Conor Branson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 November 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Pontefract, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| 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 | 2 | (1) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:07, 17 April 2016 (UTC). | |||
Conor Branson (born 14 November 1991) is an English footballer currently playing for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL.[1]
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.[1] 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 A.F.C. 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 D.C. United and Columbus Crew SC, 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]
Career statistics
- As of 3 April 2016[4]
| Club | League | Division | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Barnsley F.C. | The Championship | II | 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guiseley A.F.C. | National League North | VI | 2011–12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds | USL | III | 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||
References
- 1 2 "Riverhounds bio". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "Oakwell Club Unveil New-Look Home Kit". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "Kick Off 2010-2011". Barnsley FC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "Tykes part ways with quintet". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "English Midfielder Branson Signs with Riverhounds". USL. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "2013 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "2014 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "2015 Stats". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "Branson Repeats as CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team". UC Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "Ins and outs at Nethermoor". Guiseley AFC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Riverhounds add English defensive midfielder Conor Branson to roster". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ "HOUNDS EDGED BY ROCHESTER IN USL SEASON OPENER". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
External links
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