CONNELLY, JOHN MICHAEL
Forward 1964-67
5ft 8" 11st 3 lbs
b.St.Helens, Lancs., 18 July 1938
Debut v WBA (h) 22/8/64

Career:
St Helens Town
Burnley Nov 56
UNITED Apr 64
Blackburn Sept 66
Bury June 70

John Connelly joined Burnley at 18 years old from St.Helens Town. the team
that launched Bert Trautmann into League football with Man City. Whilst
serving his time as an apprentice joiner, Connelly began with St.Helens as
an inside-forward,but at Turf Moor was switched onto the wing. He developed
into one of the quickest and most prolific goalscoring wingers in the First
Division, and when he joined UNITED in a 60.000 pound transfer in April 64
had scored 105 League and Cup goals in 265 matches.

During his stay at Turf Moor he won a League Championship medal in 1960,and
an FA Cup finalist`s medal two years later. some strangely suggested he
might now be past his best, but he was an immediate success with UNITED,who
won the League Championship in Connelly`s first season when he was an
ever-present and contributed an impressive 15 goals. The REDS usual forward
line during that memorable campaign was:

CONNELLY, CHARLTON, HERD, LAW, BEST.

There have been few, if any, better combinations in the club`s long history.
Between them, they scored 83 of UNITED`s 89 league goals during the 64-5
season!

After two sterling years that had further illuninated his career and only a
matter of months after appearing for England in the opening match of the
1966 World Cup Finals, Connelly left OT for Blackburn in a 40.000 transfer.
He later joined Bury, and whenhe retired in 73 had completed 571 League
matches and scored 180 goals. In International football,John won 20 England
caps and appeared once at U23 level.He also represented the Football League
on eight occasions. After leaving the game, he ran a fish & chip shop in
Brierfield, near Burnley.

Appearances: 64-67
FL   79 - 22 g
FAC  13 -  2 g
FLC   1 -  0 g
EUR  19 - 11 g   Total: 112 apps  35 goals

To be continued Pt.17 Steve Coppell 74-83

Greetings to Manchester United Supporters "All Over The World".