Connor O’Grady joined hometown club Buxton FC after being released by Sheffield Wednesday last summer. The 22-year-old ended a seven-year association with the Owls in July 2019 and now plays at a semi-professional level five divisions below.
After leaving Manchester United and joining Wednesday’s academy at the age of 14, O’Grady rose through the youth ranks and signed a professional deal in 2016 which was extended for 12 months in 2017 and extended for 12 months in 2018.
The centre-back went on to make two appearances in all competitions for the Owls but never established himself as a first-team player, so he was released at the end of his contract.
O’Grady’s debut came in Wednesday’s EFL Cup defeat to Cambridge United (August 9, 2016) while his second appearance came in the Owls’ FA Cup win over Carlisle United (January 16, 2018).
The 22-year-old failed to make the first-team matchday squad for any league game between 2018 and 2019, however, so his departure wasn’t much of a surprise.
It’s just a shame he’s no longer a full professional and has dropped so many divisions to get regular football.
Buxton were 18th in the BetVictor Northern Premier Division before the season was voided due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be a long way back to the Championship for O’Grady.
