James Connor (1867–1929) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. (registration & fee required)
Early career In 1888, Connor signed for Warwick County, an association football off-shoot of Warwickshire CCC. However, due to its proximity to the City of Birmingham the club could not compete with clubs like Aston Villa, for whom Connor signed in 1889.
Football League career Connor played one game in his first season at Wellington Road, the then home of Aston Villa, on 25 January 1890. Connor played left-half against Bolton Wanderers, a match which Villa lost 2–1. The Lancashire Evening Post described the match in its 25 January 1890 edition but did not mention Connor by name.(registration & fee required) The following season, Connor played three times in what was a poor Aston Villa season, the team finishing ninth in the League. His final appearance for the Villa first team was on Boxing Day 1890, at Wellington Road, against Sunderland. He returned to Birmingham to play for King's Heath, a club for which there are no online records. He played for the club for two years before moving to the East Midlands in 1893 when he signed for Nottingham Forest, a Football League First Division side.
Connor played five times in his first season as the team finished seventh in the First Division. His club debut was on 4 November 1893 against Burnley, but he got off to a losing start with a 3–1 defeat. His only appearance in a home game was on 24 March 1894 at the Town Ground against Preston North End. His final League appearance was on 26 March 1894 at Stoney Lane, the then home of West Bromwich Albion. Connor left Forest for Heanor Town in 1894.
Later life Connor died in 1929.
Statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa1889–90The Football League10--10Aston Villa1890–91Football League30--30Nottingham Forest1893–94First Division50--50
References