Roy McConnell (footballer)
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Roy McConnell
| image =
| fullname = Harold Roy McConnell
| birth_date = 21 August 1927
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|7|24|1927|8|21|df=yes}}
| death_place = Queensland
| originalteam = Ascot Imperials
| height = 188 cm
| weight = 76 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1956
| years1 = 1949–1956
| club1 = Essendon
| games_goals1 = 135 (0)
| careerhighlights = * Essendon premiership player 1949, 1950
}}
Harold Roy McConnell (21 August 1927 – 24 July 2003) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family
He married Patricia Mae Carter on 29 October 1951.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23088666 Essendon League Star Marries, The Argus, (Monday, 29 October 1951), p3.]
Football
He played for Essendon in the VFL.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178189706 Kerville, Ben, "Looks Shy—Acts Tough", The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 22 July 1953), p.2.]
::[McConnell was] a strong, dashing defender. He was well known as close playing spoiler with good spring and unexpected speed in his long legs. Surprisingly, he had a vision range of not much more than fifty yards, but this never affected his play. He had a remarkable ability for such a big man and was a top full back and centre half back during his career. He was a member of the 1949 and 1950 premiership teams and burst into League prominence by beating Carlton star, Jack Howell, in the 1949 grand final.Maplestone (1996), p.179.
Controversial retirement
McConnell retired, controversially, at the end of the 1956 season.
Vice-Captain of the senior team, and its regular full-back, McConnell was selected as its 20th man in the last match of the season, against Geelong.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71652368 League Teams for Tomorrow: Essendon v. Geelong, (Friday, 17 August 1956), p.20.]
::"He withdrew from the team [announcing his immediate retirement on the Friday] claiming that his form warranted a place in the eighteen. 'I have no grudge against Essendon, but I consider that I could have had a better go this season', he said."Maplestone (1996), p.178.
The first emergency, John Towner, was appointed 20th man for the match.
Essendon Football Club
McConnell served on the Essendon Football Club's Committee (1957-1965), was its secretary (1973-1979), following the retirement of Bill Cookson, and was its first general manager (1980).Maplestone (1996), p.421.Barry Capuano replaced McConnell served as general manager from 1981 to 1988 (Maplestone, 1996, p.417).
Footnotes
{{Reflist}}
References
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. {{ISBN|0-9591740-2-8}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables | R/Roy_McConnell }}
- {{AustralianFootball | roy+mcconnell/7790 }}
- [http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=565#profile Roy McConnell's profile at Essendon FC]
- [http://boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Roy+McConnell Boyles Football Photos: Roy McConnell.]
{{1949/50 Essendon dual premiership players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McConnell, Roy}}
Category:Essendon Football Club players
Category:Essendon Football Club premiership players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-1920s-stub}}