James Connolly (footballer)
 Connolly at Bristol Rovers in 2022. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Alfred Connolly[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 November 2001 | ||
| Position(s) | Central defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Blackburn Rovers | |||
| 2020–2021 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Cardiff City | 0 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2022–2024 | Bristol Rovers | 41 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | → Morecambe (loan) | 13 | (2) |
| 2024– | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Wales U21 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:04, 8 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:24, 15 June 2022 | |||
James Alfred Connolly (born 2 November 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a central defender for EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra. He is a former Wales under-21 international.
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Connolly began his career with Blackburn Rovers, signing a two-year scholarship contract with the club in June 2018.[2] Despite missing the majority of the 2019–20 season through an injury sustained in October 2019, Connolly had his scholarship extended by a further year[3] being released by the club at the end of the following season.[4] In June 2021, Connolly signed with Cardiff City.[citation needed] Connolly was retained by the club ahead of the 2022–23 season.[5]
Bristol Rovers
[edit]On 8 January 2022, Connolly joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[6] He made his senior debut later that day in a 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Peterborough United, and his league debut came on 22 January 2022.[7] Connolly formed a solid defensive partnership with fellow Championship loanee Connor Taylor, being praised for his composure on the ball and his ability to adapt to the physical demands of League Two football.[8] Connolly scored a first senior goal in a vital match against promotion rivals Port Vale, turning home an Antony Evans cross to give Rovers the lead having fallen behind early on, Rovers going on to win 3–1.[9] Connolly's first season in professional football ended in success as Rovers were promoted on the final day of the season, a 7–0 victory moving Bristol Rovers into third place, beating Northampton Town to automatic promotion on goals scored.[10]
He re-joined Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal, transferring for an undisclosed sum, in June 2022, signing a three-year contract.[11] On 6 August 2022, Connolly scored his first goal since returning to the club on a permanent basis with the second in a 4–0 thrashing of Burton Albion.[12] On 27 August 2022, it was revealed that Connolly had suffered a stress fracture in his back that would see him out of action for a 'long period'.[13] On 29 October, Connolly made his return to first-team football as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Derby County.[14]
On 31 August 2023, Connolly joined League Two club Morecambe on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.[15] He was recalled by his parent club on 3 January 2024.[16]
Crewe Alexandra
[edit]On 1 August 2024, Connolly joined League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a two-year deal.[17] He made his debut in the side's league 1–0 defeat away at Barrow.[18]
International career
[edit]In May 2022, Connolly was called up to the Wales U21 team for the first time for the final 2023 U21 European Championship qualifiers against the Netherlands and Gibraltar.[19] Connolly made his debut in the latter of these matches as Wales won 2–0.[20]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 7 September 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cardiff City | 2021–22[7] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2021–22[7] | League Two | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2022–23[21] | League One | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | 36 | 2 |
| 2023–24[22] | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 2 | ||
| Morecambe (loan) | 2023–24[22] | League Two | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2024–25[23] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Career total | 81 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 96 | 5 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
Honours
[edit]Bristol Rovers
- League Two promotion: 2021–22[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "SQUAD LIST 2022/23 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Introducing the class of 2018". www.rovers.co.uk. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "The pathway is there for the youngsters". www.rovers.co.uk. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Rovers confirm Retain List". www.rovers.co.uk. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "2021/22 Retained List". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers sign Cardiff's Connolly" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c "Games played by James Connolly in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Williams, Glen (13 April 2022). "The mightily impressive Cardiff City defender who was chucked in at deep end and thrived". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Port Vale 1–3 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Cardiff's Connolly completes Bristol Rovers move" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Burton Albion 0–4 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ "James Connolly: Bristol Rovers defender out injured for 'long period'". BBC Sport. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Derby County 4–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Connolly joins Shrimps on season-long loan". www.morecambefc.com. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "James Connolly Recalled From Morecambe F.C Loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Crewe sign defender Connolly from Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Barrow 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Cymru Squad Announced for Final U21 Euro Qualifiers". www.faw.cymru. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Cymru U21 finish campaign with a win". www.faw.cymru/en. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Games played by James Connolly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Games played by James Connolly in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Games played by James Connolly in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
External links
[edit]- James Connolly at Soccerbase
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