Denis Connaghan

Not to be confused with Denis Connaghan (footballer, born 1976).

Denis Connaghan
Personal information
Date of birth (1945-01-09)9 January 1945
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death (aged 79)
Place of death Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Glasgow United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1964 Celtic 0 (0)
→ Yoker Athletic (loan)
0000–1964 Renfrew
1964–1971 St Mirren 102 (0)
1967 → Baltimore Bays (loan) 7 (0)
1971–1977 Celtic 32 (0)
1977–1979 Morton 41 (0)
1979–1980 Clyde 17 (0)
Arthurlie
Total 199 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Denis Connaghan (9 January 1945 – 14 January 2024) was a Scottish football goalkeeper, who played for Celtic, St Mirren, Morton and Clyde.

Connaghan began his career at Celtic, but was released in 1963.[1] After a spell in junior football with Renfrew, he joined St Mirren in 1964, where he spent seven seasons and played over 100 league games. He re-joined Celtic in 1971 in the aftermath of Celtic's shock 4–1 loss to Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup final.[1] Connaghan played in Celtic's 1974 Scottish Cup Final winning side,[2] and also in the penalty shoot-out win over Rangers in the Drybrough Cup final later that same year.[1] However, he never fully established himself and included only 32 league games before his departure in 1977.[3]

After brief spells at Morton and Clyde, Connaghan returned to junior football in 1980 to play for Arthurlie, and he helped them reach the Scottish Junior Cup final, where they lost 1–0 to Pollok.[4] Following his retirement from playing, he spent many years associated with Neilston Juniors in a number of backroom roles.[4]

Personal life and death

Connaghan's son Denis also became a footballer.[5] He attended Holyrood Secondary School.[4]

Connaghan died on 14 January 2024. He was 79.[6][7]

Honours

Celtic

References

  1. ^ a b c d Henderson, Mark (3 June 2013). "Where are they now? Denis Connaghan". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ^ Archer, Ian (6 May 1974). "Celtic again lift cup - but final is soon forgotten". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Celtic Player Denis Connaghan Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c O'Donnell, Jim (21 May 2014). "From European ties to life with the Farmer's Boys … Denis has loved it all". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. ^ "CONNAGHAN, Denis 2001–02 – The Partick Thistle History Archive". partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. ^ "St Mirren pays condolences to Denis Connaghan". www.stmirren.com. St Mirren F.C. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  7. ^ Denis Connaghan


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