Conor Donovan, one of the more successful products of the NCFC Youth Academy is now back home in the triangle as central defender, Conor Donovan is back with his local side. The native of Fuquay-Varina at just 23 has already seen time with both Orlando CIty & the Houston Dynamo of MLS and with USL Championship teams Pittsburgh Riverhounds, OCSCB & Rio Grande Valley FC, now he will bring lessons learned there back home.
HC Dave Sarachn informed "Conor is another great example of our academy and club and the work that we've done to allow players like him to continue at the pro level. To bring him back, we're very excited. From the soccer side of it, he will be a great addition to our backline. He's played a lot of matches recently and is a leader with USL & MLS experience. We're so pleased to add him".
When in his teens. Conor was a top player in both the Academy and U-23's even getting a goal facing Puebla at 18 in a 2-1win against the Liga MX team. One year at NC State and then it was off to the MLS as the 25th pick by Orlando in the MLS SuperDraft following his play in the 2015 U-20 World Cup.
Curt Johnson NCFC Pres. & GM informed "We're thrilled to have Conor back with the club. His path from youth soccer player in the Triangle to established professional represents what we believe is possible for young players throughout our comunity."
In 2019 with RIo Grande Valley, his 2nd with the side, he had 20 games totalling 1,764 minutes for the 6'3" center back with a goal as he wore the captains band 18 times. The 23 blocks he amassed topped the team as his 90 clearances were goood for 2nd place. With his drating into MLS, he was a Generation adidas player, getting his first MLS time in Aug. of '15 with OCSC. 2016-'17 had him with OCSCB with 34 games while recovering from injury. Following 10 games with RGV FC, he was then off to Houston and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title. Conor said "It's special. I think you start to realize the improtant stuff that you had when you were growing up. For me to return home and pay that back, I think it's super special." He is now one of 9 players locked in for the coming season.