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 | ||
| 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 | 14 | (1) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:10, 4 August 2016 (UTC). | |||
Conor Branson (born 14 November 1991) is an English footballer who last played 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] It was announced that Branson and the club mutually parted ways in August 2016 after making 14 appearances and scoring one goal for the club. He left the team to return to the University of Charleston as an assistant coach.[15]
Career statistics
- As of 4 August 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 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Career total | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |||
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.
- ↑ "RIVERHOUNDS SIGN MELVIN SNOH AND ANTHONY VIRGARA". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 4 August 2016.