Aaron O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Aaron Derek O'Connor is an English footballer who plays for Luton Town
as a striker.
, Nottinghamshire
, O'Connor started his career at Ilkeston Town
before moving to Third Division
side Scunthorpe United
on 12 December 2002. However, O'Connor featured in just three games as a substitute. Manager
Brian Laws
released the 19 year-old in February 2003, claiming he did not have the right attitude for the professional club.
O'Connor had a brief spell at Nuneaton Borough at the start of the 2003–04 season, before moving back to Ilkeston. He then moved onto Gresley Rovers
in July 2004. He spent two seasons at Gresley, winning the Player's Player of The Year, Manager's Player of The Year and Supporter's Player of The Year awards in both seasons. He had a two-week trial with Rushden & Diamonds
in June 2006.
Grays Athletic
announced the signing of O'Connor on 5 January 2007, and he made his debut the following day against Southport
in the Conference National
. Despite being offered a new contract for the 2008–09 season, he did not sign and subsequently was released. He was signed by Mansfield Town
on 8 August 2008, where he made 39 appearances in the Conference National, scoring eight goals. He was released at the end of the 2008–09
season.
On 17 June 2009, O'Connor signed for Rushden & Diamonds on a one-year contract. He signed a one-year contract extension in May 2010. Over the course of two seasons, in which he was appointed Rushden's club captain, O'Connor scored 27 goals in 78 games.
O'Connor left Rushden & Diamonds and joined Luton Town
on a free transfer on 6 June 2011.
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
as a striker.
Career
Born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, O'Connor started his career at Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
before moving to Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
side Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on 12 December 2002. However, O'Connor featured in just three games as a substitute. Manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Brian Laws
Brian Laws
Brian Laws is an English former footballer and manager, most recently of Burnley.Playing as a defender, Laws made over 100 appearances for each of Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Nottingham Forest. In 1994, Laws became player-manager of Grimsby Town before taking a similar position with Scunthorpe...
released the 19 year-old in February 2003, claiming he did not have the right attitude for the professional club.
O'Connor had a brief spell at Nuneaton Borough at the start of the 2003–04 season, before moving back to Ilkeston. He then moved onto Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers F.C.
Gresley Football Club are an English football club from Church Gresley, near Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Gresley are currently in the Midland Football Alliance, playing their home games at The Moat Ground...
in July 2004. He spent two seasons at Gresley, winning the Player's Player of The Year, Manager's Player of The Year and Supporter's Player of The Year awards in both seasons. He had a two-week trial with Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
in June 2006.
Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
announced the signing of O'Connor on 5 January 2007, and he made his debut the following day against Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. Despite being offered a new contract for the 2008–09 season, he did not sign and subsequently was released. He was signed by Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on 8 August 2008, where he made 39 appearances in the Conference National, scoring eight goals. He was released at the end of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season.
On 17 June 2009, O'Connor signed for Rushden & Diamonds on a one-year contract. He signed a one-year contract extension in May 2010. Over the course of two seasons, in which he was appointed Rushden's club captain, O'Connor scored 27 goals in 78 games.
O'Connor left Rushden & Diamonds and joined Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on a free transfer on 6 June 2011.