Paul Rooney (footballer)
{{Short description|Irish association footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Paul Rooney
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Paul Laurence Michael Rooney{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf|title=Retained List 2016–17|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=English Football League}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|22|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2017-2018/flcham/millwall.htm |title=Football Squads - Millwall – 2017/2018|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=FootballSquads}}
|birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
|height = 1.93m{{Cite web|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/player/paul-rooney/|title=Paul Rooney – DOVER ATHLETIC FC}}
|position = Defender
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2014–2015
|youthclubs1 = St Patrick's Athletic
|years1 = 2015
|clubs1 = St Patrick's Athletic
|caps1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2016
|clubs2 = Bohemians
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2016–2018
|clubs3 = Millwall
|caps3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2016–2017
|clubs4 = → Torquay United (loan)
|caps4 = 6
|goals4 = 1
|years5 = 2018–2019
|clubs5 = Colchester United
|caps5 = 0
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2018
|clubs6 = → Bromley (loan)
|caps6 = 5
|goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2018–2019
|clubs7 = → Billericay Town (loan)
|caps7 = 17
|goals7 = 0
|years8 = 2019–2021
|clubs8 = Dover Athletic
|caps8 = 21
|goals8 = 1
|years9 = 2021–2023
|clubs9 = Havant & Waterlooville
|caps9 = 54
|goals9 = 4
|years10 = 2023–2024
|clubs10 = Dartford
|caps10 = 38
|goals10 = 3
|club-update = 07:10, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
}}
Paul Laurence Michael Rooney (born 22 March 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender. He is currently a free agent.
He spent his early senior career in his native Ireland at St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians before signing for the English club Millwall. He had a loan spell at Torquay United during the 2016–17 season and made a permanent switch to Colchester United in January 2018. He joined Bromley on a short-term loan deal in September 2018 and then Billericay Town on another loan in November 2018. He was released by Colchester at the end of his contract in the summer of 2019.
Career
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Rooney came through the youth setup at St Patrick's Athletic. He was a part of the team that won the national under-19 league in 2015 by beating Derry City 3–2 in the final in Buncrana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=6722|title=St Patrick's Athletic Win SSE Airtricity U19 League|date=25 April 2015|accessdate=9 December 2016|publisher=St Patrick's Athletic F.C.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-city/heartbreak-as-derry-city-lose-out-in-dramatic-u19-elite-league-final-1-6710193|title=Heartbreak as Derry City lose out in dramatic U19 Elite League Final|date=25 April 2015|accessdate=9 December 2016|author=Arthur Duffy|publisher=Derry Journal}}
His debut in senior football was on 22 September 2015, a 1–0 loss against Dundalk in the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Cup at Richmond Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/28288/1/|title=Live Updates - Leinster Senior Cup - St Patrick's Athletic -v- Dundalk|date=22 September 2015|accessdate=9 December 2016|publisher=Extra Time}} Rooney went on to be an unused substitute in another nine games for Pats in the 2015 season.{{soccerway|paul-rooney/401335|accessdate=2 December 2018}} He signed for Dublin rivals Bohemians ahead of the 2016 League of Ireland season. He made two appearances for the club, a 4–3 win over Dundalk, and a 1–0 win over UCD, both in the Leinster Senior Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.dundalkfc.com/lsc-bohs-4-3-dundalk/|title=LSC: Bohs 4-3 Dundalk - Dundalk Football Club|date=4 April 2016|accessdate=9 December 2016|publisher=Dundalk F.C.}}{{cite web|url=http://extratime.ie/matches/detail/29287/2/|title=Leinster Senior Cup Report: UCD 0 - 1 Bohemians|date=23 May 2016|accessdate=9 December 2016|author=Aaron Gallagher|publisher=Extra Time}}
Rooney signed for English club Millwall in July 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36707430|title=Paul Rooney: Millwall sign former Bohemians centre-back|date=4 July 2016|accessdate=8 November 2016|publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his Millwall debut on 8 November 2016 in a 3–1 win away to Luton Town in the Football League Trophy.
On 8 December 2016, Rooney signed a 28-day loan deal with National League club Torquay United.{{cite web|url=http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/millwall-defender-paul-rooney-joins-torquay-united-on-loan-3458663.aspx|title=Millwall defender Rooney joins Torquay United on loan|date=8 December 2016|accessdate=9 December 2016|publisher=Millwall F.C.}} His loan was extended by a further 28 days on 6 January 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/millwall-defender-rooney-extends-torquay-loan-3503914.aspx|title=Millwall defender Rooney extends Torquay loan|date=6 January 2017|accessdate=6 January 2017|publisher=Millwall F.C.}}
On 24 January 2018, Rooney signed for League Two side Colchester United on a one-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42808221|title=Colchester sign Millwall defender Rooney|date=24 January 2018|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}} He was called up to the first-team squad for the first time ahead of Colchester's League Two game against Yeovil Town on 17 March. He was given squad number 46.{{cite web|url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2018/march/rooney-called-up-for-yeovil-game/|title=Rooney Called Up For Yeovil Game|date=16 March 2018|accessdate=16 March 2018|author=Matt Hudson|publisher=Colchester United F.C.}}
On 4 September 2018, Rooney made his Colchester United debut starting in their 2–0 defeat by Southampton Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
On 28 September 2018, Rooney joined National League side Bromley on loan in an initial month-long deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/24064/paul-rooney-joins-bromley-on-short-term-loan-deal/ |title=Paul Rooney joins Bromley on short term loan deal |date=28 September 2018 |publisher=The Non-League Paper |accessdate=2 October 2018 }} He made his debut on 29 September in Bromley's 2–2 draw with FC Halifax Town.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45610452 |title=Bromley 2–2 FC Halifax Town |date=29 September 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=14 October 2018 }}
After his Bromley loan ended in November, Rooney joined National League South side Billericay Town on loan on 30 November.{{cite web |url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2018/november/rooney-heads-to-billericay/ |title=Rooney Heads To Billericay |last=Hudson |first=Matt |date=30 November 2018 |publisher=Colchester United FC |accessdate=2 December 2018 }} He made his debut on 1 December in a 3–2 defeat to Oxford City. His loan was extended until the end of the season on 4 January 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2019/january/rooney-extends-billericay-stay/ |title=Rooney Remains With Billericay |last=Hudson |first=Matt |date=4 January 2019 |publisher=Colchester United FC |accessdate=7 January 2019 }}
On 14 May 2019, it was announced Rooney was to leave Colchester United at the end of his contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2019/may/u23s-players-to-leave-the-us/ |title=U23s Players To Leave The U's |date=14 May 2019 |last=Hudson |first=Matt |publisher=Colchester United FC |accessdate=14 May 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Waldron |first=Jonathan |date=14 May 2019 |title=Colchester United under-23 players to leave the club |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport/17639035.colchester-united-under-23-players-to-leave-the-club/ |newspaper=Daily Gazette |location=Colchester |accessdate=14 May 2019 }}
In June 2019, he signed for Dover Athletic.{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/sport/dover-agree-rooney-deal-206322/|title=Dover agree Rooney deal|date=10 June 2019|website=Kent Online}} Following's Dover's decision to not play any more matches in the 2020–21 season, made in late January, and subsequent null and voiding of all results, on 5 May 2021 it was announced that Rooney was out of contract and had left the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/news/retained-and-released-list/|title=RETAINED AND RELEASED LIST|website=www.doverathletic.com|date=5 May 2021|accessdate=5 May 2021}}
On 22 May 2021, Rooney joined National League South side Havant & Waterlooville.{{cite web|url=https://www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/havant-and-waterlooville-fc-sign-paul-rooney-2/|title=Havant and Waterlooville FC Sign Paul Rooney|website=www.havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk|date=22 May 2021}}
On 25 May 2023, Rooney joined Dartford.{{cite web|url=https://www.dartfordfc.com/new-signing-paul-rooney/|title=NEW SIGNING : Paul Rooney|website=www.dartfordfc.com|date=25 May 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|23 April 2024}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| St Patrick's Athletic
|2015 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=LSC|Appearance(s) in Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bohemians
|2016 |LOI Premier Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=LSC}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| rowspan=3|Millwall
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|97106|2016|accessdate=24 January 2018}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|97106|2017|accessdate=24 January 2018}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Torquay United (loan)
|6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| rowspan=3|Colchester United
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|97106|2018|accessdate=27 July 2018}}
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bromley (loan)
|National League |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Billericay Town (loan)
|17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Dover Athletic
|National League |18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21
|National League |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Havant & Waterlooville
|National League South |25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|National League South |29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!54 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 58 | 4 | ||
| Dartford
|National League South |38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 6{{Efn|Three appearances in the London Senior Cup}}{{Efn|One appearance in the FA Trophy}}{{Efn|Two appearances in the Kent Senior Cup}} | 0 | 45 | 3 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!141 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 164 | 9 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rooney, Paul}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Millwall F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:Colchester United F.C. players
Category:Billericay Town F.C. players
Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players
Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players
Category:Dartford F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England