Aidan Connolly
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{for|the Irish fiddler|Aidan Connolly (fiddler)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aidan Connolly
| image = Aidan Connolly 13-08-2016 1.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Connolly playing for York City in 2016
| fullname = Aidan Charles Patrick Connolly{{cite web |url=http://www.dufcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=1380 |title=Aidan Connolly – Player profile |website=The DUFC Archive |publisher=Niall Harkiss & Bryan Orr |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813221816/http://www.dufcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=1380 |archivedate=13 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|8|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dundee, Scotland
| height = {{convert|1.65|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/aidan-connolly-253262/ |title=Aidan Connolly |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=12 December 2017}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Raith Rovers
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012
| youthclubs1 = Queen's Park
| years1 = 2012–2013
| clubs1 = Queen's Park
| caps1 = 23
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2013–2016
| clubs2 = Dundee United
| caps2 = 31
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2013
| clubs3 = → Brechin City (loan)
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = Raith Rovers
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2016–2018
| clubs5 = York City
| caps5 = 50
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2018–2019
| clubs6 = Dunfermline Athletic
| caps6 = 17
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2019–2021
| clubs7 = Falkirk
| caps7 = 30
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2021–
| clubs8 = Raith Rovers
| caps8 = 65
| goals8 = 18
| nationalyears1 = 2010
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 02:04, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
}}
Aidan Charles Patrick Connolly (born 15 August 1995) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{Scottish football updater|RaithRov}} club Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship.
Connolly began his career with Queen's Park before joining Dundee United in 2013, and also played for Brechin City on loan. He was released by Dundee United in January 2016, joining Raith Rovers shortly after. He spent two seasons with York City from 2016 to 2018, and one year with Dunfermline Athletic. He has represented Scotland at under-16 and under-19 level.
Early life
Connolly was born in Dundee on 15 August 1995, when his father Paddy Connolly was playing for Dundee United.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22762888 |title=Dundee Utd sign Queen's Park's Robertson and Connolly |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2013 |accessdate=2 July 2016}} He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire.{{cite news |title=Queen's Park youngster Aidan Connolly's big test is to be like his dad |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/queens-park-youngster-aidan-connollys-1544645 |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=19 January 2013 |accessdate=12 February 2018}}
Club career
Connolly started his career at Queen's Park, progressing through the club's youth system. He made his first-team debut in November 2012 whilst still at school.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} He was voted Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month for December 2012 after scoring three times since his first appearance.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/irn-bru-sfl-young-player-of-the-month---december-2012/ |title=Irn-bru SFL Young Player of the Month – December 2012 |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |date=25 January 2013 |accessdate=12 February 2018}}
Together with Queen's Park teammate Andrew Robertson, Connolly signed for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United in June 2013. He was sent out on a one-month loan to Brechin City in September 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.brechincity.com/bcfc/servlet/BCFCFrontControllerServlet?action=News&page_id=1384&category=2 |title=Brechin City – Dunfermline preview |first=John |last=Hoey |publisher=Brechin City F.C. |date=13 September 2013 |accessdate=12 February 2018}} After returning from Brechin, Connolly made his Dundee United debut as a late substitute in a 3–1 victory over Motherwell. At the start of the following season he signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28833252 |title=Dundee United: Deals for Paton, Connolly and Lochhead |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2014 |accessdate=2 July 2016}} Connolly made his first start and scored his first goal for Dundee United against Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup on 29 October 2014.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Retaining his place in the next match against St Mirren, he contributed to all three of United's goals on his first Premiership start.{{cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/122548/fatherly-advice-pays-off-for-dundee-uniteds-aidan-connolly/ |title=Fatherly advice pays off for Dundee United's Aidan Connolly |first=Neil |last=Robertson |newspaper=The Courier |location=Dundee |date=3 November 2014 |accessdate=2 July 2016}}
After making only one starting appearance during the 2015–16 season, Connolly was released from his Dundee United contract by mutual consent on 21 January 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/233058/dundee-united-agree-to-let-aidan-connolly-leave-by-mutual-consent/ |title=Dundee United agree to let Aidan Connolly leave by mutual consent |first=Ian |last=Roache |newspaper=The Courier |location=Dundee |date=21 January 2016 |accessdate=12 February 2018}} The following day, he joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on a contract until the end of 2015–16.{{cite web |url=http://www.raithrovers.net/23119/connolly-signs.htm |title=Connolly signs |publisher=Raith Rovers F.C. |date=22 January 2016 |accessdate=2 July 2016}}
On 28 June 2016, Connolly joined newly relegated National League club York City on a two-year contract, having previously played under manager Jackie McNamara at Dundee United.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14585045.Raith_winger_Aidan_Connolly_becomes_York_City_s_third_signing_of_the_day/ |title=Raith winger Aidan Connolly becomes York City's third signing of the day |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=2 July 2016}} On 21 May 2017, he came on as a 69th-minute substitute as York beat Macclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 FA Trophy Final, scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute after forcing Jon Parkin's shot over the line from centimetres out.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/15299972.York_City_lift_FA_Trophy_to_win_at_Wembley_for_a_fourth_time_in_their_history/ |title=York City lift FA Trophy to win at Wembley for a fourth time in their history |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=21 May 2017 |accessdate=22 May 2017}} Connolly was released by York at the end of 2017–18.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/16194647.Louis_Almond_and_Alex_Kempster_offered_new_deals_at_York_City__but_Aidan_Connolly_one_of_NINE_released/ |title=Louis Almond and Alex Kempster offered new deals at York City, but Aidan Connolly one of nine released |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=30 April 2018 |accessdate=2 May 2018}}
Connolly signed for Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on 20 June 2018 on a one-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/16302749.Pars_snap_up_winger_Aidan/ |title=Former Dundee United and York City player Aidan Connolly joins Dunfermline |first=Ross |last=Hart |newspaper=Dunfermline Press |date=20 June 2018 |accessdate=20 June 2018}} He left the club at the end of his contract{{cite web |url=https://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Player_Update_&ID=11225 |title=Player update |publisher=Dunfermline Athletic FC |date=6 May 2019 |accessdate=6 May 2019}} and signed for League One club Falkirk under his former Raith manager, Ray McKinnon.{{cite news |last1=Turnbull |first1=Craig |title=Connolly becomes a Bairn as McKinnon gets his man |url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/connolly-becomes-a-bairn-as-mckinnon-gets-his-man-1-4946209 |accessdate=27 June 2019 |work=www.falkirkherald.co.uk |date=12 June 2019}}
In 2021, Connolly returned to Raith Rovers on a two-year deal.{{Cite web |title=Aidan Connolly Signs For Raith Rovers {{!}} Raith Rovers FC |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/48352/aidan-connolly.htm |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=www.raithrovers.net}} After two successful seasons during which he was a vital player for the team, Connolly signed a new two-year deal in 2023, keeping him with Rovers until 2025.{{Cite web |title=Aidan Connolly signs on again at Stark's Park {{!}} Raith Rovers FC |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/61756/aidan-connolly-signs-on-again-at-starks-park.htm |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=www.raithrovers.net}}
International career
Connolly made one appearance for the Scotland under-16 team, against Jersey in 2010,{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=135667&lid=17 |title=Aidan Connolly: Squad: U16 squad |publisher=Scottish Football Association |accessdate=12 February 2018}} and one for the under-19 team, against Latvia in 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=135667&lid=9 |title=Aidan Connolly: Squad: U19 squad |publisher=Scottish Football Association |accessdate=12 February 2018}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|6 May 2019}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.dafc.co.uk/people.php?SID=First%20Team&ID=114 Profile] at the Dunfermline Athletic F.C. website
- {{SFA player|135667}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Raith Rovers F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Connolly, Aidan}}
Category:Footballers from Dundee
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Queen's Park F.C. players
Category:Dundee United F.C. players
Category:Brechin City F.C. players
Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players
Category:York City F.C. players
Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players