Matt CONNOLLY

D.O.B.

24/09/1987

Birthplace

Barnet

Height

1.89 m (6 ft 2 1R

Weight

13st 3lbs

Position

DRLC

Signed

02/01/2008

Fee

Undisclosed

Former Clubs

Arsenal, Bournemouth (L), Colchester (L), Reading (L)

International

England U-21

Pen Pic

Matt Connolly worked his way through the ranks at Arsenal, and under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, the central defender became captain of the Gunners Reserve side in 2006.

He had a brief loan spell at AFC Bournemouth where he bagged a goal in only three starts, before he embarked on a loan spell to the Championship, and relegation threatened Colchester United. 13 League starts and two goals later Connolly had established himself as a first team regular at Layer Road, and his return to Arsenal saw a severe dip in form for the U`s.

Connolly made only two senior appearances for Arsenal, both in the Carling Cup against West Bromwich Albion, and then a quarter final appearance against Liverpool.

Matthew signed for the R's in the January transfer window 2008 for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1m. He signed a three and a half year deal with Rangers.

After featuring predominantly at full-back, Connolly established himself as a first choice central defender as he matured his game under Neil Warnock in 2010-11.

He appeared primarily as a central defender alongside Kaspars Gorkss and Fitz Hall as Rangers kept a stunning amount of clean sheets on the way to promotion.

He failed to compete effectively for his place after a flurry of defensive inclusions in the summer transfer window and was loaned out to Reading, helping them to promotion back to the top flight.

He toured with QPR in the far east in the pre-season of 2012-13 with no hint of an immininent departure, but he was sold to Cardiff City in 2012 bringing down a near four year stay in W12.