Tony O'Connell

Updated prose, added reference

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==Post-playing career== ==Post-playing career== After he retired from playing, O'Connell remained involved with football as a manager. Initially, he was in charge of the Irish Schoolboy team. He later managed [[Tolka Rovers]], winning the FAI Junior Cup in 1988–89. O'Connell then left Rovers to take charge at [[Ashtown Villa]], a club that two of his nephews were involved in running. After he retired from playing, O'Connell remained involved with football as a manager. Initially, he was in charge of the Irish Schoolboy team. He later managed [[Tolka Rovers]], winning the FAI Junior Cup in 1988–89. O'Connell then left Rovers to take charge at [[Ashtown Villa]], a club that two of his nephews were involved in running.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 1999 |title=Ashtown chase past glories |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ashtown-chase-past-glories-1.144361 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

O'Connell's association with Bohs also continued after his playing career ended and he initiated the first ever shirt sponsorship in Irish football when his textile company, Jodi, appeared on the club's red and black jerseys in the early 1970s.<ref name="indo_profile">{{Cite web |date=11 May 2001 |title=Gypsy O'Connell continues to fuel the Phibsborough fire |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/gypsy-oconnell-continues-to-fuel-the-phibsborough-fire/26086611.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Irish Independent |language=en|last=Quinn|first=Philip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bohemian F.C. 130th anniversary booklet |url=https://bohemianfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bohemian-FC-130th-anniversary-booklet.pdf |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Bohemian F.C.}}</ref> He was elected club president in 1993 and was part of the board that appointed [[Roddy Collins]] as manager in 1998.<ref name="indo_notes" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Philip |date=28 April 2000 |title=Bosses of the passion play |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/bosses-of-the-passion-play/26121086.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> O'Connell would later sponsor a new stand in [[Dalymount Park]], which opened in October 1999 as the "Jodi Stand", after he lobbied for grant aid to construct it.<ref name="indo_profile" /><ref name="Farrell_footballpink" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2010 |title=Tony O'Connell becomes legend - again |url=http://www.bohemians.ie/component/content/article/43-hall-of-fame/708-tony-oconnell-becomes-legend-again.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728141028/http://www.bohemians.ie/component/content/article/43-hall-of-fame/708-tony-oconnell-becomes-legend-again.html |archive-date=2012-07-28 |website=www.bohemians.ie}}</ref> O'Connell's association with Bohs also continued after his playing career ended. In the early 1970s, he initiated the first ever shirt sponsorship in Irish football when his textile company, Jodi, appeared on the club's red and black jerseys.<ref name="indo_profile">{{Cite web |date=11 May 2001 |title=Gypsy O'Connell continues to fuel the Phibsborough fire |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/gypsy-oconnell-continues-to-fuel-the-phibsborough-fire/26086611.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Irish Independent |language=en|last=Quinn|first=Philip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bohemian F.C. 130th anniversary booklet |url=https://bohemianfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bohemian-FC-130th-anniversary-booklet.pdf |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Bohemian F.C.}}</ref> He was elected club president in 1993 and was part of the board that appointed [[Roddy Collins]] as manager in 1998.<ref name="indo_notes" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Philip |date=28 April 2000 |title=Bosses of the passion play |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/bosses-of-the-passion-play/26121086.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> O'Connell would later sponsor a new stand in [[Dalymount Park]], which opened in October 1999 as the "Jodi Stand", after he lobbied for grant aid to construct it.<ref name="indo_profile" /><ref name="Farrell_footballpink" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2010 |title=Tony O'Connell becomes legend - again |url=http://www.bohemians.ie/component/content/article/43-hall-of-fame/708-tony-oconnell-becomes-legend-again.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728141028/http://www.bohemians.ie/component/content/article/43-hall-of-fame/708-tony-oconnell-becomes-legend-again.html |archive-date=2012-07-28 |website=www.bohemians.ie}}</ref>

He later managed [[Ashtown Villa]] where, in 1991, they beat Dundalk at Oriel Park.<ref name="democrat_glories" /> Villa went on to knock [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] out of the FAI Cup with a win at the Brandywell. He also had a spell as [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s Irish scout. In 1993, he was elected club president by Bohemians' members.<ref name="Dundalk_whoswho" /> During his tenure in that position, the club finished league runners-up on two occasions. He is still a member of Bohs to this day and was made Honorary Life President in 1999.<ref name="indo_notes">{{Cite web |date=2008-11-22 |title=Will cheesy song contest hit right showpiece notes? |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/will-cheesy-song-contest-hit-right-showpiece-notes/26494044.html |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jason |title=The home of Irish Football is secure |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/14644/the-home-of-irish-football-is-secure/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=extratime.com |language=en}}</ref> A further honour followed in November 2007 when O'Connell was inducted into the Bohemian F.C. Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/events/murphy-clubpoty.htm |title=Bohemian FC of Dublin Official Website - Gala honour for Murphy |accessdate=29 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102134802/http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/events/murphy-clubpoty.htm |archivedate=2 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="indo_notes" /> Tony appeared at the Big Bohs Gig at the [[Olympia Theatre, Dublin|Olympia Theatre]] in Dublin alongside [[RTÉ]]'s [[Joe Duffy]] and ex-boxer [[Bernard Dunne]] on 19 February 2011. He later managed [[Ashtown Villa]] where, in 1991, they beat Dundalk at Oriel Park.<ref name="democrat_glories" /> Villa went on to knock [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] out of the FAI Cup with a win at the Brandywell. He also had a spell as [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s Irish scout. In 1993, he was elected club president by Bohemians' members.<ref name="Dundalk_whoswho" /> During his tenure in that position, the club finished league runners-up on two occasions. He is still a member of Bohs to this day and was made Honorary Life President in 1999.<ref name="indo_notes">{{Cite web |date=2008-11-22 |title=Will cheesy song contest hit right showpiece notes? |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/will-cheesy-song-contest-hit-right-showpiece-notes/26494044.html |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jason |title=The home of Irish Football is secure |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/14644/the-home-of-irish-football-is-secure/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=extratime.com |language=en}}</ref> A further honour followed in November 2007 when O'Connell was inducted into the Bohemian F.C. Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/events/murphy-clubpoty.htm |title=Bohemian FC of Dublin Official Website - Gala honour for Murphy |accessdate=29 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102134802/http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/events/murphy-clubpoty.htm |archivedate=2 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="indo_notes" /> Tony appeared at the Big Bohs Gig at the [[Olympia Theatre, Dublin|Olympia Theatre]] in Dublin alongside [[RTÉ]]'s [[Joe Duffy]] and ex-boxer [[Bernard Dunne]] on 19 February 2011.