Jimmy O'Rourke
Encyclopedia
Jimmy O'Rourke is a Scottish
former association football player, who played as a striker for Hibernian
, St. Johnstone and Motherwell
.
O'Rourke signed for Hibs straight from schools football in 1962. He made his first team debut as a 16 year old later that year in a Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
match against Utrecht. This made him the youngest player to play for Hibs in their history, a record that stood until January 2004, when Jamie McCluskey
made his first team debut. O'Rourke then became a key player in Eddie Turnbull
's side of the early 1970s that reached the 1972 Scottish Cup Final and won the League Cup Final
later that year. He also scored two hat-tricks for Hibs in European matches, including one against Sporting CP.
O'Rourke was controversially transferred to St. Johnstone in 1974 to make way for Joe Harper
, who had been brought in from Everton
at great expense. O'Rourke later played for Motherwell
before returning to Easter Road
as an assistant coach to Eddie Turnbull
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former association football player, who played as a striker for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, St. Johnstone and Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
O'Rourke signed for Hibs straight from schools football in 1962. He made his first team debut as a 16 year old later that year in a Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
match against Utrecht. This made him the youngest player to play for Hibs in their history, a record that stood until January 2004, when Jamie McCluskey
Jamie McCluskey
James "Jamie" McCluskey is a Scottish football player who currently plays for Scottish First Division side Dundee. McCluskey, who started his career with Hibernian, set a record for the youngest player to play in the Scottish Premier League when he made his senior debut. He has since also played...
made his first team debut. O'Rourke then became a key player in Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
's side of the early 1970s that reached the 1972 Scottish Cup Final and won the League Cup Final
1972 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1972 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 9 December 1972 and was the final of the 27th Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Hibernian and Celtic. Hibs won the match 2–1, thanks to goals by Jimmy O'Rourke and Pat Stanton...
later that year. He also scored two hat-tricks for Hibs in European matches, including one against Sporting CP.
O'Rourke was controversially transferred to St. Johnstone in 1974 to make way for Joe Harper
Joe Harper (footballer)
Joseph Montgomery Harper is a Scottish former footballer, mainly remembered for his two spells with Aberdeen, during which he became the club's record goalscorer.-Club career:...
, who had been brought in from Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at great expense. O'Rourke later played for Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
before returning to Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
as an assistant coach to Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
.
External links
- Jimmy O'Rourke, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database
- Jimmy O'Rourke, www.ihibs.co.uk