John Finnigan
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Francis Finnigan | ||
| Date of birth | 29 March 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Wakefield, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1998 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | (0) |
| 1998 | → Lincoln City (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1998–2002 | Lincoln City | 137 | (3) |
| 2002–2009 | Cheltenham Town | 220 | (20) |
| 2009–2011 | Kidderminster Harriers | 16 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Bishop's Cleeve | 12 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Shortwood United | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2009–2010 | Kidderminster Harriers (caretaker) | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:39, 4 April 2010 (UTC). | |||
John Francis Finnigan (born 29 March 1976) is a retired English footballer. He has previously featured in the Football League for Lincoln City and Cheltenham Town after starting his career with Nottingham Forest.
Finnigan has also featured in non-league football for the likes of Bishop's Cleeve and the season after arriving at Kidderminster Harriers he took charge of the team as manager on an interim basis following the departure of Mark Yates to Cheltenham Town.[1]
Career
Born in Wakefield, Finnigan began his career with Nottingham Forest however failed to make an appearance at the City Ground and was loaned out to Lincoln City for his first spell with the club in 1998. He made his first league appearance for Lincoln in April 1998 against Macclesfield Town and featured in the Imps promotion to Division Two.
On his release by Nottingham Forest, Finnigan signed permanently for Lincoln City and for the 2000/01 season he was made team captain. Finnigan missed a large chunk of the 2001/02 season with a neck injury and after four years at Sincil Bank he left the club in March 2002 to join Cheltenham Town.[2][3]
In his first season with Cheltenham Town, Finnigan helped Cheltenham to promotion via the play-offs, scoring in the play-off final against Rushden & Diamonds at the Millennium Stadium, and also received the 'Player of the Season' award at Whaddon Road.
He was made captain at the club and in 2006 he signed a new two-year contract under manager John Ward to keep him at Cheltenham until the summer of 2008.[4] Finnigan then signed a contract extension to keep him at Cheltenham until 2010 alongside striker Steven Gillespie in August 2007.[5] Finnigan suffered an injury which kept him out of action for a year in 2007.[6]
In the close season of 2009, Finnigan was released by Cheltenham, with the remaining one year on his contract cancelled by mutual consent, quoting 'it was time to move on'. He signed for Conference National side Kidderminster Harriers on a two-year contract.[7]
In October 2010, he parted company with Kidderminster Harriers.[8][9]
After regaining fitness at Winchcombe School he signed for Bishop's Cleeve in the Southern League,[10] debuting in the 0–0 home draw with Stourport Swifts on 3 January 2011. However, his season was curtailed when he injured his cruciate knee ligaments in Bishop's Cleeve's 2–1 defeat at Abingdon United on 12 March 2011.[11]
After starting the 2011–12 season with Bishop's Cleeve, Finnigan featured just a handful of times under new manager Alex Sykes as he struggled for fitness on his return from injury. Finnigan then signed for Hellenic Premier Division outfit Shortwood United in October 2011.[12][13] Finnigan was part of the Shortwood United squad that reached the FA Vase quarter finals in March 2012. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Finnigan retired from playing.
Finnigan is also Sport's Development Officer at the astro turf occupied by Winchcombe School, whilst also the Football Academy Manager at Kidderminster College. He very rarely turns out for local Cheltenham teams such as Winchcombe Town and Village Real.
Coaching career
Finnigan was appointed as temporary manager of Kidderminster Harriers on 23 December 2009 following the departure of Mark Yates to Cheltenham Town.[14]
References
- ↑ "Finnigan takes on Harriers role". BBC News. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ↑ "#96 John Finnigan". redimps.co.uk. 28 June 2007.
- ↑ "Finnigan leaves Imps". Lincoln City-Mad. 7 March 2002.
- ↑ "Finnigan signs two-year deal". ctfc.com. 20 March 2006.
- ↑ "Finnigan and Gillespie sign". ctfc.com. 7 August 2007.
- ↑ "Finnigan still fighting to be fit". BBC Sport. 10 September 2008.
- ↑ "Harriers to tie up Finnigan deal". BBC Sport. 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ↑ "Chelenham Town: Former skipper Finnigan leaves Harriers". thisisgloucestershire. 22 October 2010.
- ↑ "John Finnigan leaves Harriers". Express & Star. 22 October 2010.
- ↑ "Finnigan coup for Cleeve". NonLeagueDaily.com. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ↑ "Finnigan blow for Villagers". NonLeagueDaily.com. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ↑ "Ex-Robin Finnigan signs for Wood". thisisgloucestershire. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ↑ "Finnigan back in red and white....of Wood". Gloucestershire Echo. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ↑ "Finnigan takes over as Kidderminster temporary boss". BBC Sport. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
