Conor Downey
Encyclopedia
Conor Downey is a professional footballer from Northern Ireland
and plays for Ballymena United
Downey played for Carrick Rangers before joining Cliftonville
in 2000. In his first spell at the club he played largely as a striker, alongside Chris Scannell
. He was allowed to leave the club to join Lisburn Distillery
in March 2003 on a free transfer, but returned in August 2004, reportedly only beating the transfer deadline by a matter of hours.
Upon his return to Solitude
, manager Liam Beckett
decided that to deploy Downey as a midfielder, and since then he has made the position his own. After a good season in 2005/06, helping Cliftonville
to a 5th placed finish, Downey attracted the interest of the likes of Glentoran
and Portadown
. He rejected their advances however, and opted to stay with the Reds. In January 2007 however, the BBC reported that Linfield
and Derry City
had made approaches for the player, at the same time he was also linked with English sides Oldham Athletic
and Peterborough United F.C.
and Gretna F.C.
from the Scottish First Division
.
Downey joined Linfield later that month and his first game for the Blues was against Portadown F.C.
on January 20, 2007. Part of the deal taking him to Linfield was that Cliftonville would be allowed to use Linfield's Windsor Park
ground for European games. This in turn enabled Cliftonville to obtain a UEFA
licence in April 2007. He quickly established himself in the Linfield side, earning a place in the Irish League side that beat the England semi-professional side in February 2007. However on March 7, 2007 was ruled out for the rest of the season after a cruciate ligament
injury picked up in the Setanta Cup game against Glentoran two days previously.
Rejoined Cliftonville in September 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/7592912.stm.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and plays for Ballymena United
Downey played for Carrick Rangers before joining Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
in 2000. In his first spell at the club he played largely as a striker, alongside Chris Scannell
Chris Scannell
Chris Scannell is a professional footballer from Northern Ireland and plays for Cliftonville F.C.. Scannell is one of Cliftonville's all-time leading goalscorers having amassed over 100 goals for the club. His brother Ronan also plays for the club.Chris made his senior debut for Cliftonville...
. He was allowed to leave the club to join Lisburn Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
in March 2003 on a free transfer, but returned in August 2004, reportedly only beating the transfer deadline by a matter of hours.
Upon his return to Solitude
Solitude (football ground)
Solitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville. The stadium holds 6,224, but is currently restricted to 2,180 under safety legislation. The stadium was built in 1890....
, manager Liam Beckett
Liam Beckett
Liam Beckett is a football manager and ex-footballer. During his football career he played most notably for Coleraine and Crusaders.-Managerial career:...
decided that to deploy Downey as a midfielder, and since then he has made the position his own. After a good season in 2005/06, helping Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
to a 5th placed finish, Downey attracted the interest of the likes of Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
and Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
. He rejected their advances however, and opted to stay with the Reds. In January 2007 however, the BBC reported that Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
had made approaches for the player, at the same time he was also linked with English sides Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Gretna F.C.
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
from the Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
.
Downey joined Linfield later that month and his first game for the Blues was against Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
on January 20, 2007. Part of the deal taking him to Linfield was that Cliftonville would be allowed to use Linfield's Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
ground for European games. This in turn enabled Cliftonville to obtain a UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
licence in April 2007. He quickly established himself in the Linfield side, earning a place in the Irish League side that beat the England semi-professional side in February 2007. However on March 7, 2007 was ruled out for the rest of the season after a cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury picked up in the Setanta Cup game against Glentoran two days previously.
Rejoined Cliftonville in September 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/7592912.stm.