John Connolly

John Connolly (born 13 June 1950) is a Scottish former football player and manager who played as an outside left.

Connolly played for St Johnstone, Everton, Birmingham City, Newcastle United, Hibernian, Gateshead and Blyth Spartans during an 18-year playing career. Connolly earned one full international cap for Scotland. Connolly became a player-manager with Blyth Spartans and then managed Whitley Bay, Queen of the South and St Johnstone.

Playing career

St Johnstone

Connolly was born in Barrhead, Scotland and began his football career as a junior with Glasgow United before turning professional with St Johnstone in January 1968. Connolly played in the 1969 Scottish League Cup Final at Hampden Park versus Celtic, who were on their way to their second European Cup Final in four seasons. The Perth club lost narrowly 1–0 with Connolly later commenting, "We gave them the fright of their lives". The Perth Saints plundered league wins at Ibrox Park and Celtic Park with Connolly in their ranks.

John Connolly's only experience of playing European football was when he was at the Muirton Park club, after they finished third in Scotland's highest division and they had managed to knock out Hamburg.

Former Queens player Nobby Clark stated in an interview that Connolly was the best player he had ever played against directly.

Everton

Everton manager Harry Catterick paid £75,000 to sign Connolly for the Goodison Park club in March 1972 and such was Catterick's determination to conclude the signing that he forced himself from his sick bed.

In the following season, the Doonhamers won the Scottish Challenge Cup after defeating Brechin City 2–0 in the Final at Broadwood Stadium, with Andy Goram and Robbie Neilson in the starting eleven.

Connolly departed Palmerston Park at the end of the 2003–04 season and the club replaced him with his assistant, Iain Scott.

St Johnstone

Connolly replaced Billy Stark as the manager of his former club St Johnstone in the 2004 close season. as the club finished in eighth position in the 2004–05 Scottish First Division. Connolly was then replaced by Owen Coyle.