I'm grateful that I'm still involved in football - Dan Connor

Despite a trio of his former clubs experiencing financial ruin and injury forcing a premature retirement, Dan Connor has rejuvenated himself in his dual goalkeeper coaching roles at Wigan Athletic’s academy and for the Republic of Ireland U-21s, as he explains to ExtraTime.ie.

After joining Peterborough United from St Joseph’s Boys in 1998, the 17-year old Dubliner made his senior debut the very same year: “We were playing Brighton, who were groundsharing with Gillingham at the time. It was a strange one, as it almost seemed like a neutral venue. I did well in the game and got Man of the Match from the local paper, whether that means anything or not (laughs) ... Maybe the other lads weren’t that good on the day and I was kept busy.”

Making just seven more first team appearances for the Posh, the young netminder arrived at Waterford United in 2003, a year which witnessed the Muster side capture the League of Ireland First Division. However, Dan’s winning penalty away to Derry City during the 2004 FAI Cup semi-final is what Blues supporters remember him best for.

“We practiced penalties leading up to cup games and I would always be in the last group to win the honours. I think Daryl Murphy got taken down and it was pre-arranged that I would take it. Alan Reynolds, our manager, was waving at me to go up, but I was still surprised. I jogged past David Breen, who said: “Don’t you even f*ck*n’ think about it’, but Rennie was adamant, so I ran up, threw a shape and sent David Forde the wrong way.”

2005 saw Connor move to Drogheda United, where in his first three seasons; the FAI Cup, back-to-back Setanta Sports Cups and a Premier Division title were secured, but then the money ran out: “I don’t see it as financial mismanagement. Yes, they invested on getting a return and when that didn’t come, they had to pull the plug. They could have sold United Park and done a runner, but they’d put their own cash in and didn’t mortgage the club, where the bank could come in. Don’t get me wrong, it’s disappointing when you have to tell the wife that there’s no more wages coming in. If those in charge didn’t have that vision, the people of Drogheda wouldn’t have had those memorable experiences and the fact that the pot ran dry, I don’t blame them … That’s life.”

Following manager Paul Doolin to Cork City in early 2009, familiar and unwanted monetary issues weren’t far behind: “At Cork, the person in charge wasn’t a good character and didn’t have any decency. They ended up hiring someone, when Paul left, who was of a similar ilk, in my opinion. I would have accepted it and moved on, except for the responsible person. After a while, you see people for what they are and their true colours. I made a point of not walking away, even though I had an opportunity to join Steve Staunton at Darlington, but would rather have seen the club go bust and hang in there for every penny I was owed. It’s brilliant that Cork were able to turn things around and stand against those in charge.”

Signing for Pete Mahon’s St Patrick’s Athletic in 2010, Dan was on 25% of his Drogheda salary and second-choice behind Gary Rogers, so it was no surprise when he accepted a two-year contract from Hereford United that summer: “Gary was fantastic that season. He didn’t want to lose his place to me and I wasn’t in the best frame of mind because of the last two years’ woes. There wasn’t much happening in the League of Ireland at the time and I didn’t want to go to another potentially folding club, but it turned out Hereford ended up the same way.”

The Irish goalkeeper’s maiden season at Edgar Street was blighted by a hip injury and he announced his retirement in August 20011. Also during that time, Connor played under five different managers.

“Every time you change the manager it costs money. You have to pay them off, get in new staff and the next boss will want to bring in other players. The then chairman probably didn’t realise this and made some errors along the way. Eventually, they ended up getting dissolved after relegation, but like Cork City, they have a great fan base and are making their way back up the leagues.”

For a goalkeeper to retire at 30, does Dan feel cheated to have missed out on what arguably would have been his peak years between the sticks?

“I’m grateful that I’m still involved in football and try to convey that to younger players. From my point of view, it’s a good story for the lads that if you don’t look after yourself when injured, football can end in a heartbeat.”

Currently, Connor busies himself coaching young goalkeepers at Wigan Athletic’s academy and with Noel King’s Republic of Ireland U-21s: “With Wigan, my role has changed over the last two seasons. Last year, I took over the first team, but a change in manager, which resulted in Paul Cook arriving and he brought in his own staff. I’ve gone back to my academy role, looking after our reserves, U-18s and managing programme, from U-8s all the way up. It’s challenging – especially the market we’re in at the moment and our proximity to big clubs. We always end up with a silver medallist and try to polish them up. Someone who isn’t quite there yet, but with love and investment, we can get something out of it. My links with the Irish U-21s has helped me to attract those types and sell them the dream of an international cap (laughs). That’s the carrot, not a given, but at least he’ll be in the shop window.”