Gary Donnellan (born 3 July 1962) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Reading.

Gary Donnellan
Personal information
Full name Gary Donnellan[1]
Date of birth (1962-07-03) 3 July 1962 (age 61)[1]
Place of birth Paddington,[2] England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1980 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980 Chelsea 0 (0)
1980–1981 Watford 0 (0)
1981–1983 Reading 41 (5)
1983–1987 Wealdstone 116 (14)
1987–1990 Yeovil Town (13)
1990 Enfield
1990–1992 Slough Town 47 (7)
1992–1993 Hendon 24 (3)
Total 228+ (42+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Donnellan started his career as an apprentice at Chelsea, before being signed by Watford in 1980. Having only made one appearance for The Hornets, in the Football League Group Cup,[3] he moved to Reading, with whom he made 41 appearances in the Football League Third Division over the next two seasons.[1]

He then joined Wealdstone, and was a regular in the side that won the 1984–85 Alliance Premier LeagueFA Trophy "double".[4][5] In the latter part of the 1986–87 season, Donnellan followed Wealdstone manager Brian Hall to Isthmian League club Yeovil Town and helped them finish as runners-up.[6][7] He contributed to their Isthmian League and Cup double in his first full season,[8] and made 47 appearances in the Conference over the next two seasons,[9] taking his totals to 129 appearances and 18 goals in all competitions.[10][11] Towards the end of the 1989–90 season, he was transferred to Enfield, struggling at the bottom of the Conference, for a club record £20,000.[12][13] He played eight times, scoring once, as his new team were relegated.[14] He later went on to represent Slough Town[15] and Hendon.[16]

Personal life edit

Donnellan was born to Irish parents in Paddington, London.[2] His brother Leo played football professionally, as have Leo's sons Shaun and Leo junior.[17] Donnellan began working in financial services in 1990, and since 2004 has worked for independent financial advisers Kingsway Wealth Management.[18][19]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Gary Donnellan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b Pope, Neil (14 February 1981). "I'm prepared to work hard at the game and make a success of my career" (JPEG). In Orton, Roland (ed.). Watford: Programme: Football League Division Two: Shrewsbury Town – via Old Watford.
  3. ^ "Digweed to Elkes" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2017. Trefor Jones. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 707, 710. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.
  5. ^ "Stones to celebrate 30th anniversary of the 1985 Double". Wealdstone F.C. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. ^ "The Yeovil Town Story: part 43: Season 1986–87 part two". Ciderspace. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. ^ Sowden, Steve (13 April 2009). "Yeovil Town have set a new club record for the Football League". Yeovil Express. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. ^ "The Yeovil Town Story: part 44: Season 1987–88 part two". Ciderspace. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  9. ^ Harman, John (ed.). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004. pp. 789, 801.
  10. ^ "Season 1986–87", "1987–88", "1988–89" and "1989–90 Appearances". Ciderspace. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Yeovil Town: Gary Donnellan Profile". Ciderspace. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  12. ^ "The Yeovil Town Story: part 47". Ciderspace. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Looking back: The 1989/90 season". The National League. November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  14. ^ Harman, John (ed.). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004. pp. 229, 233.
  15. ^ "Gary Donnellan". Slough Town FC. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Former Staff – Gary Donnellan". Hendon FC. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Shaun Donnellan hopes to keep playing alongside his younger brother Leo at Worcester City". Worcester News. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Where are they now?". WFC.net. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  19. ^ "About us". Kingsway Wealth Management. Retrieved 16 January 2019.