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Glasgow born Kenny Connolly was on the fringes of the first team squad for several seasons, making a handful of appearances, but never quite making the progression to first team regular.
The SPL’s stipulation that a Premier League’s side squad must contain a certain amount of young players within its team-lines for each fixture could be considered a double edged sword.
On one hand it provides a young player with the opportunity to sample life in the first team squad at an earlier age than they might previously have done. To see at first hand how their manager and coaches work, to learn how senior professionals approach games and accustomise themselves to being involved in games with much larger attendances than reserve and youth games.
On the other hand it could be argued that in many cases managers have no intention whatsoever to play any of the young players involved, and have selected them only to ensure the rules and regulations laid down are abided by.
On being introduced to the 'Well first team squad Kenny was included in the Motherwell team, yet remained an unused substitute more than 10 times throughout the 2005'06 season.
Things went along similar lines for Connolly during the first half of the 2006'07 season. Some way down the pecking order for selection for a first team start, barring one or two occasions Connolly remained an unused sub.
It must surely have been frustrating for the midfielder, particularly with injuries to Keith Lasley and Phil O'Donnell and more of his younger team-mates such as Mark Reynolds and Darren Smith making inroads into the starting eleven.
At last, almost a year after his breakthrough into the squad, Kenny made his Motherwell debut. With time running out in the Lanarkshire derby against Airdrie in the Scottish Cup and 'Well defending a narrow 1-0 lead, Connolly was introduced to stiffen up the midfield and see the Dossers through into the next round.
Though he barely had time to get involved Kenny would have been delighted to have made his first senior appearance.
His second, a few weeks later at Tannadice had a fair bit more bearing on proceedings. Coming on as an 81st minute substitute, Connolly filled in at right back and was in exactly the right place to clear off the line and prevent the Arabs from stealing a last minute winner.
While many of his team-mates Kenny came through the U19 ranks were being allowed to move on, Connolly was one of the few offered a contract extension by 'Well manager Maurice Malpas.
Before leaving in the summer of 2007, one of Malpas's last acts was to give the midfielder his first start in the final game of the season, against Dundee Utd where Connolly did not look out of place against stronger, more physical opponents.
Injury ruled Kenny out for the vast majority of the 2007'08 season though he returned to fitness just in time to make the bench for 'Well's final home game of the season, albeit as an unused substitute.
Kenny's contract was extended by a further six months, to allow him the opportunity to show Mark McGhee what he could offer. Sadly for Connolly he was unable to make inroads into the first team squad and was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer come the January 2009 transfer window having made 3 outings for the Steelmen.
Several sides were quick to register their interest in Connolly and within a few days of leaving Fir Park he had joined Ayr United, whom he helped win promotion to Division One beating Airdrie in the end of season play-off.
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D.O.B:
18/04/1987
Born:
Glasgow
Height:
6'
Weight:
12st 1Ibs
Signed From:
MFC Youth
Sold To From:
Ayr United
Position:
Defender/Midfielder
International Caps:
 0
International Goals:
0
2008/09 Squad No:
26
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