Connal Trueman

Trueman was born in Birmingham and attended King Edward VI Aston School. He joined Birmingham City's academy in 2007,{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20131127-blue-kid-on-the-block-connal-trueman-1199519.aspx |title=Blue kid on the block – Connal Trueman |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=27 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210201900/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20131127-blue-kid-on-the-block-connal-trueman-1199519.aspx |archive-date=10 December 2014}} and took up a scholarship in July 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/Files/TheFAPortal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2012.ashx |title=List of players registered as scholars in accordance with Rule C.3 between 01/07/2012 and 31/07/2012 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203215924/http://www.thefa.com/~/media/Files/TheFAPortal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2012.ashx |archive-date=3 February 2016}} He signed his first professional contract, of one year with the option of a second, in June 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140623-connal-trueman-signs-first-contract-1659980.aspx |title=Connal Trueman signs first contract |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=23 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718231335/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140623-connal-trueman-signs-first-contract-1659980.aspx |archive-date=18 July 2014}} When first-choice goalkeeper Darren Randolph had to miss the visit to Blackburn Rovers in October 2014 through suspension and previous third-choice Nick Townsend's loan had no recall clause, Trueman was given a squad number and a place among the substitutes;{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-news-colin-doyle-7967877 |title=And in other Birmingham City news... Colin Doyle will be in goal at Blackburn |first=Mat |last=Kendrick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=20 October 2014 |access-date=21 July 2018}} he remained unused. He then spent time on loan at Leamington, for whom he played twice in the Conference North and once in the FA Trophy.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, Birmingham took up their option for another year on Trueman's contract,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2015/quartet-offered-new-deals/ |title=Quartet offered new deals |first=Colin |last=Tattum |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=5 May 2015 |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180351/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2015/quartet-offered-new-deals/ |archive-date=10 February 2018}} and in April 2016, he signed a one-year contract, with the option for a further year.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/blues-trio-offered-new-deals |title=Blues trio offered new deals |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=27 April 2016 |access-date=4 September 2022}} He made his first appearance of the season in a matchday squad on 30 April, at home to Middlesbrough, when Adam Legzdins took over in goal after Tomasz Kuszczak underwent surgery on a broken nose, and kept his place on the bench for the last match of the campaign, away to Cardiff City.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/early-blues-team-news-ahead-of-cardiff-city-trip |title=Early Blues team news ahead of Cardiff City trip |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=4 May 2016 |access-date=4 September 2022}} In between, he was an unused substitute for the Birmingham reserve team that lost the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final to National League North champions Solihull Moors.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-senior-cup-final-birmingham-11291593 |title=Birmingham Senior Cup final: Birmingham City U21s 1 Solihull Moors 2 |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=5 May 2016 |access-date=21 July 2018}} On 13 September 2016, away to Reading, Kuszczak was injured during the warm-up, so Legzdins took his place in the starting eleven and Trueman was added to the substitutes. He retained his place in the matchday squad for a further four league matches while Kuszczak recovered.{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-birmingham-city-13-september-2016-319877/ |title=Reading v Birmingham City, 13 September 2016 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=21 July 2018}} He signed a new three-year contract in May 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39863909 |title=Connal Trueman: Birmingham City goalkeeper, 21, signs three-year contract |website=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=21 July 2018}}

When David Stockdale joined in 2018, Trueman dropped to fourth choice, and went on loan to Solihull Moors until January 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40267940 |title=David Stockdale: Birmingham City to sign Brighton and Hove Albion keeper on 1 July |website=BBC Sport |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=21 July 2018}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40728294 |title=Birmingham City: Connal Trueman and Dan Cleary join Solihull Moors on loan |website=BBC Sport |date=26 July 2017 |access-date=21 July 2018}} An injury to Stockdale in September left the club with only one fit professional goalkeeper (Legzdins was sold before the season started), so Trueman was recalled to act as backup to Kuszczak.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-end-youngsters-loan-13664216 |title=Birmingham City end youngster's loan because he is needed for injury cover |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=23 September 2017 |access-date=21 July 2018}} When Stockdale returned to the starting eleven in November, manager Steve Cotterill retained Trueman in the matchday squad,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-derby-afolayan-14165196 |title=Birmingham City monitoring non league striker Oladapo Afolayan – reports |first=Mat |last=Kendrick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=16 January 2018 |access-date=21 July 2018}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/garry-monk-jota-che-gallagher-14374229 |title=The Birmingham City players who could benefit most from Garry Monk's 'fresh start' |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=21 July 2018}} but when Garry Monk took over in March, he recalled Kuszczak to the bench.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43206627 |title=Birmingham City 0–1 Middlesbrough |website=BBC Sport |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=21 July 2018}}

At the end of the season, Monk told both Stockdale and Kuszczak they were free to find other clubs, and neither took part in the first team's pre-season training.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-monk-austria-transfers-summer-14874211 |title=Birmingham City jet off on tour to Austria – leaving these players behind |first=Mat |last=Kendrick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=7 July 2018 |access-date=21 July 2018}} A bid for Ipswich Town's Bartosz Białkowski came to nothing, and Trueman went through pre-season as first-choice goalkeeper.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/garry-monk-sticks-guns-remains-14967192 |title=Garry Monk sticks to his guns but remains keen for Birmingham City transfers |first=Alex |last=Dicken |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=30 July 2018 |access-date=30 July 2018}} He made his Football League debut in the starting eleven for the opening match of Birmingham's 2018–19 season, a 2–2 draw at home to Norwich City in the Championship,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989041 |title=Birmingham City 2–2 Norwich City |website=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2018 |access-date=4 August 2018}} and despite the arrival of the experienced Lee Camp kept his place for the visit to Middlesbrough. According to the Birmingham Mail, Trueman "had no chance with a superbly struck goal but [was] all at sea on a couple of occasions",{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-birmingham-player-ratings-monk-15018547 |title=How Birmingham City's players rated against Middlesbrough |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=7 May 2019}} and Camp took over for the next match and the rest of the season, with Trueman as a regular on the bench.{{soccerbase season|34367|2018|name=Lee Camp|access-date=5 May 2019}} With Birmingham safe from relegation, he was due to start the final match of the season, away to Reading, but illness prevented his appearance.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-transfers-youth-players-16241978 |title=Harding, Lakin and Bellingham – The pipeline pumping the talent through Birmingham City |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=18 May 2019}}

Trueman signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the 2019–20 season,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/trueman-signs-new-contract |title=Trueman signs new contract |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=30 July 2019 |access-date=4 September 2022}} which he began as third choice, with Camp in the team and Stockdale on the bench. He came into the matchday squad in late October after Stockdale was injured in training,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-injury-news-latest-17179025 |title='Recovery' – latest Birmingham City injury news ahead of Cardiff City trip |first1=Brian |last1=Dick |first2=Jonny |last2=Bonell |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=2 November 2019 |access-date=4 August 2020}} and after Camp made mistakes that cost the team points,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-transfer-news-january-17239551 |title=January transfers, Lee Camp selection & Jude Bellingham – key Birmingham City questions answered |first1=Brian |last1=Dick |first2=Mark |last2=Wakefield |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=16 November 2019 |access-date=4 August 2020}} made his first appearance of the season on 23 November away to Huddersfield Town. He performed well enough to keep his place,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/proof-verdict-how-birmingham-city-17307487 |title='Proof' – Our verdict on how Birmingham City rookie Connal Trueman did after replacing Lee Camp |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=24 November 2019 |access-date=4 August 2020}} and held it for ten matches, but after he and the team conceded five goals to Leeds United and then three against Hull City, Camp was recalled for his ability to organise his defence{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/explained-lee-camp-back-birmingham-17559585 |title=Explained: Why Lee Camp is back in Birmingham City's first team |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=13 January 2020 |access-date=4 August 2020}} and retained for the rest of the season.

On 4 August 2020, the day after Camp left Birmingham at the end of his contract, Trueman joined League One club AFC Wimbledon for the 2020–21 campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53655404 |title=Connal Trueman: AFC Wimbledon sign Birmingham City goalkeeper on a season's loan |website=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2020 |access-date=4 August 2020}} He was given squad number 1, and began his loan in the starting eleven for the opening match of the season, a 2–1 win at home to Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy.{{cite web |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/september/roscrow-off-the-mark-as-dons-march-to-trophy-win/ |title=Roscrow off the mark as Dons march to Trophy win |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |date=1 September 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020}} After appearing in 22 matches for the Dons, Trueman was recalled by Birmingham on 8 January 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2021/january/connal-goes-back-to-birmingham/ |title=Connal returns to Birmingham |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |date=8 January 2021 |access-date=9 January 2021}} Trueman was an unused substitute for Birmingham once in mid-January in the absence of regular backup goalkeeper Andrés Prieto,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-team-aitor-karanka-19734658 |title=This is the Birmingham City team Aitor Karanka has picked to face Coventry City |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=1 March 2021}} and on 1 March, he joined League One club Swindon Town on an emergency loan.{{cite web |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/march/connal-trueman-signs-on-emergency-loan/ |title=Connal Trueman signs on emergency loan |publisher=Swindon Town F.C. |date=1 March 2021 |access-date=1 March 2021}} He started four matches, all defeats, before returning to his parent club.

Having been a regular on Birmingham's bench as backup to loanee Matija Sarkic in the 2021–22 season while Etheridge recovered from COVID-19,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-injury-neil-etheridge-21782251 |title='Thank God' – Birmingham City issue update on key absentee |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 October 2021 |access-date=20 May 2022}} Trueman joined League One club Oxford United on an emergency loan on 23 November 2021,{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/19736797.oxford-united-sign-birminghams-connal-trueman-emergency-loan/ |title=Oxford United sign Birmingham's Connal Trueman on emergency loan |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=23 November 2021 |access-date=23 November 2021}} and played twice. When Sarkic's loan spell was ended by a dislocated shoulder,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59896653 |title=Matija Sarkic: Birmingham City goalkeeper to miss rest of season with dislocated shoulder |website=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2022 |access-date=20 May 2020}} Trueman resumed his place on the bench as backup to Etheridge. He was used once, playing the last 20 minutes of the visit to Nottingham Forest in April 2022 after Etheridge was knocked unconscious in collision with Djed Spence; he conceded shortly after coming on, as Birmingham lost 2–0,{{cite news |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/neil-etheridge-injury-update-forest-6930877 |title=Neil Etheridge update after Birmingham City goalkeeper injured vs Nottingham Forest |first=Amie |last=Wilson |newspaper=Nottingham Post |date=9 April 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022}} and Zach Jeacock took over the starting role for the next two matches.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-team-news-millwall-23747454 |title=Birmingham City boosted by key return for Millwall clash as Lee Bowyer provides Tahith Chong update |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=21 April 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022}}

After 15 years with the club, Trueman was released by Birmingham when his contract expired at the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-transfers-pedersen-bela-24016285 |title=The glaring hole revealed by Birmingham City's released and retained list |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=20 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022}}

Trueman joined Championship club Millwall on 4 August 2022 on a short-term contract running until January 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62428058 |title=Connal Trueman: Millwall sign former Birmingham City goalkeeper on short-term deal |website=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022}} His contract was extended twice, initially for the remainder of the 2022–23 season and then for a further two years.{{cite web |url=https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/23/goalkeeping-trio-sign-new-millwall-contracts/ |title=Goalkeeping trio sign new Millwall contracts |publisher=Millwall F.C. |date=23 January 2023 |access-date=7 October 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://southwarknews.co.uk/sport/football/millwall/millwall-goalkeeper-has-contract-extended/ |title=Millwall goalkeeper has contract extended |newspaper=Southwark News |date=3 July 2023 |access-date=7 October 2024}}

Trueman joined League One club Crawley Town on 7 October 2024 on a seven-day emergency loan.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c625np8pg2qo |title=Crawley sign Millwall keeper Trueman for seven days |website=BBC Sport |date=7 October 2024 |access-date=7 October 2024}} He played twice, and rejoined Crawley on loan on 6 November, again to cover the international break.{{cite web |url=https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2024/november/05/connal-trueman-re-joins-crawley-town-on-seven-day-loan/ |title=Connal Trueman re-joins Crawley Town on seven-day loan |publisher=Millwall F.C. |date=5 November 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024}}

Trueman signed for League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on 3 February 2025.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c78wx4l5lvjo |title=MK Dons loan Villa's Patterson, striker Orsi & sign keeper Trueman |website=BBC Sport |date=3 February 2025 |access-date=4 February 2025}}

On 24 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new contract.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-24 |title=Connal Trueman: MK Dons goalkeeper signs new deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cql0d191y3do |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

{{updated|5 April 2025}}

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{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trueman, Connal}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:Birmingham City F.C. players

Category:Leamington F.C. players

Category:Solihull Moors F.C. players

Category:AFC Wimbledon players

Category:Swindon Town F.C. players

Category:Oxford United F.C. players

Category:Millwall F.C. players

Category:Crawley Town F.C. players

Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:English Football League players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen