John Connaughton

Patrick John Connaughton (born 23 September 1949) is an English former professional football goalkeeper. He played 387 games in a sixteen-year career. He also represented England at youth level on three occasions.

For the American business executive, see John Connaughton (financier).

John Connaughton
Personal information
Full name Patrick John Connaughton[1]
Date of birth (1949-09-23) 23 September 1949[2]
Place of birth Wigan, England[3]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[4]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1965–1966 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1972 Manchester United 3 (0)
1969 → Halifax Town (loan) 2 (0)
1971–1972 → Torquay United (loan) 22 (0)
1972–1974 Sheffield United 12 (0)
1974–1980 Port Vale 191 (0)
1980–1982 Altrincham 87 (0)
Total 317 (0)
National team
1967–1968 England Youth 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career at Manchester United, turning professional in 1966, but made just three first team appearances in April 1972. He also played two games on loan at Halifax Town in 1969, and played 25 games on loan at Torquay United in 1971–72. He joined Sheffield United in October 1972 for a £15,000 fee, but only played twelve games for the club before he transferred to Port Vale in May 1974. He established himself in the first team, and made 218 appearances, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1974–75. He joined Altrincham in 1980 for an enormously successful two-year spell, picking up championship medals for the Alliance Premier League in 1979–80 and 1980–81, winners medals in the Conference League Cup and Cheshire Senior Cup, and runners-up medals in the Conference League Cup and FA Trophy.

Playing career

Manchester United

Connaughton joined the Manchester United groundstaff in January 1965, signing as an apprentice in May the same year. He turned professional in October 1966, but would have to wait almost six years for his United debut, despite playing three games for England youth in 1967 and 1968.[5] In the meantime he was loaned to Halifax Town in September 1969, and to Torquay United from October 1971 to April 1972, both in the Third Division. He played two games for Halifax and 25 games for Torquay.

His Manchester United debut finally came on 4 April 1972 in a First Division game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, a 1–1 draw. He played two further games that month, in defeats to Leicester City and Manchester City; the defeat in the Manchester derby came at Old Trafford.[2]

Sheffield United

He returned to Bramall Lane in October 1972, but this time as a Sheffield United player, costing the "Blades" £15,000. He did not appear in 1972–73, and played only twelve First Division games in 1973–74.

Port Vale

Connaughton moved on to Third Division side Port Vale in May 1974, where he replaced Alan Boswell. He played 47 games in 1974–75, leaving deputy Reg Edwards to play just twice. For his consistency he was voted Player of the Year by the club's supporters.[6] He missed just one game in 1975–76, with Manchester United loanee David Ryan covering him for a 2–1 defeat at Swindon Town on 17 January.

He then faced stiff competition from a young Trevor Dance, but still managed to play 44 games in 1976–77. Connaughton missed eight games in 1977–78 due to a knee injury, but remained Vale's first team keeper as the club suffered relegation into the Fourth Division. He again suffered with injuries at the start of the 1978–79 season, however he lost his No. 1 jersey to Dance in January 1979, and played just 22 games in 1978–79. He spent much of the 1979–80 season on the bench, and played just nine games. He made 218 total appearances for the "Valiants".[7]

Altrincham

He joined Altrincham in time to play fifteen league games of the club's Alliance Premier League championship winning 1979–80 season.[5] He also played in the Conference League Cup final defeat to Northwich Victoria.[5] He was an ever-present in 1980–81, as "Alty" retained their league title, and also beat Kettering Town in the Conference League Cup final.[5] He also played in the club's 4–1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup Third Round.[5]

"Alty" dropped to eleventh place in 1981–82, though won one last success in the form of the Cheshire Senior Cup final, following a 1–0 win over Runcorn.[5] He also helped the club to the final of the FA Trophy, where they lost 1–0 to Enfield at Wembley Stadium.[5] He also helped the club to another FA Cup run, in which they beat former club Sheffield United and then York City, before being knocked out by Burnley.[5] He retired at the end of the season at the age of 32, due to business commitments; he played a total of 127 games for Altrincham, winning 47 clean sheets.[5]

Style of play

Altrincham F.C. historian Terry Rowley described Connaughton as an "unfussy, dominant and quietly competent keeper".[5]

Statistics

Source:[8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[9] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United1966–67First Division0000000000
1967–68First Division0000000000
1968–69First Division0000000000
1969–70First Division0000000000
1970–71First Division0000000000
1971–72First Division3000000030
1972–73First Division0000000000
Total 270300000300
Halifax Town (loan)1969–70Third Division2000000020
Torquay United (loan)1971–72Third Division220300000250
Sheffield United1972–73First Division0000000000
1973–74First Division120000000120
Total 120000000120
Port Vale1974–75Third Division440201000470
1975–76Third Division450303000510
1976–77Third Division380402000440
1977–78Third Division380403000450
1978–79Fourth Division190102000220
1979–80Fourth Division7000200090
Total 1910140130002180
Altrincham1979–80Alliance Premier League150002010180
1980–81Alliance Premier League380407050540
1981–82Alliance Premier League3405050110550
Total 870901401701270
Career total 31702602701703870

Honours
Individual
Altrincham
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References
  1. "John Connaughton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. "John Patrick Connaughton". aboutmanutd.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  3. John Connaughton at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  4. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. Rowley, Terry. "Altrincham Football Club Legends Section Twenty Profiles 55–57". altrinchamfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  6. Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. p. 305. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  7. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 64. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  8. John Connaughton at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  9. Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Trophy & Cheshire Senior Cup.
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