Mike Conroy (footballer born 1965)
Encyclopedia
Michael Kevin Conroy is a Scottish former professional football
er. He played as a striker
.
Conroy began his career with Coventry City
in 1983. Unable to break into the first team, he moved back to his native Scotland in 1984 to sign with Clydebank
on a free transfer. In three years with the Bankies, he made 114 league appearances and scored 38 goals.
In 1987 he joined St. Mirren
for ten months, scoring one goal in ten appearances for the Buddies.
He returned south of the border
in 1988 to join Reading
in a £50,000 deal. He spent three years at Elm Park
, before moving to Burnley
in 1991, where the most prolific scoring period of his career would begin.
In his two years with Burnley, Conroy scored 30 goals in 77 league appearances.
Conroy joined Burnley's Lancashire
rivals Preston North End
in 1993 for £85,000. He went on to score 22 goals in 57 appearances for North End and briefly played alongside a young David Beckham
.
In 1995 he joined Fulham
, and scored 32 goals in almost 100 appearances for the Craven Cottage
club.
After three years in London, Conroy moved back to Lancashire to join Blackpool
for a £50,000 fee. He made fourteen appearances for the Seasiders but failed to find the net. In December 1998 he was loaned out to Chester City
, for whom he scored three goals in ten appearances. He returned to the Blues, again on loan, a month after his first period expired.
After leaving Blackpool in 1999, Conroy moved to Australia to play for Carlton
.
In 2000 he joined Eastern Pride, with whom he finished his playing career when they went out of business the following year.
Conroy is currently the senior coach at Doncaster Rovers Soccer Club in the Victorian State League Division 2. He began his coaching career as reserve-team coach at Doncaster Rovers.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Conroy began his career with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in 1983. Unable to break into the first team, he moved back to his native Scotland in 1984 to sign with Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
on a free transfer. In three years with the Bankies, he made 114 league appearances and scored 38 goals.
In 1987 he joined St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
for ten months, scoring one goal in ten appearances for the Buddies.
He returned south of the border
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1988 to join Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in a £50,000 deal. He spent three years at Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
, before moving to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in 1991, where the most prolific scoring period of his career would begin.
In his two years with Burnley, Conroy scored 30 goals in 77 league appearances.
Conroy joined Burnley's Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
rivals Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 1993 for £85,000. He went on to score 22 goals in 57 appearances for North End and briefly played alongside a young David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
.
In 1995 he joined Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, and scored 32 goals in almost 100 appearances for the Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
club.
After three years in London, Conroy moved back to Lancashire to join Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
for a £50,000 fee. He made fourteen appearances for the Seasiders but failed to find the net. In December 1998 he was loaned out to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, for whom he scored three goals in ten appearances. He returned to the Blues, again on loan, a month after his first period expired.
After leaving Blackpool in 1999, Conroy moved to Australia to play for Carlton
Carlton S.C.
Carlton Soccer Club is a defunct Australian association football club. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1997/98 season until round eight of the 2000/2001 season, after which it folded. The club was strongly linked to the Carlton Australian Rules club, and suffered from poor...
.
In 2000 he joined Eastern Pride, with whom he finished his playing career when they went out of business the following year.
Conroy is currently the senior coach at Doncaster Rovers Soccer Club in the Victorian State League Division 2. He began his coaching career as reserve-team coach at Doncaster Rovers.