Johnny Flynn (footballer)

Jonathan Joseph Flynn (born 18 November 1989) is a retired footballer who played as a defender. Flynn began his career at Ballymena United, and later moved to Blackburn Rovers, where he failed to make a first-team appearance. He spent a short loan spell at Accrington Stanley in League Two, and between 2010 and 2012, played for Ross County in the Scottish First Division before later moving to Falkirk.

Johnny Flynn
Personal information
Full name Jonathan Joseph Flynn[1]
Date of birth (1989-11-18) 18 November 1989
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Glenbawn Celtic
Newhill
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Ballymena United 15 (1)
2008–2010 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2009 → Chester City (loan) 4 (1)
2009 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 8 (0)
2010–2012 Ross County 37 (4)
2012–2014 Falkirk 71 (0)
2014–2016 Cliftonville 22 (3)
2016–2018 Ballymena United 7 (1)
2018 Portadown 14 (0)
Total 178 (10)
National team
Northern Ireland U19 10 (0)
2008–2010 Northern Ireland U21 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2018

Flynn has been capped by Northern Ireland at under-21 level.[2][3]

He moved to Cliftonville for the 2014–15 season [4]

Club career

Ballymena United

Flynn began his professional career in his native Northern Ireland with Ballymena United, after being spotted by Belfast-based scout Dominic McEnhill playing in the Down and Connor League for Newhill U16s.[5] He was then spotted by Blackburn Rovers club scout Barry Hunter in late 2007, signing for the Lancashire club in January 2008.[5]

Blackburn Rovers

The defender spent 2 years at Blackburn and during this time failed to make a competitive appearance for the club. Flynn had two loan spells at Chester City and Accrington Stanley in the 2009–2010 season.[6]

Ross County

Flynn signed for Ross County in the summer of 2010 but only managed to make 23 appearances in his two seasons at Victoria Park,[7] scoring 4 goals.,[8] including one that secured County's First Division status in the 2010–2011 Season against Falkirk,[9] who he would eventually sign for in the summer of 2012.

Falkirk

Flynn signed for Falkirk from Ross County in the summer of 2012 for a nominal fee.[10] He made his debut for the club in the Ramsden's Cup against Stirling Albion on 28 July 2012.[11]

Flynn was a first-team regular in his first season at Falkirk, and after a nervy first few games, developed a solid defensive partnership with the vastly experienced club captain Darren Dods. In his second season, with the arrival of Will Vaulks and David McCracken, he found himself more frequently as back-up on the bench. Flynn did however start all four of Falkirk's Scottish Premiership Play-Off games; he was heavily praised for his performances in these matches, in particular the Quarter Final Second Leg 3-1 victory after extra time (4-3 agg.) against Queen of the South on 10 May 2014.[12] Fans were widely impressed and grateful for Flynn's professionalism in the play-off matches, having been on the bench for most of the season and having already agreed a deal to sign for Cliftonville for the following season. Flynn's last appearance in a Falkirk shirt was to be in the Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg defeat to Hamilton Academical on 18 May 2014.[13]

Cliftonville

Flynn signed a pre-contract with Cliftonville in March 2014 and will join them for the 2014–15 season.[4] Flynn was also to set up his own football coaching business 'JF Football Fitness' on his return to Northern Ireland.

References
  1. "Johnny Flynn". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  2. "Squad Profiles – Under 21 Johnny Flynn". Irish Football Association. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  3. "Johnny Flynn". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  4. "Flynncoming". CFC. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  5. "FLYNN DEPARTS SKY BLUES TO BECOME AN IRISH ROVER". The Mirror. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "Accrington sign Blackburn defender Flynn". 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. "Johhny Flynn – Player bio". Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  8. "Johnny Flynn – Football Statistics". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  9. "Ross County duo Stuart Kettlewell and Johnny Flynn earn contract extensions". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  10. "Elvis nets a hat-trick while he's on holiday". Falkirk Herald. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  11. "Falkirk 3 – 0 Stirling Albion : Saturday, 28th July 2012". SFL. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27326191
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27361996
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