Jemma Connor-Iommi

Jemma Louise Connor-Iommi (born 28 May 1985) is a football coach and former player. She most recently played as a defender for London Bees. Connor-Iommi was born in England but represented the Republic of Ireland at senior international level.

Jemma Connor-Iommi
Playing for London Bees in 2015
Personal information
Full name Jemma Louise Connor-Iommi[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-28) 28 May 1985
Place of birth Sutton Coldfield, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
Aston Villa Ladies
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Doncaster Rovers Belles 0 (0)
2006–2010 Sporting Club Albion
2008–2010 Birmingham City Ladies
2010–2013 Nottingham Forest
2014 Oxford United Ladies
2015 London Bees
National team‡
2008–2010 Republic of Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 May 2010 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Club career

After two years at the national academy for women's football in Gateshead, 18-year-old Connor-Iommi went to America on a scholarship in 2003.[2] She returned home six months into the four-year course due to a weight problem.[2]

Connor-Iommi lost 9 stone (57 kg)[2] and played for Doncaster Rovers Belles then West Bromwich Albion Ladies.[3] She joined Premier League Birmingham City in 2008[4] but continued to appear for West Bromwich Albion (then called Sporting Club Albion) in the Midland Combination.[5]

She also played futsal for Team United Birmingham.[6]

With Birmingham City inactive until the FA WSL started in spring 2011, Connor-Iommi joined Nottingham Forest in the 2010–2011 Premier League.[7] In 2012–13 Connor-Iommi captained Nottingham Forest while also working as a manager in a school.[8]

When Oxford United were elected into FA WSL 2 in 2014 Connor-Iommi signed for them. After playing in every match for Oxford, she joined WSL 2 rivals London Bees ahead of the 2015 campaign.[9] In June 2016, Connor-Iommi returned to West Brom as a development manager.

International career

Connor-Iommi was eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team through her Irish father. She was called up for the first time in May 2008.[3] She then went on a tour to America that autumn.[10]

In October 2008 she participated in Ireland's Euro 2009 play-off defeat by Iceland, under the name Jemma O'Connor.[11]

Personal life

Tony Iommi is Jemma's mother's cousin.[2] In 2009 Connor-Iommi worked as a warrant officer, which she described as: "knocking on offenders' doors and hoping not to get your head kicked in".[12]

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2015 and 28/02/2015" (PDF). The Football Association. p. 2. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  2. "Jemma hopes to avoid Black Sabbath for final". Express and Star. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. "Albion ace set to make history". West Bromwich Albion FC. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  4. "Birmingham City Ladies FC 2008-09 Season". www.football-england.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  5. "Advantage Albion and Argyle". She Kicks. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  6. "Republic Of Ireland International Takes Futsal To Heart". TeamUnited.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  7. Tony Leighton (5 September 2010). "Forest beat Lionesses to go top". BBC. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  8. Heath, Neil (15 November 2012). "Nottingham Forest Ladies: The reality of women's football". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  9. "Connor-Iommi signs for the Bees!". London Bees. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  10. "Jemma's dream call up". Women's Soccer Scene. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  11. "Irish frozen out in Iceland". Fair Game. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  12. Malone, Emmet (19 June 2009). "Republic of Ireland squad". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
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