Conor Branson

Conor Branson (born 14 November 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Alfreton Town.

Conor Branson
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-11-14) 14 November 1991
Place of birth Pontefract, England
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Alfreton Town
Youth career
2009–2011 Barnsley
2011–2012 Nike Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Charleston Golden Eagles 64 (18)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Barnsley 0 (0)
2011–2012 Guiseley 8 (0)
2016 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 14 (1)
2018–2019 Bradford Park Avenue 40 (12)
2019 Altrincham 8 (0)
2019– Alfreton Town 19 (3)
Teams managed
2015–2016 Charleston Golden Eagles (assistant)
2017–2018 Marshall Thundering Herd (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:39, 24 February 2020 (UTC)

He has also spent time coaching and holds a UEFA B Licence qualification.[1]

Playing career

Youth and college

Branson was a first-year scholar at Barnsley F.C. in 2009.[2] After captaining the academy in 2009, he was promoted to the first team in 2010 on a 1-year contract. About Branson, Barnsley manager Nick Daws said, "Conor has done really well as the captain of the academy. He is a leader, a talker and an organizer. He needs to work on his game like everyone does but he is a real prospect."[3] During the 2010/11 Championship season, he was on the bench for three first team matches but did not make an appearance.[4] He was released by Barnsley, along with four other players, in November 2011.[5] Upon his release from Barnsley he played for, and captained, the Nike Football Academy team in 2011/12. Following that season, he moved to the United States to play college soccer for the Golden Eagles of the University of Charleston.[6] Over his three seasons with the team, he tallied 18 goals in 64 appearances.[7][8][9] In 2014 and 2015 he was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Mountain East Conference and led the Golden Eagles to the NCAA national semifinals in his last season. In 2015 and 2015 he also helped lead the team to league titles while being named an Academic All-American those seasons.[10]

Professional

Branson played for Guiseley of the National League North, the sixth tear of English football, during the 2011/12 season. He stayed with the club until September 2012 when he began attending the University of Charleston.[11] In total he made eight appearances for the club.[4] After college, Branson had trials with DC United and Columbus Crew, both of Major League Soccer.[12]

In March 2016 it was announced that Branson had signed for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League a few days before the opening match of the 2016 USL season.[13] He made his debut for the club on 2 April in the team's opening match to the Rochester Rhinos, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Michael Green.[14] It was announced that Branson and the club mutually parted ways in August 2016 after making 14 appearances and scoring one goal for the club.

In the summer of 2018, he returned to the UK and joined National League North side Bradford Park Avenue.[15] Branson finished his first season with the club with twelve goals and was named as the club's Manager's Player of the Year.[16] On 19 June 2019, Branson left Bradford to join Altrincham.[17]

Coaching career

Branson left Pittsburgh return to the University of Charleston as an assistant coach.[18] He then had a spell coaching at Marshall University for the 2017 season.[1]

Career statistics
As of 4 August 2016[4]
Club League Division Season League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barnsley The Championship II 2010–11 00000000
Guiseley National League North VI 2011–12 80000080
Pittsburgh Riverhounds USL III 2016 1410000141
Career total 2210000221

References
  1. "CONNOR BRANSON Men's Soccer roster". Marshall Thundering Herd. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  2. "Oakwell Club Unveil New-Look Home Kit". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. "Kick Off 2010-2011". Barnsley FC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  5. "Tykes part ways with quintet". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  6. "English Midfielder Branson Signs with Riverhounds". USL. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  7. "2013 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  8. "2014 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  9. "2015 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  10. "Branson Repeats as CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  11. "Ins and outs at Nethermoor". Guiseley AFC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  12. "Current Sports Recruiting USA Men's Soccer Client, Conor Branson, gains trials with MLS Clubs, Columbus Crew and DC United". Sports Recruiting USA. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  13. "Riverhounds add English defensive midfielder Conor Branson to roster". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  14. "HOUNDS EDGED BY ROCHESTER IN USL SEASON OPENER". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  15. "Conor Branson at Bradford PA". Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  16. @BPAFCOfficial (22 April 2019). "MANAGER'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR goes to...CONOR BRANSON" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. Conor Branson leaves Bradford (Park Avenue) for Altrincham, thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, 19 June 2019
  18. "RIVERHOUNDS SIGN MELVIN SNOH AND ANTHONY VIRGARA". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
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