David Connolly retires

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31788887

Some vital games and goals for us in the L1 promotion season, not least *that* goal at Withdean.

Saw him score a cracker against Norwich at St Mary's when we were in Lge 1.

I was in with the Norwich fans that day so had to turn my cheer into a coughing fit!

My favorite Connolly goal was the one against M'Boro, 25 pass goal or similar.

Was a very good player for us in L1 and even in the NPC. So clever and class in his movement and touch, just a shame injuries finally caught up with him. Will always have fond memories of him at Saints.

some people will say .....14 goals in 61 games, not so great, but in his day David Connolly was a class act, and also made a difference to the Irish squad for many seasons, and although he wasn't a stand-out player in every game, few could deny he showed class in quite a few of his Saints' appearances ..and weighed in with a few assists, too.

It's the old story of an injury-prone ageing veteran, who finds 90 minute games just ...a little too much, but nevertheless is still an asset to have on the bench.

Fond memories of a journeyman who DAJFU at a critical time in our progression back up the leagues. Enjoy your retirement David, you had a career to be proud of.

Some of the one touch passing between him, Lallana and Lambert was a joy to watch and at times was so far above League 1 level it was almost embarrassing.

Aside from the goals already mentioned it was the one away at Brentford to put us 2-0 up which is one of my favourites.

It was also good of him to head off down the M27 and spend the twilight of his career by causing them loads of aggro.

Fond memories of a journeyman who DAJFU at a critical time in our progression back up the leagues. Enjoy your retirement David, you had a career to be proud of.

Agree with all this, except calling him a journeyman. He was far from that. A very classy player, who has also tried to continue playing for a few years after many others jack it in (nearly 38).

Very good player. Aside from Lambert by some distance the best striker we had in the L1 and Championship seasons.

Classy, great clever movement and could finish.

Very good player. Aside from Lambert by some distance the best striker we had in the L1 and Championship seasons.

 

Classy, great clever movement and could finish.

Couldnt agree more

Just re-watch his goal against Leeds on the opening day of the 2011-2012 season. Tells you everything you need to know about him. Absolute class.

Anyone rember him hitting a spectacular effort from 30-40 yards out that crashed against the bar? If it went in it would have been a goal le tissier would stick in his top ten! Struggle to remember what game it was in though

He's the best striker at the club when fit, no doubt.

But he'll probably be back in the treatment room soon.

Ah, happy days.

Agent Connolly

Just (re-)watch his goal against Leeds on the opening day of the 2011-2012 season. Tells you everything you need to know about him. Absolute class.

True

Baby faced predator.

Did a great job for us, and the Skates.

Anyone rember him hitting a spectacular effort from 30-40 yards out that crashed against the bar? If it went in it would have been a goal le tissier would stick in his top ten! Struggle to remember what game it was in though

Plymouth away, when we secured promotion to the championship! I remember it as I was glad it didn't go in and ruin my 3-1 Lambert scorecast bet!

Thanks for the memories DC, classy player.

Made the difference at crunch time in L1. One down at Withdean where Brighton hadn't lost all season, flagging in the Easter sun with 10-20 mins to go, DC came on and completely changed the game. Huddersfield had won the day before and, as it turned out, anything less than a win would have ended our automatic promotion chances. Was then MOTM at Brentford and Plymouth, pushing us over the line.

A player that Adkins criminally misused until forced on him (his injuries were overstated), he got the best out of Lallana with his movement and vision and set the scene for our scintillating start in Championship. Ultimately didn't have the pace or power to stop teams squeezing us, especially with Lambert, his contribution was nonetheless very valuable. Also liked that he had an edge and did things his way. Can forgive a brief stint with the skates.

Plymouth away, when we secured promotion to the championship! I remember it as I was glad it didn't go in and ruin my 3-1 Lambert scorecast bet!

 

Thanks for the memories DC, classy player.

Didn't like coming back from the dead that game did he haha?

Arguably our best striker at the club at that time when fit. Unfortunately spent too much time on the treatment table.

How didn't I remember to say that

Arguably our best striker at the club at that time when fit. Unfortunately spent too much time on the treatment table.

Arguably our best striker at the club at that time when fit. Unfortunately spent too much time on the treatment table.

Agreed, could have been very influential, but spent too much time in the treatment room.

Agree with all this, except calling him a journeyman.

He was far from that. A very classy player, who has also tried to continue playing for a few years after many others jack it in (nearly 38).

journeyman?..maybe not so appropriate....sounds a bit casual I suppose ( I thought that after having written it ), but having played for 10 clubs in 20 years, and

(never more than 63 games for any one club) ......I guess that sort of categorisation goes with the territory, but not really fair.

I recall seeing someone use " that word " about Rickie Lambert - at the time he signed for us .... how wrong can one be ?

Brilliant player, wish we'd seen more of him!

When fit, he was one of the best finishers in the game.

I'm probably in the minority but I preferred Barnard in League 1. Having said that DC scored some decent goals, not least on his debut at Oldham where he fooled everyone in the ground into thinking he was going one way, then slotted the ball into the opposite corner.

some people will say .....14 goals in 61 games, not so great, but in his day David Connolly was a class act, and also made a difference to the Irish squad for many seasons, and although he wasn't a stand-out player in every game, few could deny he showed class in quite a few of his Saints' appearances ..and weighed in with a few assists, too.

 

It's the old story of an injury-prone ageing veteran, who finds 90 minute games just ...a little too much, but nevertheless is still an asset to have on the bench.

 

Fond memories of a journeyman who DAJFU at a critical time in our progression back up the leagues. Enjoy your retirement David, you had a career to be proud of.

Was an integral part of our rise .......along with Hammond, Harding, Chaplow, Fox.........yeah enjoy your retirement David Connolly

Plymouth away, when we secured promotion to the championship! I remember it as I was glad it didn't go in and ruin my 3-1 Lambert scorecast bet!

 

Thanks for the memories DC, classy player.

I remember that. One of the few away games I've made it to!

Christ. Reading some of the names in this thread and remembering some of the games/goals, I really want to go back to the summer of 2010 to do it all over again.

When he popped up and scored for Wimbledon the other day the first reaction was wow! he is still going despite his regularity in the treatment room when he was with us!!

You have to wonder what not playing league football will do to a chap like him, especially as he has managed to keep himself going for so long.

Enjoy your retirement David.

He was certainly the best striker at the club when fit, but you could always be sure he'd be back in the treatment room before too long

It's a shame he spent so long in the treatment room, because he was almost certainly the best striker at the club.

I remember his debut at Oldham. His signing was very hush-hush, I think Pardew even referenced to keeping him training with them quiet as so not to alert other clubs. When he came on there were a lot of 'who is this?' or 'when did we sign him?' chatter. He had a classy finish to make it 3-1 to us and never really looked back. He had quite a good football IQ in addition to his finishing ability which meant he combined very well with Lallana and Lambert.

Anyone rember him hitting a spectacular effort from 30-40 yards out that crashed against the bar? If it went in it would have been a goal le tissier would stick in his top ten! Struggle to remember what game it was in though

i think it was the away game at Plymouth where he was just fantastic and ran the show.

When fit, he was one of the best finishers in the game.

Are you saying that he spent too much time in the treatment room?

Are you saying that he spent too much time in the treatment room?

If only he hadn't he would have been one of the great goalscorers.

He was class, scored some vital goals for us L1 and linked up so well with Lallana and Lambert.

Remember what I think(?) was his first goal for us. No idea who it was against but was a close finish, six yards if that. Completely duped the GK and sent it top corner.

Was a cracking goal and his body shape and technique for that showed how capable he was very early doors for us.

Remember what I think(?) was his first goal for us. No idea who it was against but was a close finish, six yards if that. Completely duped the GK and sent it top corner.

 

Was a cracking goal and his body shape and technique for that showed how capable he was very early doors for us.

Oldham away. 3-1 win 17/10/09. On as sub and got the 3rd.

Oldham away. 3-1 win 17/10/09. On as sub and got the 3rd.

2009? That long ago?

That makes me sad

I remember the first time I saw him, thinking that he looked a class player. His positioning and running into the box was intelligent and looked a level above Lge1

Cracking player, shame he was so injury prone. Who's with me?

Cracking player, shame he was so injury prone. Who's with me?

I'm with you. What's the plan for the next step?

Anyone rember him hitting a spectacular effort from 30-40 yards out that crashed against the bar? If it went in it would have been a goal le tissier would stick in his top ten! Struggle to remember what game it was in though

Against Plymouth when we clinched promotion and won 3-1. Spectacular effort. Left footed too