker. Connolly went on to score 88 goals in 358 league games.
Connolly played in many of Wrexham's finest FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
games, including the 2-1 win against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, the 2-1 win against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, the magnificent cup run of 1996-97, and the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 1999.
After leaving Wrexham
Karl joined QPRQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on a bosman free transfer in the summber of 2000, where he played 72 League games scoring 12 goals, mostly from a left-wing position. Spells as Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
and Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
followed, and then he returned to the Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
area, to play for NEWI Cefn Druids
NEWI Cefn Druids F.C.
Cefn Druids A.F.C. is a football team based in the village of Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, Wales playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1992 from the amalgamation of Cefn Albion F.C. and Druids United F.C. Depending on sponsorship, the club was renamed Flexsys Cefn Druids F.C. in 1998, and...
in January 2008. He re-signed for Prescot in the summer of 2008. Joined Warrington Town in August 2009 and retired from the game in 2011 at the age of 41.