John Finnigan
Encyclopedia
John Francis Finnigan is an English footballer. He is currently with non-league side Shortwood United
. 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
.
, 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
.
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. Finnigan then signed a contract extension to keep him at Cheltenham until 2010 alongside striker Steven Gillespie
in August 2007. Finnigan suffered an injury which kept him out of action for a year in 2007.
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.
In October 2010, he parted company with Kiddiminster Harriers.
After regaining fitness at Winchcombe School he signed for Bishop's Cleeve
in the Southern League, 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.
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.
on 23 December 2009 following the departure of Mark Yates to Cheltenham Town
.
Shortwood United F.C.
Shortwood United Football Club is an English football club from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire who are members of the Hellenic League Premier Division. Its home ground, Meadowbank Ground, features floodlighting. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:The club has been members...
. He has previously featured in the Football League for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
and Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
after starting his career with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
Finnigan has also featured in non-league football for the likes of Bishop's Cleeve and the season after arriving at Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
he took charge of the team as manager on an interim basis following the departure of Mark Yates to Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
Career
Born in WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, Finnigan began his career with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
however failed to make an appearance at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
and was loaned out to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
for his first spell with the club in 1998. He made his first league appearance for Lincoln in April 1998 against Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
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
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
he left the club in March 2002 to join Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
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
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, and also received the 'Player of the Season' award at Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road is a football stadium in Cheltenham, England. It is the home ground of Cheltenham Town F.C. and shared with Gloucester City A.F.C.. It has a total capacity of 7,066, with a mixture of seating and terracing...
.
He was made captain at the club and in 2006 he signed a new two year contract under manager John Ward
John Ward
John Ward may refer to:*John Ward , English composer*John Ward , English Gresham Professor of Rhetoric*John Ward , Lord Mayor of London...
to keep him at Cheltenham until the summer of 2008. Finnigan then signed a contract extension to keep him at Cheltenham until 2010 alongside striker Steven Gillespie
Steven Gillespie
Steven Gillespie is an English professional footballer currently playing for Colchester United.-Early career:Gillespie, who plays as a striker, began his career as a trainee for Liverpool....
in August 2007. Finnigan suffered an injury which kept him out of action for a year in 2007.
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
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on a two-year contract.
In October 2010, he parted company with Kiddiminster Harriers.
After regaining fitness at Winchcombe School he signed for Bishop's Cleeve
Bishop's Cleeve F.C.
Bishop's Cleeve F.C. are a football club based in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1905. They joined the Hellenic Football League Division One in 1983 and reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase in the 2005-06 season. They are currently members of...
in the Southern League, debuting in the 0–0 home draw with Stourport Swifts
Stourport Swifts F.C.
Stourport Swifts are a football team from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and one of the oldest non-league teams in the country. The Swifts gained promotion to the Southern League Division One West in 2001 from the Midland Alliance, and currently play at Walshes Meadow in the town.In the year...
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
Abingdon United F.C.
Abingdon United F.C. is an English association football club who currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West.The club was founded in 1946 as a rival to the already existing Abingdon Town at the Anchor pub on the bank of the River Thames...
on 12 March 2011.
After starting the 2011-12 season with Bishop's Cleeve, Finnigan featured just a handful of times under new manager Alex Sykes
Alex Sykes
Alex Sykes is a former English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Mansfield Town as a midfielder. He also played internationally for the England Futsal team...
as he struggled for fitness on his return from injury. Finnigan then signed for Hellenic Premier Division
Hellenic Football League
The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
outfit Shortwood United
Shortwood United F.C.
Shortwood United Football Club is an English football club from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire who are members of the Hellenic League Premier Division. Its home ground, Meadowbank Ground, features floodlighting. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:The club has been members...
in October 2011.
Coaching career
Finnigan was appointed as temporary manager of Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on 23 December 2009 following the departure of Mark Yates to Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.