Irish freestyle football wizard Conor Reynolds will never forget the thrill of performing at the Republic of Ireland’s international soccer matches in Aviva Stadium. The reaction and roar of the crowd as they applauded his mind-blowing football tricks sent his adrenaline soaring, he says. Reynolds, who comes from Turloughmore, Co Galway, has been the half-time entertainment at the Ireland games in the Aviva on three occasions. “It’s some atmosphere,” Conor says. “The adrenaline you feel afterwards, especially when it goes well, you can’t beat it.
“It can be very stressful as well, but when one of the hardest tricks come off and the crowd show their appreciation with a roar that’s an amazing feeling. “I can see why footballers find it so mentally and emotionally difficult to walk away from the game when their time comes to an end. It must be very tough for them to get back into normal life.” Manchester United fanatic Reynolds has been living a dream life in football since his teenage years – and
at the age of 31 it’s still how he makes his living. A five-times and current Irish freestyle football champion – “no one else has achieved that,” he points out – and a former number two in the world, Reynolds is in the superstar league. “Freestyle football is an art form sport,” Conor explains. “It’s tricks with a football while using your head standing up, tricks with your legs and also sitting down. It’s a combination of ball control, fast legs and creating tricks.” His
mesmerising talent with a football has taken him to more than 20 countries where he’s in demand by brands. He’s performed for legends of soccer around the globe – and even for an Arab prince. Set to showcase his skills at The Market Bar in Fade Street Dublin this Sunday as part of the Jameson x KidSuper Match Day Market, Reynolds recalls how he got into freestyling after being knocked out of action in his local Cregmore FC due to injury in his teens. “I’m
football mad and I wasn’t able to play, but it was then I started messing around with a football,” Conor explains. “Then I saw (Brazilian legend) Ronaldinho in an advert on YouTube where he was hitting the crossbar three times in a row and I was hooked. “It sucked me in and I found it really enjoyable. I just did it as a hobby after school, but once I finished school I started performing and competing across Ireland and worldwide. It was never something I
planned, it just happened.” One of his biggest thrills in his early teens was getting a coaching session from one of his Man United heroes Roy Keane. He recalls: “When I was 13 or 14 and playing for Cregmore two players from each team went to Galway United and trained with Roy Keane for a session. And he actually taught me some things. “Obviously I would love to have played for Ireland and United, but I just really enjoyed the freestyle and gave up football.
Freestyle performing is an independent sport. I didn’t have to rely on other people, it was all down to me and how much I trained.” Reynolds has entertained some of the biggest names in sport – and their kids – with the magic he creates using a football. “They all love it,” he says. “I can’t do what they do and they can’t do what I do. We have mutual admiration for each other.” He landed a job performing in the Seychelles in 2017 for
an Arab prince. “They flew me in for 48 hours. So it was 24 hours’ travel, 48 hours there and 24 hours home again,” he said. “I do a lot of workshops and coaching. I went to the Maldives for three weeks teaching (Spanish soccer legend) Fernando Torres’ kids. I’ve been in a few adverts. It’s been a brilliant life so far.” However, Reynolds says it’s a physically demanding performance sport and he has suffered a lot of injuries along the way. “I’ve gone through
it because what I do with a ball I wouldn’t say is natural, to be honest. Some of the toughest tricks have affected the knee joints. I’ve broken my ankle and other bones, torn ligaments and tendons and been out of action for months. “Before concentrating full-time on freestyle football I did go to college and get a degree in event marketing, so I have that to fall back on eventually. But for now I’ll keep living the dream.” Conor will be doing live performances
at the Jameson x KidSuper Match Day Market in The Market Bar, Fade Street – an interactive football-inspired marketplace event where fans can trade in old jerseys for exclusive limited-edition pieces, with all donated kits going to the Kits For The World charity that supports disadvantaged children across the globe.
Conor Reynolds, Irish freestyle football, Aviva Stadium, Roy Keane, Manchester United, Jameson x KidSuper Match Day Market, The Market Bar Fade Street, Kits For The World, Cregmore FC, Turloughmore