Here is the first in of a weekly series profiling players across the region. Each week, a different player will reveal the best (and worst) moments from their football career. First up is one of Worsbrough Bridge’s star players.
*UPDATED July 2017
Worsbrough’s Connor Rollinson, pictured playing for Glasshoughton in 2015/16
Name: Connor Rollinson
Age: 24
Position: Right-back/Midfield
Based: Barnsley
Day job: Behaviour support within a SEMH school
Current club: Worsbrough Bridge
Previous clubs: Athersley Rec, Pontefract Collieries, Kinsley Boys and Glasshoughton Welfare.
Best mate in football: Oh Ive got a few. Probably Calan (Rollinson), purely because he’s my brother, Ryan Poskitt (The assassin) because he’s always looked after me and Gaz Hunter.
Career Highlight: Winning players’ player of the year for Worsbrough Bridge at the end of then 2016/17 season. Also becoming club captain of Worsbrough during the same season.
Lowest moment in football: Losing 8-1 to Hallam last season with Worsbrough.
Most Memorable match: Winning a FA Vase qualifying game for Kinsley to reach the first round. We beat AFC Darwen 4-3 after extra time. We were losing 3-0 at half time.
Simon Houghton gave a then-16-year-old Connor Rollinson his Pontefract debut
A very young Connor Rollinson battling with Farsley Celtic left-back Ryan Serrant in 2011 whilst playing for Pontefract Collieries
Connor Rollinson captained Worsbrough Bridge to safety last season and deservedly won the players’ player of the year trophy
Connor Rollinson played on for Worsbrough last season to help them stay up despite wrist, back and knee injuries
Connor Rollinson in battle for Worsbrough
Connor Rollinson playing for Worsbrough at Dodworth
Biggest influence on your football career: My family and (former Pontefract Collieries captain and manager) Nick Handley because he introduced me to the NCEL.
First (semi-professional) Manager: Simon Houghton (Pontefract Collieries) aka Professor Xavier.
First Red Card (at semi-professional level): Haven’t got one yet. Got a few in my junior days.
First Goal (at semi-professional level): Think it was against Teversal in 2011, lobbed the keeper at their ground – playing for Pontefract.
Description of Favourite Goal (at semi-professional level): Against Selby last year at their ground. 30 yards out in the top corner. Didn’t think I had that in me. Mark Stuart laid me the ball and I just hit it first time.
What do you want to achieve in football in the future: To win a promotion. I have been close with Pontefract. Finished 4th a couple of times – this was before the play-offs. I also want to help raise awareness of Disability Football and continue the work I do with the Pontefract Pirates.
Favourite Non League ground to play at (barring where you play): AFC Emley’s Welfare Ground and Winterton Rangers