Reece Connolly

Reece William Connolly (born 22 January 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Crowborough Athletic in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

Reece Connolly
Personal information
Full name Reece William Connolly
Date of birth (1992-01-22) 22 January 1992
Place of birth Frimley, England
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Crowborough Athletic
Youth career
2008–2009 Aldershot Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Aldershot Town 13 (0)
2010 → Salisbury City (loan) 11 (2)
2011 → Didcot Town (loan) 10 (1)
2011 → Dorchester Town (loan) 13 (4)
2011–2012 → Farnborough (loan) 27 (12)
2012 → Farnborough (loan) 31 (14)
2012–2013 Farnborough 9 (2)
2013 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 7 (1)
2014 Eastleigh 13 (3)
2016 Basingstoke Town 10 (1)
2016–2017 Whitehawk 11 (2)
2017 Margate 3 (0)
2017–2017 Eastbourne Borough 8 (0)
2017– Crowborough Athletic 3 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:40, 29 August 2017 (UTC)

Playing career

Early career

Connolly started as a schoolboy at Crystal Palace before joining Aldershot Town. He was a first year scholar with Aldershot Town during the 2008–09 season and he made 14 reserve team appearances and was joint reserve team top scorer with four goals.

Aldershot Town

Connolly was an unused substitute for Aldershot's first team on three occasions near the end of 2008–09 season. On 18 August 2009, Connolly made his Football League and first team debut for Aldershot Town, when he came on as a substitute against Bournemouth at the Dean Court.[1] His home debut was made a month later, when he came on as a substitute against Port Vale, at the Recreation Ground on 12 September 2009.[2] On 28 January 2010, it was announced that Connolly was joining Conference National side Salisbury City on a month's loan deal.[3] Connolly spent further time on loan with non-league club such as Didcot Town, Dorchester Town and Farnborough where he had two loan spells.[4]

On 9 February 2012, Connolly signed a new one-year contract with Aldershot which included the possibility of a second year.[5][6]

Farnborough

In December 2012, Farnborough made Connolly's loan a permanent move as they secured the striker for a club record fee of £12,000, as well as making him the highest paid player at the club.[7][8] In an effort to reduce their wage bill Farnborough allowed Connolly to join Conference National side Forest Green Rovers on loan in March 2013 until the end of the season.[9] Despite scoring on his debut on in a 2–0 away win against Ebbsfleet United, Connolly was not offered a full-time contract and returned to his parent club at the end of the season.[10] It was reported that Connolly was struggling to come to terms with part-time football and in November 2013 he was suspended by Farnborough after failing a drugs test. His contract with the club was subsequently cancelled.[11]

Eastleigh

Connolly signed non-contract terms with Eastleigh in January 2014 while waiting for an FA hearing into the issues at Farnborough. He scored three times in Eastleigh's run-in to the Conference South title, including the winner in the 1–0 home win over Chelmsford on 11 March. On 2 April 2014 Connolly was found guilty of drug use and banned from all football by the FA for six months.[12]

Basingstoke Town

Connolly signed for National League South side Basingstoke Town in January 2016. He was released from his contract by mutual consent at the end of the season.

Whitehawk

Without a club at the start of the 2016–2017 season, Connolly became his former manager Richard Hill's first signing for Brighton-based National League South side Whitehawk.[13] Connolly also played for Hill while on loan at Didcot Town from Aldershot.[14] Connolly left The Hawks in January 2017, despite nine league and cup goals in 21 games, including a hat-trick at Lewes in a Sussex Senior Cup tie.[15][16]

Eastbourne Borough

In March 2017, Connolly agreed to play for Eastbourne until the end of the season.[17]

Crowborough Athletic

In August 2017, Connolly signed for Southern Counties East Premier Division side Crowborough Athletic. He made his debut in a FA Cup extra preliminary round against Lingfield, where he scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win at Maidstone United's Gallagher Stadium.[18]

Personal life

Connolly was educated at Frogmore Community College in Yateley, Hampshire.

References
  1. "AFC Bournemouth 1–0 Aldershot Town". Aldershot Town Official Website. 18 August 2009.
  2. "Aldershot Town 1–1 Port Vale". Aldershot Town Official Website. 12 September 2009.
  3. "Double delight as City poised to sign duo". Salisbury City Official Website. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  4. "Connolly makes big Farnborough entrance". gethampshire.co.uk. 25 October 2012.
  5. "Aldershot striker Reece Connolly pens new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 February 2012.
  6. "Reece Connolly marks birthday with Shots contract". gethampshire.co.uk. 9 February 2012.
  7. "Boro make Connolly stay permanent". bluesqsouth.com. 15 December 2012.
  8. "Farnborough boss Day delighted to land Connolly". getHampshire. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  9. "Forest Green Rovers sign Reece Connolly from Farnborough". BBC Sport. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  10. "Ebbsfleet United 0–2 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 30 March 2013.
  11. Jon Couch (22 November 2013). "Boro's Reece Connolly tests positive for cocaine and marijuana". getHampshire. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  12. Jon Couch (22 November 2013). "Boro's Reece Connolly tests positive for cocaine and marijuana". getHampshire. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. "Connolly re-unites with Hill at Whitehawk". National League. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  14. Wendy Gee (14 September 2014). "Hill: Reece deserves a second chance". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  15. Tom Harris (30 January 2017). "Flitney and Connolly Leave The Hawks". Whitehawk F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  16. "Lewes 0 Whitehawk 3". Lewes Community Football Club. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  17. "New Striker for Eastbourne Borough". Eastbourne Buzz. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  18. "NEW ADDITIONS TO FIRST TEAM SQUAD". 8 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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