Mick Connaboy

Michael Connaboy (29 November 1901 – 1948) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward or wing half. Born in Edinburgh, he played for a local junior club before joining Scottish League Division One club Alloa Athletic in 1922. He spent three-and-a-half seasons with Alloa, all but the first in Division Two, then returned to Division One for two seasons with Cowdenbeath. In 1928, he went to America where he played in the American Soccer League for the New York Nationals. On his return, he played non-league football in England for Yeovil & Petters United, spent a season with Football League Second Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers without playing for their first team, and finished up with a season in the Third Division Southern Section with Exeter City and one in the Northern Section with Darlington, playing infrequently for both. He died in 1948.

Mick Connaboy
Personal information
Full name Michael Connaboy[1]
Date of birth (1901-11-29)29 November 1901[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh,[1] Scotland
Date of death 1948 (aged 46–47)[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Inside forward, wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
19??–1922 Loanhead Mayflower
1922–1926 Alloa Athletic
1926–1931 Cowdenbeath
1928–1929 New York Nationals 40 (7)
1930–1931 Yeovil & Petters United
1931–1932 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
1932–1933 Exeter City 4 (1)
1933–1934 Darlington 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Early career and Alloa Athletic

Connaboy, who was born in Edinburgh,[1] played football for local junior club Loanhead Mayflower, from where he signed for Scottish League Division One club Alloa Athletic in November 1922. Described as "an inside right forward of good height and build",[3] he had previously had a trial with Dunfermline Athletic, and was rumoured in the press to have asked them for a signing-on fee of £1,000 and wages of £7 per week.[4] The Scotsman thought him too slow in his debut match, against Clyde on 11 November,[5] but he was to play regularly for Alloa through the 1922–23 season; his work was described as "stolid and brawny" in a 1–0 defeat at Raith Rovers, in contrast to the "nippiness" of Willie Crilley and the "cute work" of Wood.[6] They were relegated to Division Two for 1923–24, and Connaboy showed up well at the lower level. He scored valuable goals, including a late winner against Cowdenbeath – "when everybody had got resigned to a drawn game Stirling and Connaboy, who had taken Wood's place on the right wing, darted up the wing, and after passing all opposition Connaboy when almost on the goal line sent in an oblique shot which struck the inside of the faraway upright and went into the net"[7] – and Alloa's first two goals of a 4–2 win against St Bernard's,[8] but Alloa still finished near the bottom of the table.

He signed on again for 1924–25, but not until the season had already begun.[9] In October, Connaboy fell foul of the Scottish Football Association's crackdown on rough play: he was suspended for 14 days for "assuming a fighting attitude" towards an opponent.[10] Mason was generally preferred at inside right,[11] but in the latter part of the season, Connaboy came into the eleven at right half;[12] by April 1925, the side with Connaboy at right half was described as full strength.[13] In May, English First Division club Burnley made repeated enquiries after Connaboy's availability, but it was reported that the fee offered was "not large enough to satisfy either the player or the club".[14] He lined up as usual when the new season opened, and was a regular selection, but without a fixed position. He began the season at right half, then moved to inside right,[15] and had a long spell at inside left before returning to the right side.[16][17]

Cowdenbeath

At the end of the season, Connaboy was among a number of players granted two weeks by the SFA to agree terms with their club, failing which they would be transfer-listed.[18] Nine days later, he signed for Division One club Cowdenbeath.[19] Over the first few months of the season, he occupied both half-back positions, and scored his first goal of the season in December from the inside-left position, in a 3–2 defeat of Falkirk in which Cowdenbeath's goalkeeper injured a shoulder and came back after treatment to partner Connaboy on the left wing and set up the winning goal.[20][21] He was also one of several tried without success at centre forward.[22] In March, Cowdenbeath fined Connaboy £3 for refusing to report on a Sunday to have an injury assessed; he took the matter to the SFA to see if the club had the right to require his attendance on a Sunday (which was a common occurrence, particularly for treatment of injuries),[23] but his appeal was unsuccessful.[24]

He finished the season as the regular selection at right half, and began the new one there, as one of a half-back line who were "full of running, kept their position, and passed with good judgment" as Cowdenbeath beat Dundee 1–0.[25] His form dipped in the first half of the campaign,[26] but had improved when he came back into the side in the new year. He scored as Cowdenbeath became the only team to take a point off Rangers at Ibrox in 1927–28,[27] "played such an improved game, filling the gap caused by the indisposition of Leonard" in the following week's win against Hamilton Academical,[28] and scored one of the goals as Cowdenbeath beat Johnstone 12–0 in the first round of the Scottish Cup.[29]

American Soccer League

In the summer of 1928, Connaboy and teammate Hookey Leonard – described on the passenger list as labourer and miner respectively[30] – embarked for the United States to play for New York Nationals in the American Soccer League. They arrived three days before the first match in the championship play-off series, against Bethlehem Steel, and were deemed eligible. Leonard scored, and Connaboy also played, prompting calls for player eligibility rules in a play-off series.[31][32] Nationals lost both matches, so were eliminated.[33] In the 1928–29 season, Connaboy was a regular in the side; he played in 40 of the 50 league matches, scoring once, and in 7 Lewis Cup matches.[34] He returned to Scotland at the end of the season.[35]

Yeovil & Petters United

Cowdenbeath transfer-listed Connaboy in the summer of 1930[36] at a fee of £1,000. He moved into English non-league football with Yeovil & Petters United, and made his debut in the London Combination Division Two 4–2 defeat at home to Thames Association; the Devon and Exeter Gazette thought he "obviously had not had time to settle down".[37] Once he did settle, he played well. Against Plymouth Argyle reserves in the Western League at the end of October, Connaboy's "deadliness lay in his wonderful ball control and deft passes, which so often outwitted the defence. He crowned a splendid display by scoring Yeovil's fourth goal a minute or two before the final whistle went".[38]

Perhaps he had something to prove. Some days earlier, he and three teammates had stripped 7 cwt (360 kg) of lead from the roof of a building where they had been employed to demolish a wall and sold it. According to the Gazette's report of their defence counsel's speech, "the footballers had been very silly, but they came from Scotland, and were, doubtless, unaware they were committing a serious offence", and a conviction would mean their dismissal by the Yeovil club. In recognition of their previous good character, they were bound over for six months and ordered to pay costs.[39]

As he had done for Cowdenbeath, Connaboy scored in a 12–0 win, this time against the previously unbeaten Exeter City reserves in the Western League.[40] He and his teammates again made the news pages when they were reported as needing to sprint to escape the attentions of a bull through whose field they were walking.[41] As of the end of March, he had not missed a match since making his debut,[42] and contributed eight goals to Yeovil's runners-up finish in both Western League and London Combination.[43]

Later career

Although Yeovil offered terms to Connaboy for the 1931–32 season,[44] and amid interest from other Football League clubs, he signed for Second Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers. As part of the deal, Wolves played a friendly match at Yeovil's ground,[45] which they won 8–4, Connaboy scoring their fourth goal.[46] Speculation by the Daily Express that the existing forwards would prove "difficult to displace" proved accurate.[47] He never played for Wolves' first team, and signed for Exeter City of the Third Division South after just one season.[2] He played in Exeter's first four league matches – their first goal of the season came when Bristol City's goalkeeper was shoulder-charged over the line after collecting Connaboy's shot,[48] and he scored in their second match, a 5–3 defeat to Northampton Town[49] – but was dropped in favour of Jack Kennedy[50] and never regained his first-team place.[1]

He spent the 1933–34 season with Darlington,[51] for whom he made ten appearances in the Third Division North, mainly as back-up to Dan Cassidy at right half,[1][52] and played for the club's reserve team in the North-Eastern League.[53] In October 1935, he was reported to have signed for Scottish Second Division club Brechin City and to be in their team for the coming match,[54] but he did not appear.[55]

Connaboy died in 1948.[1]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "Exeter City. Two inside forwards added to the strength". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 18 June 1932. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "In the football limelight". The Courier. Dundee. 10 November 1922. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Latest football topics". The Courier. Dundee. 18 November 1922. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Scottish League. First Division. No goals for Alloa". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 13 November 1922. p. 4.
  6. "Luck of the Rovers". The Courier. Dundee. 28 February 1923. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Right to the last minute". The Courier. Dundee. 12 November 1923. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Football: Alloa...4 goals St Bernards...2". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 5 December 1923. p. 5.
  9. "Likely change in St Johnstone". The Courier. Dundee. 23 August 1924. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Cairns suspended for a month". The Courier. Dundee. 16 October 1924. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Teams for Dens Park cup tie". The Courier. Dundee. 23 January 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive. Alloa will play Connaboy at inside right in place of the suspended Mason
    "A disappointment for Preston North End". The Courier. Dundee. 21 February 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive. Mason is unable to play through injury
  12. "Dundee's semi-final eleven". The Courier. Dundee. 18 March 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Dundee eleven for Hampden". The Courier. Dundee. 9 April 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. The Traveller (24 May 1925). "Gallacher's case on Wednesday". Sunday Post. Dundee. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Another point for Alloa". Sunday Post. Dundee. 4 October 1925. p. 13 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Dundee prospecting over the border". The Courier. Dundee. 29 October 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Alloa's changes". The Courier. Dundee. 17 December 1925. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive. Connaboy will be drawn from the front rank to fill [Gilmour's] place at right half-back.
  18. "Benefit game for Jimmy Quinn. Transfer applications to 'Scottish'". The Courier. Dundee. 10 June 1926. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Recruit for Cowdenbeath". The Courier. Dundee. 19 June 1926. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "How Falkirk fell". Sunday Post. Dundee. 5 December 1926. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "The marksmen". The Courier. Dundee. 7 December 1926. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Cowden's centre problem". The Courier. Dundee. 8 March 1927. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "Cowdenbeath player fined". Sunday Post. Dundee. 20 March 1927. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. The Watchman (24 April 1927). "Q.P. beggar their chances, and lose last home match". Sunday Post. Dundee. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive. Hugh Chambers, the ex-Clyde halfback, now with Cowdenbeath, is under suspension by his club for alleged breach of training regulations. He has decided to invoke the aid of the S.F.A. in order to clear up the position. He will be the second player from the same camp who has recently taken the club before the S.F.A. officials on a similar question. Connaboy's appeal cost him a guinea, but perhaps Chambers will have more luck. There seems to have been rather a spate of those appeals lately.
  25. The Pilot (14 August 1927). "Dundee get dull thud at Cowdenbeath". Sunday Post. Dundee. p. 22 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. "Hibs expose all Cowdenbeath's weak spots". Sunday Post. Dundee. 21 August 1927. p. 21 – via British Newspaper Archive. Connaboy also was loose in his passing
    "'Funny' display by Raith". The Courier. Dundee. 10 October 1927. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive. Connaboy has played better
  27. "Cowdenbeath lucky, but plucky". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 9 January 1928. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Rangers 1927–1928: Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  28. "Cowdenbeath lay the 'bogey'". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 16 January 1928. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. "Cowdenbeath's picnic". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 23 January 1928. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. "Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, and Aliens Restrictions Act, 1914 & 1919. Out-going Passengers. S.S. President Harding. United States Line. New York via Cherbourg. Names and Descriptions of British Passengers Embarked at the Port of Southampton". 24 May 1928 – via Findmypast.
  31. "Bethlehem Steel beat N.Y. Nationals". The Globe-Times. Bethlehem, NY. 5 June 1928. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  32. "A Swing Along Athletic Row". The Globe-Times. Bethlehem, NY. 5 June 1928. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  33. "Bethlehem Steels blanks Nationals". The Globe-Times. Bethlehem, NY. 7 June 1928. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  34. Jose, Colin (1998). The American Soccer League: The Golden Years of American Soccer 1921–1931. Scarecrow Press. pp. 213–215, 342. ISBN 9781461716129.
  35. "Scots players home from U.S.A.". The Courier. Dundee. 4 June 1929. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. Don John (15 May 1930). "Transfer problem for Raith Rovers". The Courier. Dundee. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. "London Combination Division II. Yeovil's unlucky day". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 8 September 1930. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. "Western League. Shock tactics by Plymouth Argyle. Yeovil forwards in sparkling mood". Western Gazette. Yeovil. 31 October 1930. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. "Footballers' lapse". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 22 October 1930. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. "Yeovil's dozen". Western Gazette. Yeovil. 30 January 1931. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. "Chased by bull". Western Gazette. Yeovil. 6 March 1931. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. "Facts and figures". Western Gazette. Yeovil. 3 April 1931. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. "First Team Results for Season 1930–31". Ciderspace. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  44. "Clubs and their players". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 25 April 1931. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. "Pym to play for Yeovil. Connaboy for Wolves". Western Gazette. Yeovil. 22 May 1931. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. "Wolverhampton beat Yeovil". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 23 September 1931. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. "Young Wolves". Daily Express. London. 11 August 1931. p. 13.
  48. "City's hard fight at Exeter". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 29 August 1931. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. Exonian (30 August 1931). "Exeter City lost at Northampton". Western Morning News. Plymouth. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. "Exeter City. First change in team for the season". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 9 September 1932. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. "no title". Yorkshire Post. 27 June 1933. p. 20 – via British Newspaper Archive. Cite uses generic title (help)
  52. "Darlington changes". Yorkshire Post. 5 January 1934. p. 17 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. Scrutator (2 April 1934). "Darlington changes". Sunderland Echo. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. Don John (30 October 1935). "Brechin newcomers". The Courier. Dundee. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. "Brechin rise to the occasion". The Courier. Dundee. 4 November 1935. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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