Connor O’Riordan still keeps on top of what’s going on at Rovers.
During the small talk either side of our interview, the defender is up to date on the recent takeover and new signings – from Dylan Corr to Jack Hamilton.
Corr, an 18-year-old centre-back, finds himself in a similar position to that of O’Rioirdan last season – though not quite as hectic.
Back in August, O’Riordan finalised his loan move from Crewe Alexandra on the Thursday before manager Ian Murray threw him in for his debut versus Dundee two days later.
“I continued on from that and didn’t come out the team,” O’Riordan tells Courier Sport.
Men’s football
“It helped massively. The consistency of playing men’s football week in, week out.
“Playing for three points – yeah, it was the perfect loan deal for me and I thank them a lot for all the support they gave me up there.
“I really enjoyed it as well, so that made it even better.”
Now back at Crewe, where he is contracted until 2025, the 19-year-old has just returned from holiday, unwinding after a similar whirlwind to end the season.
Crewe cut loan short
His Raith loan was cut short in December and when his opportunity arose at the Mornflake Stadium, he grasped it with both hands.
O’Riordan went on to make 18 appearances in English League Two and was named the fans’ award for young player of the year.
🎥 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯!"
Connor O'Riordan offers his reaction to our 4-3 victory over Salford City 👇#CreweAlex pic.twitter.com/JCp7vUlJtZ
— Crewe Alexandra (@crewealexfc) March 11, 2023
“I didn’t expect to play as much as I did,” he adds. “I was coming back because of a couple of injuries and the two centre-backs in front of me were doing really well.
“I got my chance when there was a suspension, which helped me because I knew I was going to get three games in a row to establish my place.
“After that I got a good run in the team. I think I got my chance and took it in the end.
“It was great to get an award, it just shows that when I came back I’d done well.”
Adding goals
Given his height, goals were something O’Riordan was keen to add to his game. He scored three times as Crewe finished in 13th.
“It was something I spoke about with Ian Murray at Raith and then when I came back to Crewe,” he says.
🗞️ O'Riordan's first career goal extends Crewe's unbeaten run to four.#CreweAlex
— Crewe Alexandra (@crewealexfc) January 31, 2023
“It was something that – because of my size and presence – it should be something that I have got as an asset in my game.
“Being a centre-back, if you can add a few goals each season it makes a big difference.”
Murray’s influence
O’Rirordan was also able to draw on similar experiences from the Rovers boss’s playing days.
Like the Crewe defender, Murray was a central defender and made a cross-border move when he left Rangers in 2007.
“He helped me massively. He told me about when he went down to Norwich when he was young and his experiences there,” continues O’Riordan.
“And with him being a centre-half he was able to tell me about areas where I could improve my game.
“He was massive for me.”
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