Dion Donohue

Dion James Donohue (born 26 August 1993) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder and full back who plays for Cymru Premier club Caernarfon Town, for who he also serves as captain.

Dion Donohue
Personal information
Full name Dion James Donohue[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-26) 26 August 1993
Place of birth Bodedern, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder/Left back
Team information
Current team
 Caernarfon Town
Number 6
Youth career
2003 Bodedern Athletic
2004–2010 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Porthmadog
2011–2012 Holyhead Hotspur 12 (3)
2012–2014 Caernarfon Town 60 (12)
2014–2015 Sutton Coldfield Town 37 (1)
2015–2017 Chesterfield 56 (1)
2017–2019 Portsmouth 42 (0)
2019 Mansfield Town 0 (0)
2019 Swindon Town 5 (0)
2020 Swindon Town 10 (0)
2021 Barrow 4 (0)
2021– Caernarfon Town 41 (5)
International career
2011 Ynys Môn 4 (0)
2022 Wales semi-pro 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 June 2023

A former Everton trainee, he began his senior career in the lower levels of Welsh football with Porthmadog, Holyhead Hotspur and Caernarfon Town before switching to Sutton Coldfield Town of the Northern Premier League Division One South in 2014. A year later, he turned professional with Chesterfield in EFL League One, and spent two years with Portsmouth before joining Mansfield Town in 2019, where his contract was terminated for disciplinary reasons within two months of signing. After spells at Swindon Town and Barrow, he left professional football for family reasons and moved back to Caernarfon.

Career

Early career

Donohue was born in Bodedern on Anglesey and played with Bodedern Athletic before joining Everton.[2] He spent six years at Everton's academy and was unable to gain a professional contract.[3] He returned to North Wales and played semi-pro football with Porthmadog, Holyhead Hotspur and Caernarfon Town.[3] In 2014, he moved to the English non-league with Sutton Coldfield Town.[3]

Donohue scored his first goal for Sutton on 27 September 2014, netting the first through a penalty kick in a 2–0 home win against Kidsgrove Athletic. He made 37 appearances for the club, as his side achieved promotion to Northern Premier League Premier League through the play-offs.[3]

Chesterfield

Donohue went on trial at Chesterfield in the summer of 2015 and was able to earn a contract.[4] He made his professional debut on 12 September 2015 in a 3–3 draw against Colchester United.[5] Donohue signed a contract extension on 10 August 2016, keeping him at the club until 2018.[6]

Donohue scored his first professional goal on 14 March 2017, netting the equalizer in a 3–3 home draw against Peterborough United.[7] In May, he was awarded the Players' Player of the Year.[8]

Portsmouth

On 18 August 2017 Donohue joined fellow League One club Portsmouth on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[9] He made his debut eight days later in a 1–1 draw at Wigan Athletic, being substituted after 53 minutes.[10] On 17 October, he was sent off in a 2–1 loss at Doncaster Rovers for violent conduct towards Niall Mason, but Portsmouth successfully appealed against his three-game suspension.[11][12]

Donohue played less frequently in 2018–19. In his first game, away to Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy on 9 October, he scored the only goal of the game, his first for Pompey.[13] He was released on 17 May 2019.[14]

Mansfield Town

On 9 July 2019, Donohue joined League Two side Mansfield Town on a two-year deal.[15] He arrived not fully recovered from injury and made his debut in the EFL Cup first round match against Morecambe on 13 August, being substituted at half time because of his condition as the team lost on penalties after a 2–2 home draw.[16]

On 19 August 2019 Donohue and Mansfield teammate Jacob Mellis were suspended by the club for "an alleged serious breach of club discipline".[17] Following a club disciplinary investigation his contract was terminated on 2 September.[18]

Swindon Town

On 12 October 2019, Donohue joined League Two side Swindon Town on month-by-month contract.[19] He made his debut the same day in a 1–1 home draw with Plymouth Argyle, and after the game manager Richie Wellens said that the Robins had tried to sign him in the summer.[20] As his second month was not registered in time with the EFL, he was then barred from playing again until 2 January.[21]

Swindon did not negotiate to sign Donohue when January came, with Wellens saying that this was due to the player's injury, rather than his court proceedings.[22]

On 25 September 2020, Donohue rejoined Swindon on a one-year deal.[23] He left on 11 December due to personal reasons.[24] Due to injury, he had asked manager John Sheridan for leave to spend Christmas with his terminally ill niece, which was refused, prompting Donohue to cancel his contract.[25]

Barrow

On 28 January 2021, Donohue joined Barrow on a short-term deal until the end of the season.[26] He trained only three days a week due to his family condition.[25] He was one of 13 players released at the end of the season.[27]

Return to Caernarfon Town

Donohue rejoined Caenarfon Town in the Cymru Premier in June 2021.[28] He had quit professional football at the age of 27 and moved back to North Wales in order to spend more time with his niece, who was terminally ill with a brain tumour; she died in July 2021 at the age of 5.[25] He was named in the league's 2021–22 Team of the Season.[29]

International career

Donohue played for the representative team of Anglesey during the 2011 Island Games. He featured in all four of the side's games, against Gotland, the Isle of Wight, Gibraltar and Alderney.[30]

Donohue was called up for the Wales C team of amateurs to face their English counterparts at his club ground of The Oval in Caernarfon on 31 March 2022.[31] He played in the 4–0 win.[32]

Personal life

In January 2012, Donohue pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Magistrates Court to a charge of assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Bangor, Gwynedd, the previous 13 November. He was fined £500 and £85 court fees, and sentenced to 120 hours of community service and four weeks of curfew.[33]

In January 2020, Donohue pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to charges of assault, affray and grievous bodily harm committed in Mansfield the previous 16 August.[34] When sentenced in November, he took a bag of clothes and did not invite any close relatives due to his solicitor's strong advice that he would be sent to prison, but he instead received a suspended sentence.[25]

Donohue has a son and a daughter, both born in Portsmouth during his time at the club.[35][36] After moving back to North Wales and leaving professional football, he became a plasterer.[25]

Career statistics

Club
As of end May 2022
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Holyhead Hotspur 2011–12[37] Welsh Alliance League 123000031154
Caernarfon Town 2012–13[38] 364000000364
2013–14[38] Cymru Alliance 248000000248
Total 60120000006012
Sutton Coldfield Town 2014–15[3] NPL Division One South 371000000371
Chesterfield 2015–16[39] League One 17020001[lower-alpha 1]0200
2016–17[40] 37120102[lower-alpha 1]0421
2017–18[41] League Two 2000100030
Total 561402030651
Portsmouth 2017–18[41] League One 32000003[lower-alpha 1]0350
2018–19[42] 10020002[lower-alpha 1]1141
Total 420200051491
Mansfield Town 2019–20[43] League Two 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Swindon Town 2019–20[43] 5010000060
Swindon Town 2020–21[44] League One 10000001[lower-alpha 1]0110
Barrow 2020–21[44] League Two 4000000040
Caernarfon Town 2021–22[45] Cymru Premier 27 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 30 3
Career total 253201002013227822
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International
As of 30 June 2011[46]
Ynys Môn
Year Apps Goals
2011 4 0
Total 4 0

References
  1. "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. Jones, Dean (17 April 2018). "Portsmouth boss Jackett tips Bodedern born Donohue for international honours". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  3. "Dion Donohue move to Chesterfield proves North Wales is hotbed of football talent". Daily Post. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. "Chesterfield sign Dion Donohue and Jake Orrell". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  5. "Chesterfield 3-3 Colchester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  6. "Donohue Signs Extended Contract". Chesterfield FC. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  7. "Chesterfield 3–3 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. "Evatt Named Player of the Year". Chesterfield FC. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  9. "Dion Donohue: Portsmouth sign Chesterfield midfielder for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  10. "Wigan 1 Pompey 1". Portsmouth F.C. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  11. Allen, Neil (19 October 2017). "Pompey win Donohue's red card appeal". The News. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  12. Rooney, Will (19 October 2017). "Pompey appeal Donohue red card". Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  13. Allen, Neil (10 October 2018). "Neil Allen's match report: Dion delights on Portsmouth return". The News. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  14. "Pompey Retained List". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  15. "Dion Donohue: Mansfield Town sign former Portsmouth midfielder". BBC Sport. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  16. Lomas, John (16 August 2019). "Softly, softly as Mansfield Town ease new boy Dion Donohue back to fitness". Mansfield & Ashfield Chad. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  17. "Mansfield Town: League Two side suspend Dion Donohue & Jacob Mellis". BBC Sport. 19 August 2019.
  18. "Dion Donohue: Mansfield Town midfielder's contract terminated after disciplinary investigation". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  19. "Former Portsmouth midfielder signs for Swindon after having contract terminated by Mansfield". The News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  20. Reynolds, Shaun (12 October 2019). "Richie Wellens praises Swindon Town's fight and spirit in Plymouth Argyle League Two draw". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  21. Reynolds, Shaun (12 December 2019). "Richie Wellens provides an update on defender Dion Donohue's contractual situation at Swindon Town". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  22. Reynolds, Shaun (11 January 2020). "Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens claims injury is why Dion Donohue hasn't re-signed, ahead of full back's Nottingham Crown Court appearance". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  23. "Defender Dion Donohue signs one-year Town deal". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. "CLUB STATEMENT - DION DONOHUE". Swindon Town F.C. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  25. Allen, Neil (18 November 2021). "Ex-Portsmouth, Swindon, Mansfield and Chesterfield man Dion Donohue: I avoided prison - then quit football to be with my terminally ill niece. Family always come first". The News. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. "Dion Donohue Joins The Bluebirds". www.barrowafc.com. 28 January 2021.
  27. "Josh Kay among thirteen players released by Barrow AFC". The Mail. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  28. Evans, Arron (22 June 2021). "Huge captures for Caernarfon Town FC as Donohue and Gosset sign on". AFEFootballNews. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  29. "Revealed: The 2021/22 Cymru Premier end-of-season award winners". Y Clwb Pêl-droed. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  30. "Island Games Results 2011 Isle of Wight". BBNatWest 2011 Island Games Results. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  31. "Mark Jones names much-changed Wales C squad as Chris Venables not included". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  32. "Powys pair to the fore as Wales beat England in C international clash". Powys County Times. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  33. Hearn, Elgan (22 February 2012). "Teenager pleads guilty to assaulting woman at Bangor nightclub". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 December 2018. A TEENAGER from Bodedern pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman at a Bangor nightclub in November. Dion James Donohue, 18, of...Bodedern appeared at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on January 31.
  34. Seaward, Tom (17 January 2020). "Dion Donohue admits Mansfield affray and GBH". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  35. "QA Hospital sends good wishes to Portsmouth midfielder Dion Donohue's family after staff save girlfriend Nadine and baby Mason". The News. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  36. Allen, Neil (21 May 2019). "Dion Donohue: Classy Portsmouth did me a favour by releasing me – and I thank them". The News. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  37. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2011/2012". Holyhead Hotspur. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  38. "Season archive". Caernarfon Town. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  39. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  40. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  41. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  42. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  43. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  44. "Games played by Dion Donohue in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  45. "Wales - D. Donohue - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  46. "Dion Donohue". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
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