Tony Connell
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Connell | ||
| Date of birth | 27 January 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 30 December 2024 (aged 80) | ||
| Position(s) | Full-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Strathclyde | |||
| 1963–1967 | Third Lanark | 91 | (1) |
| 1967–1971 | St Mirren | 114 | (1) |
| 1971–1974 | Queen of the South | 59 | (1) |
| 1974–1976 | Pollok | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Anthony Connell (27 January 1944 – 30 December 2024) was a Scottish football player and coach. A full-back, he played for Third Lanark, St Mirren and Queen of the South in the Scottish Football League and also played Junior football with Pollok for his final two seasons, then coached them for one season after his retirement.
Playing career
Connell was born in Govan; he started his senior career with Third Lanark in 1963, moving from local junior team Strathclyde alongside Alan Mackay. The Cathkin Park club were relegated to Scottish Division Two in his second season. He played 91 times for Thirds, scoring once before moving to St Mirren after Thirds went bust in 1967 (he had played in the club's final game against Dumbarton).[1][2] Saints won promotion to Scottish Division One in his first season with the club as they won the league. He was named their Player of the Year in 1969–70, before leaving at the end of the next season. He made a total of 114 appearances scoring once.[3] He joined Queen of the South in Division Two in 1971 and left in 1974, playing 59 games and scoring once.[4] After this he played for Pollok for two seasons, then coached the junior club for a further season.
In 2007, he was inducted into the St Mirren hall of fame.[5]
Personal life and death
Connell was a part-time footballer and also worked for Glasgow Corporation Housing Department throughout his career. He died from complications of a fall on 30 December 2024, at the age of 80.[6][7]
References
- ^ "THIRD LANARK : 1946/47 - 1966/67". Neil Brown. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ Third Lanark [documentary], BBC Alba, 27 January 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2021
- ^ "ST. MIRREN : 1946/47 - 2010/11". Neil Brown. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "QUEEN OF THE SOUTH : 1946/47 - 2010/11". Neil Brown. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "LOVE STREET FAVOURITE JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB". Paisley Daily Express. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "Some sad news for us "oldies" Ex QoS. Player Tony Connell has passed away". Ian Mundell on Facebook. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ Murray, Taylor (4 January 2025). "Saints Hall of Famer Tony was a true gent... his memory will live on with Buddies young and old". Paisley Daily Express. Retrieved 5 January 2025.