Derek O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Derek Peter Luke O'Connor (born March 9, 1978 in Dublin) is an Irish
professional
footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.
and in 1994 he moved to Huddersfield Town
in the youth ranks which were supervised by Kevin Blackwell
. He appeared on the subs bench during the 1994 Autoglass Windscreens Shield clash with Bradford City, he also subsequently appeared on the bench in the next game against Cambridge United
, later on that season he was also on the bench against Bristol Rovers
and Lincoln City
. He then moved up into the first team professionally in 1995. He was retained by Brian Horton
at the beginning of the 1995/96 season after Neil Warnock
had resigned. He appeared on the squad picture for the 1996/97 season and appeared on the bench once during that season. During the summer he became Steve Francis
's understudy following Tony Norman
's retirement. He finally made his first-team debut in a Coca Cola Cup Match against Bradford City in 1997. He is most noted for playing for Huddersfield Town
in a match against Nottingham Forest
in 1997. The then manager of Town, Brian Horton
, had mysteriously dropped first choice keeper Steve Francis
, and put in O'Connor, who had only played 50 minutes of first-team football before the game. Town lost the match 2-0, Horton was sacked straight afterwards. He remained at Huddersfield until the end of season. After leaving Huddersfield, he then had a spell at non league Bradford Park Avenue
and also played at Frickley Athletic
. Having ended his football career, he began working for Grace Landscapes as a gardener in 2002. He currently plies his footballing trade with Queens FC - a team of Heckmondwike scrubbers who play in the retarded third division of the Heavy Woollen Sunday League
team. He also played in the Republic of Ireland under -20 team that won the bronze medal in the World Youth Championships in Malaysia in 1997. O'Connor was still getting selected for the under 21 team when he was playing non-league football with Bradford Park Avenue!
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.
Playing career
O'Connor began his career at Crumlin UnitedCrumlin United F.C.
Crumlin United Football Club is a Northern Irish football club playing in Division 1A of the Northern Amateur Football League. The club was founded in 1968 and played in the Lisburn League, Ballymena Premier League and Dunmurry League before joining the Amateur League in 1986...
and in 1994 he moved to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in the youth ranks which were supervised by Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
. He appeared on the subs bench during the 1994 Autoglass Windscreens Shield clash with Bradford City, he also subsequently appeared on the bench in the next game against Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, later on that season he was also on the bench against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He then moved up into the first team professionally in 1995. He was retained by Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
at the beginning of the 1995/96 season after Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
had resigned. He appeared on the squad picture for the 1996/97 season and appeared on the bench once during that season. During the summer he became Steve Francis
Steve Francis
Steven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...
's understudy following Tony Norman
Tony Norman
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Norman is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town....
's retirement. He finally made his first-team debut in a Coca Cola Cup Match against Bradford City in 1997. He is most noted for playing for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in a match against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1997. The then manager of Town, Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
, had mysteriously dropped first choice keeper Steve Francis
Steve Francis (footballer)
Stephen Stuart "Steve" Francis is an English former professional footballer, born in Billericay, Essex, who made nearly 500 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Chelsea, Reading, Huddersfield Town and Northampton Town.He began his career as an apprentice at Chelsea,...
, and put in O'Connor, who had only played 50 minutes of first-team football before the game. Town lost the match 2-0, Horton was sacked straight afterwards. He remained at Huddersfield until the end of season. After leaving Huddersfield, he then had a spell at non league Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
and also played at Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
. Having ended his football career, he began working for Grace Landscapes as a gardener in 2002. He currently plies his footballing trade with Queens FC - a team of Heckmondwike scrubbers who play in the retarded third division of the Heavy Woollen Sunday League
International
He has also played for the Ireland U-21Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
team. He also played in the Republic of Ireland under -20 team that won the bronze medal in the World Youth Championships in Malaysia in 1997. O'Connor was still getting selected for the under 21 team when he was playing non-league football with Bradford Park Avenue!