James Connolly
Connolly at Bristol Rovers in 2022.
Personal information
Full name James Alfred Connolly[1]
Date of birth (2001-11-02) 2 November 2001
Position(s) Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Bristol Rovers
Number 2
Youth career
Blackburn Rovers
2020–2021 Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Cardiff City 0 (0)
2022 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 24 (1)
2022– Bristol Rovers 31 (1)
2023–2024 → Morecambe (loan) 13 (2)
International career‡
2022– Wales U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:22, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:24, 15 June 2022

James Alfred Connolly (born 2 November 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a central defender for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers and the Wales under-21 national football team.

Club career

Early career

Connolly began his career with Blackburn Rovers, signing a two-year scholarship contract with the club in June 2018.[2] Despite missing the majority of the 2019–20 season through an injury sustained in October 2019, Connolly had his scholarship extended by a further year[3] being released by the club at the end of the following season.[4] In June 2021, Connolly signed with Cardiff City. Connolly was retained by the club ahead of the 2022–23 season.[5]

Bristol Rovers

On 8 January 2022, Connolly joined League Two side Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[6] He made his senior debut later that day in a 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Peterborough United, and his league debut came on 22 January 2022.[7] Connolly formed a solid defensive partnership with fellow Championship loanee Connor Taylor, being praised for his composure on the ball and his ability to adapt to the physical demands of League Two football.[8] Connolly scored a first senior goal in a vital match against promotion rivals Port Vale, turning home an Antony Evans cross to give Rovers the lead having fallen behind early on, Rovers going on to win 3–1.[9] Connolly's first season in professional football ended in success as Rovers were promoted on the final day of the season, a 7–0 victory moving Bristol Rovers into third place, beating Northampton Town to automatic promotion on goals scored.[10]

He re-joined Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal, transferring for an undisclosed sum, in June 2022, signing a three-year contract.[11] On 6 August 2022, Connolly scored his first goal since returning to the club on a permanent basis with the second in a 4–0 thrashing of Burton Albion.[12] On 27 August 2022, it was revealed that Connolly had suffered a stress fracture in his back that would see him out of action for a 'long period'.[13] On 29 October, Connolly made his return to first-team football as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Derby County.[14]

On 31 August 2023, Connolly joined League Two club Morecambe on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.[15] He was recalled by his parent club on 3 January 2024.[16]

International career

In May 2022, Connolly was called up to the Wales U21 team for the first time for the final 2023 U21 European Championship qualifiers against the Netherlands and Gibraltar.[17] Connolly made his debut in the latter of these matches as Wales won 2–0.[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cardiff City 2021–22[7] Championship 0000000000
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2021–22[7] League Two 241100000251
Bristol Rovers 2022–23[19] League One 30120103[lower-alpha 1]1362
2023–24[20] League One 1000100020
Total 311202031382
Morecambe (loan) 2023–24[20] League Two 13210003[lower-alpha 1]0172
Career total 684402061805
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

Honours

Bristol Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "SQUAD LIST 2022/23 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Introducing the class of 2018". www.rovers.co.uk. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "The pathway is there for the youngsters". www.rovers.co.uk. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Rovers confirm Retain List". www.rovers.co.uk. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "2021/22 Retained List". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 10 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bristol Rovers sign Cardiff's Connolly" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. 1 2 3 "Games played by James Connolly in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Williams, Glen (13 April 2022). "The mightily impressive Cardiff City defender who was chucked in at deep end and thrived". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Port Vale 1–3 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Cardiff's Connolly completes Bristol Rovers move" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "Burton Albion 0–4 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "James Connolly: Bristol Rovers defender out injured for 'long period'". BBC Sport. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Derby County 4–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Connolly joins Shrimps on season-long loan". www.morecambefc.com. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "James Connolly Recalled From Morecambe F.C Loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Cymru Squad Announced for Final U21 Euro Qualifiers". www.faw.cymru. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Cymru U21 finish campaign with a win". www.faw.cymru/en. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Games played by James Connolly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Games played by James Connolly in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
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