Paddy Connolly

Name: Patrick Connolly

DOB: 22/06/70

POB: Glasgow

Position: Striker

Clubs: Dundee United, Airdrieonians, St Johnstone, Greenock
Morton, Ayr United, Stirling Albion, Brechin
City

International caps: 3 (under-21)

Connolly came onto the scene in the late 80’s as part of the
almost familial United youth team that promised to lead the club into the next
glorious chapter in their history but ultimately would fail to live up to
expectations and drop a league; much like Connolly’s own career.

After a couple of sub appearances marked his first season
around the first-team squad, Connolly stated his intent the following year by
netting a particularly impressive five goals in 15 games playing to role of
impact sub and dependable squad player. This role continued into the next
campaign, although with a reduction in playing time, as he netted four goals in
16 games in all competitions. Around the time he was also called up and capped
by Scotland
under-21s and United appeared to have some hot young property on their hands.

Then injuries, a loss of form and increased competition for
places saw the 1991/92 campaign turn into a massive disappointment. Connolly
played only six competitive games all season and finished with a zero in the
goals scored column. However, it appeared a small hiccup when he blasted onto
the scene the next year, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, playing in 42
league games and being an almost ever present in the United side. In hindsight
this was the start of a trend that would plague Connolly his whole career; just
when you thought he was ready to make a true name for himself in the top flight
he would revert back to poor form, and just when you thought his career was
going to wither and die he would summon performances from deep inside that had
everyone believing his talents once more.

Although, it would be during this year when Connolly and his
United teammates were subjected to one of the most bizarre refereeing decision
in modern day football history. In an away match at Partick Thistle the striker
reacted quickest in the penalty area to stab home a knockdown following a
corner. The ball flew high into the corner of the net and bounced back over the
line after hitting the stanchion. These types of decisions had been missed
before, most notably a Clive Allen free-kick in an English First Division game,
with referee’s unable to decipher whether the ball had struck post, bar or the
inside framework of the goal. Peculiarly in this case, however, referee Les
Mottram then chose to ignore a Partick Thistle defender catching the ball on
its’ rebound and handing it to the goalkeeper to boot upfield for the restart.
Goal? Penalty? Red Card? Nope, play-on!

Luckily for the team the story would have a happy ending with
them comfortably winning the game; unfortunately the same couldn’t be side for
the “goalscorer” and his time at United. The club persisted with him the
following season but six goals in 33 games was all the return they got and
Connolly found himself looking on as his teammates celebrated winning the
Scottish Cup at the conclusion of a disappointing 10 months. In the club’s
relegation season he was only trusted with eight first team appearances and
found himself being sold to Airdrie soon after.

Without the intensity of the Premier Division the striker
flourished; finally showing over a two year period that he could play
consistently. It was enough persuasion for St Johnstone that he did have what
it takes to succeed in the top flight and they signed him in March 1998.

The recidivist soon saw a return to his Tannadice form after
struggling with the step up in class, and with the £250,000 price it had taken
to prize him from Airdrie acting as a burden around his neck. Supporters were
already grumbling from the fleeting glimpses of his play that they were
subjected to at the end of the 1997/98 season when the following season kicked
off. Unfortunately, Connolly could not shrug off the preconceptions built on
that small sample size and spent a disappointing campaign mainly watching on
from the sidelines.

Having made zero appearances in the first couple of months
of the 1999/00 season he was forced into swapping one blue and white shirt for
another after being shunted out on loan to Morton. While in Greenock,
Connolly found his confidence once again, scoring five goals in as many games
and had his temporary club enquiring as to the availability of the striker. St
Johnstone, clearly wanting to get something back from their six figure
purchase, were obviously enthused by his recent goal glut and rejected the
offer before recalling Connolly to McDiarmid
Park.

Once back in the big time another relapse occurred in his
play, with him finding the net only once for the remainder of the season.
Sporadic places in the first team squad occupied the start of his third full
season in Perth before another temporarily move
back down to the First Division followed with Ayr.
Surely this was the signal of his St Johnstone career petering out to an
inevitable conclusion? Actually, it wasn’t. After returning from the six game
spell in Ayrshire, Connolly protracted his stay after a string of revitalised
performances persuaded manager Sandy Clark to give his player a new three year
contract.

Clark was gone a month into the following campaign but his
replacement, Billy Stark, was perfectly happy with his predecessors’ decision
to retain Connolly’s services, utilising the forward in 29 games. Despite the
upturn in appreciation of his talents, he could do nothing to stop the club losing
their four year premier league status. It did, however, mean a happier time of
it for the forward who was soon recognised as an important member of the first
time during the initial year back in the second tier. Connolly was even made
captain at times during the campaign. Sadly for the player his time in Perth ended prematurely
on the playing side when in the summer of 2003 he suffered a knee injury that
would keep him out of the upcoming season, with the club choosing against
offering him an extension at the end of his contract.

From there he would spend three consecutive years bouncing
around clubs in the Scottish Second Division. Returning to Ayr
for the 04/05 season before enjoying a rather prolific campaign back east with
Stirling Albion, where he netted 12 goals in 36 league games. From there he
moved to Brechin, joining as a player coach under former United teammate
Michael O’Neill, for the 19th and final season of his career. He stayed on the
books at the club for one more year but purely on a coaching basis.

Where is he Now? After leaving Brechin he went to become
assistant to his brother-in-law Paul Martin at Albion Rovers. He then spent
time as a scout for Fulham before returning to coaching in 2011 by joining Paul
Hartley at Alloa.

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