Tony Connell
{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1944–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tony Connell
| image =
| full_name = Anthony Connell
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|1|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|30|1944|1|27|df=y}}
| height =
| position = Full-back
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Strathclyde
| years2 = 1963–1967
| clubs2 = Third Lanark
| caps2 = 91
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1967–1971
| clubs3 = St Mirren
| caps3 = 114
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 1971–1974
| clubs4 = Queen of the South
| caps4 = 59
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 1974–1976
| clubs5 = Pollok
}}
Anthony Connell (27 January 1944 – 30 December 2024) was a Scottish football player and coach. A full-back, he played for Third Lanark, St Mirren and Queen of the South in the Scottish Football League and also played Junior football with Pollok for his final two seasons, then coached them for one season after his retirement.
Playing career
Connell was born in Govan; he started his senior career with Third Lanark in 1963, moving from local junior team Strathclyde alongside Alan Mackay. The Cathkin Park club were relegated to Scottish Division Two in his second season. He played 91 times for Thirds, scoring once before moving to St Mirren after Thirds went bust in 1967 (he had played in the club's final game against Dumbarton).{{cite news
| url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/thirdlanark/thirdlanark.html
| title = THIRD LANARK : 1946/47 - 1966/67
| publisher = Neil Brown
| date =
| accessdate = 8 June 2012}}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09qc907/third-lanark Third Lanark] [documentary], BBC Alba, 27 January 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2021 Saints won promotion to Scottish Division One in his first season with the club as they won the league. He was named their Player of the Year in 1969–70, before leaving at the end of the next season. He made a total of 114 appearances scoring once.{{cite news
| url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/stmirren/stmirren.html
| title = ST. MIRREN : 1946/47 - 2010/11
| publisher = Neil Brown
| date =
| accessdate = 8 June 2012}} He joined Queen of the South in Division Two in 1971 and left in 1974, playing 59 games and scoring once.{{cite news
| url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/queenofthesouth/queenofthesouth.html
| title = QUEEN OF THE SOUTH : 1946/47 - 2010/11
| publisher = Neil Brown
| date =
| accessdate = 8 June 2012}} After this he played for Pollok for two seasons, then coached the junior club for a further season.
In 2007, he was inducted into the St Mirren hall of fame.{{cite news
| url = http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-sport/renfrewshire-football/renfrewshire-football-st-mirren/2007/11/30/love-street-favourite-joins-exclusive-club-87085-20185471/
| title = LOVE STREET FAVOURITE JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB
| publisher = Paisley Daily Express
| date = 30 November 2007
| accessdate = 8 June 2012}}
Personal life and death
Connell was a part-time footballer and also worked for Glasgow Corporation Housing Department throughout his career. He died peacefully on 30 December 2024, at the age of 80.{{cite web |title=Some sad news for us "oldies" Ex QoS. Player Tony Connell has passed away. |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/193037327048/posts/10162880166272049 |website=Ian Mundell on Facebook |access-date=2 January 2025 |date=31 December 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Taylor |title=Saints Hall of Famer Tony was a true gent... his memory will live on with Buddies young and old |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/paisley-daily-express/20250104/281565181392147 |access-date=5 January 2025 |publisher=Paisley Daily Express |date=4 January 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{St Mirren F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Connell, Tony}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Glasgow
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:Third Lanark A.C. players
Category:Queen of the South F.C. players
Category:St Mirren F.C. players