Karl Connolly
Karl Andrew Connolly (born 9 February 1970) is an English former footballer who played for Wrexham, Queens Park Rangers, and Swansea City.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Karl Andrew Connolly | ||
Date of birth | 9 February 1970 | ||
Place of birth | Prescot, England | ||
Position(s) | Winger/Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1991–2000 | Wrexham | 358 | (88) |
2000–2003 | Queens Park Rangers | 72 | (12) |
2003–2004 | Swansea City | 10 | (1) |
2004–2008 | Prescot Cables | ||
2008 | NEWI Cefn Druids | 12 | (3) |
2008–2009 | Prescot Cables | ||
2009–2011 | Warrington Town | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
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 Flynn, 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.
After leaving Wrexham
Karl joined Queens Park Rangers on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2000, where he played 72 League games scoring 12 goals, mostly from a left-wing position. He left QPR to join Swansea City in the summer of 2003. He went on to score twice for the club, with strikes coming against Bristol City in the League Cup[1] and Yeovil Town in the league.[2] A spell at 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.
References
- "Bristol City 4-1 Swansea aet". BBC. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- "Swansea 3-2 Yeovil". BBC. 28 December 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1996). The 1996–97 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-85291-571-1.