Aidan Connolly

Aidan Charles Patrick Connolly (born 15 August 1995) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Queen's Park.

Connolly began his career with Queen's Park before joining Dundee United in 2013, and also played for Brechin City on loan. He was released by Dundee United in January 2016, joining Raith Rovers shortly after. He spent two seasons with York City from 2016 to 2018, and one year with Dunfermline Athletic. He has represented Scotland at under-16 and under-19 level.

Early life Connolly was born in Dundee on 15 August 1995, He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire.

Club career Connolly started his career at Queen's Park, progressing through the club's youth system.

Together with Queen's Park teammate Andrew Robertson, Connolly signed for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United in June 2013. After returning from Brechin, Connolly made his Dundee United debut as a late substitute in a 3–1 victory over Motherwell. Connolly made his first start and scored his first goal for Dundee United against Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup on 29 October 2014. Retaining his place in the next match against St Mirren, he contributed to all three of United's goals on his first Premiership start.

After making only one starting appearance during the 2015–16 season, Connolly was released from his Dundee United contract by mutual consent on 21 January 2016. The following day, he joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on a contract until the end of 2015–16.

On 28 June 2016, Connolly joined newly relegated National League club York City on a two-year contract, having previously played under manager Jackie McNamara at Dundee United. On 21 May 2017, he came on as a 69th-minute substitute as York beat Macclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 FA Trophy Final, scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute after forcing Jon Parkin's shot over the line from centimetres out. Connolly was released by York at the end of 2017–18.

Connolly signed for Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on 20 June 2018 on a one-year contract. He left the club at the end of his contract and signed for League One club Falkirk under his former Raith manager, Ray McKinnon.

In 2021, Connolly returned to Raith Rovers on a two-year deal. After two successful seasons during which he was a vital player for the team, Connolly signed a new two-year deal in 2023, keeping him with Rovers until 2025.

In 2025, after the expiration of his deal at Raith Rovers, Connolly returned his first club Queen's Park, now a Scottish Championship side, on a permanent deal.

International career Connolly made one appearance for the Scotland under-16 team, against Jersey in 2010, and one for the under-19 team, against Latvia in 2013.

Career statistics

Honours York City FA Trophy: 2016–17

Individual Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month: December 2012