Josh Ginnelly


Joshua Lloyd Ginnelly is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bristol Rovers on loan from club Preston North End.

Club career

Shrewsbury Town

Born in Coventry, England, Ginnelly began his career at Aston Villa, where he spent seven years there. Following his release from the Aston Villa youth system, Ginnelly began a two-year scholarship with Shrewsbury Town in 2013.
At the start of his Shrewsbury Town's career, Ginnelly was immediately assigned to the club's youth team. He quickly impressed for the youth side that he was called up to the first team by Manager Michael Jackson. As a result of his performance in the youth team, Ginnelly appeared as an unused substitute on the last game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Gillingham.
Ginnelly made his Football League debut under manager Micky Mellon on 30 August 2014, coming on as a late substitute for James Collins in a 2–0 win over Luton Town at the New Meadow. After the match, he said making his professional debut was a "dream come true". Local newspaper, Shropshire Star, praised Ginnelly's performance for his technical ability, quoting: "bringing down a long ball with his first touch before showing ambition by taking on two Luton defenders." However, Ginnelly only appeared two more times later in the 2014–15 season. He was awarded the club's Youth Player of the Year at the award ceremony.
He was offered his first professional contract in March 2015, but he failed to return to training the following pre-season with his contract situation unresolved.

Burnley

He was subsequently reported to be having trials with Norwich City, and Burnley, joining the latter for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal on 10 August 2015.
Ginnelly was released by Burnley following the expiration of his contract after three years at the club, without making a first team appearance for the side.

Loan Spells from Burnley

Ginnelly joined National League side Altrincham on an initial one-month loan on 8 January 2016. It wasn't until on 23 January 2016 when he made his Altrincham debut, starting the whole game, in a 5–0 win over Grimsby Town. In a follow up match three days later, Ginnelly scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Woking. He then scored two goals in two matches between 9 February 2016 and 13 February 2016 against Wrexham and Lincoln City respectively. During a match against Barrow on 12 March 2016, Ginnelly was subjected of a racist abuse by opposition fans, prompting a police investigation. Despite this, he had his loan spell at the club extended until the end of the season, having previously extended the previous month. Later in the season, which saw the club relegated, Ginnelly scored two more goals, as he went on to make twenty appearances and scored five times in all competitions.
On 28 July 2016, Ginnelly signed for Football League One side Walsall on loan until January 2017. He made his Walsall debut on 30 August 2016, where he came on as a substitute, in a 5–2 win over Grimsby Town in the Football League Trophy. However, his start at Walsall saw him placed on the substitute bench at the start of the season. He had to wait until on 15 October 2016 for his Saddlers debut, playing in the 3–2 victory over his former club Shrewsbury. His performance earned him a run of games for the club, however, he returned to Burnley in January 2017 having failed to make an appearance since November.
On 30 January 2017, Ginnelly signed for National League leaders Lincoln City on loan until the end of the season. He made his Lincoln City debut, where he started the whole game and played a role that led to Terell Thomas scoring an own goal, in a 3–2 win over Woking on 11 February 2017. He made a total of seventeen appearances in all competitions as Lincoln finished as champions.
On 26 June 2017, Ginnelly re–joined Lincoln City on a season long loan for the 2017–18 season. Ginnelly scored his first goal for Lincoln on the first day of the following season in a 2–2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 5 August 2017. After suffering ankle injury that kept him out throughout August, he returned from injury on 9 September 2017, where he came on as a substitute, in a 2–1 win over Stevenage. It wasn't until on 7 November 2017 when he scored again in a 2–1 win over Notts County in the Football League Trophy. A month later, on 26 December 2017, Ginnelly scored his third goal of the season, in a 3–0 win over Stevenage. However, he appeared in and out of the starting eleven, as well as, facing competitions, including loanee signing, Danny Rowe. As a result, he was recalled by his parent club, as he nineteen appearances and scoring three times in his second loan spell at Lincoln City.
On 12 January 2018, he signed a loan deal with Tranmere Rovers until the end of the season. Ginnelly scored on his Tranmere Rovers debut eight days after joining the club, in a 3–2 win over Maidenhead United. Although he lost his first team place between late–March and mid–April, he returned to the starting lineup on 21 April 2018, in a 2–0 win over Halifax Town. In the play-off semi-final, Ginnelly scored in a 4–2 win over Ebbsfleet. On 12 May 2018, he started the whole game in the play-off final and helped the side beat Boreham Wood 2–1 at Wembley to ensure the club's return to the EFL after a three-year absence. He went on to make 12 appearances and scoring two times for the side.

Walsall

After his released by Burnley at the end of the 2017–18 season, it was announced on 5 June 2018 that Ginnelly signed a one–year contract at former loan club Walsall. Upon joining the club, he revealed that Manager Dean Keates convinced him to re-join Walsall, citing his style of management.
Ginnelly's first game after re-signing for the club on a free transfer came in the opening game of the season, where he started the match and played 84 minutes, in a 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle. It wasn't until on 14 August 2018 when he scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the League Cup. A week later, on 25 August 2018, Ginnelly scored again, in a 3–1 win over Rochdale. Since joining the club, he quickly became a first team regular, where he was playing in an attacking position and formed a partnership with Luke Leahy.

Preston North End

On 1 January 2019, he signed for Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.

Bristol Rovers (loan)

Ginnelly joined League One club Bristol Rovers on a six-month loan deal on 16 January 2020.

Career statistics

Honours

Lincoln City
Tranmere Rovers