Mick O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Michael Terence O'Brien commonly referred to as Mick O'Brien, was an Irish footballer
and coach whose career took him to at least seventeen different clubs. A well built six footer, O'Brien was highly regarded as a centre-half. O'Brien was a dual international
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI. In April 1927 O'Brien made his debut for the FAI XI, four days after he made his last appearance for the IFA XI. During the 1930s O'Brien managed both Queens Park Rangers
and Ipswich Town
.
until he was 18 when his family settled in South Shields
in Tyne and Wear
. He then played for several clubs in the North East of England, including Blyth Spartans, before attracting the interest of Celtic
. However after failing to make it into the Celtic first team he joined Brentford
in December 1914. During the First World War, O'Brien served in both the Royal Navy
and the Royal Flying Corps
.
Between 1919 and 1933, O'Brien went onto make 370 English League appearances, scoring 19 goals, for eight different clubs. These included Queens Park Rangers
, Leicester City
, Hull City
, Walsall
, Norwich City
and Watford
. Although best known as a centre half, he was also capable of playing in the forward line and, while playing as an inside-left, he scored twice for an English League XI against a British Army XI in 1921 In 1926 he also had a brief spell playing for Brooklyn Wanderers
, making 7 appearances in the American Soccer League
.
- based IFA
and the Irish Free State
- based FAI
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland
and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including O'Brien, played for both teams.
, Leicester City
and Hull City
, O'Brien made 10 appearances for the IFA XI. He made his international debut on February 2, 1921 at Windsor Park
in a 2-0 defeat against Scotland
. His team mates on the day included Bill Lacey and Louis Bookman
. On February 13, 1926, on his ninth appearance, he helped the IFA XI to a 3-0 win against Wales
. This was the only time O'Brien played in a winning IFA XI. He made his last appearance for the IFA XI on April 19, 1927 in a 2-2 draw with Wales.
, Walsall
, Norwich City
and Watford
- when he won each of his four FAI caps. He made his debut for the FAI XI on April 23, 1927, four days after he made his last appearance for the IFA XI. Despite the FAI XI losing 2-1 in the friendly against Italy B
at Lansdowne Road
, O'Brien was noted for his performance. The game also saw him, together with, Tommy Muldoon
, Harry Duggan
and Joe Kendrick
, become one of the first four English League based players to represent the FAI XI. He subsequently played twice for the FAI XI against Belgium in 1929 and 1930, helping them to 4-0 and 3-1 victories respectively. He won his last cap for the FAI XI on May 5, 1932 against the Netherlands
. The now veteran O'Brien put in a commanding performance as he captained a young FAI XI that included Paddy Moore
, Alex Stevenson
and Jimmy Kelly
to a 2-0 win.
between 1933 and 1935. He led the club to fourth place in Third Division South
in the 1933-34 season. However a poor season in 1934-35 led to his dismissal. After a spell as assistant manager at Brentford, O'Brien then took charge at Ipswich Town
on May 29, 1936. He became the club’s first professional manager and during the subsequent 1936-37 season they made their professional debut in the Southern League
and finished as champions. In later years O'Brien worked as a coach for Middlesex FA.
Ipswich Town
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and coach whose career took him to at least seventeen different clubs. A well built six footer, O'Brien was highly regarded as a centre-half. O'Brien was a dual international
Dual Irish international footballers
Dual Irish international footballers are a group of Irish international footballers who, between 1908 and March 1950, played for the international teams selected by both the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland...
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI. In April 1927 O'Brien made his debut for the FAI XI, four days after he made his last appearance for the IFA XI. During the 1930s O'Brien managed both Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Club career
O'Brien did not play soccerFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
until he was 18 when his family settled in South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
. He then played for several clubs in the North East of England, including Blyth Spartans, before attracting the interest of Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. However after failing to make it into the Celtic first team he joined Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in December 1914. During the First World War, O'Brien served in both the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
Between 1919 and 1933, O'Brien went onto make 370 English League appearances, scoring 19 goals, for eight different clubs. These included Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. Although best known as a centre half, he was also capable of playing in the forward line and, while playing as an inside-left, he scored twice for an English League XI against a British Army XI in 1921 In 1926 he also had a brief spell playing for Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
, making 7 appearances in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
Irish international
During the years O'Brien played international football, there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
- based IFA
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
and the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
- based FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including O'Brien, played for both teams.
IFA XI
Between 1921 and 1927, while playing for Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, O'Brien made 10 appearances for the IFA XI. He made his international debut on February 2, 1921 at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
in a 2-0 defeat against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. His team mates on the day included Bill Lacey and Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman , also known as Louis Buckhalter or Louis Buchalter, was a Lithuanian Jewish footballer and cricketer who represented his adopted country, Ireland, at both sports...
. On February 13, 1926, on his ninth appearance, he helped the IFA XI to a 3-0 win against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. This was the only time O'Brien played in a winning IFA XI. He made his last appearance for the IFA XI on April 19, 1927 in a 2-2 draw with Wales.
FAI XI
Between 1927 and 1932 O'Brien also made 4 appearances for the FAI XI. O'Brien was playing for four different clubs - Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
- when he won each of his four FAI caps. He made his debut for the FAI XI on April 23, 1927, four days after he made his last appearance for the IFA XI. Despite the FAI XI losing 2-1 in the friendly against Italy B
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, O'Brien was noted for his performance. The game also saw him, together with, Tommy Muldoon
Tommy Muldoon
Thomas Patrick Muldoon was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Athlone Town and Aston Villa. As an international he also played for the Irish Free State and represented them at the 1924 Olympics Games....
, Harry Duggan
Harry Duggan (footballer)
Henry Anthony Duggan , commonly referred to as Harry Duggan, is a former Irish footballer. Described as a talented and speedy right winger, he played for both Leeds United and Newport County...
and Joe Kendrick
Joe Kendrick Sr.
Joe Kendrick was an Irish footballer who played for Brooklyn F.C., Everton and Dolphins. As an international he also played for the Irish Free State. In 1924 Kendrick was member of the Irish Free State team when it made its competitive debut at Olympics Games...
, become one of the first four English League based players to represent the FAI XI. He subsequently played twice for the FAI XI against Belgium in 1929 and 1930, helping them to 4-0 and 3-1 victories respectively. He won his last cap for the FAI XI on May 5, 1932 against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
. The now veteran O'Brien put in a commanding performance as he captained a young FAI XI that included Paddy Moore
Paddy Moore
Paddy Moore was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shamrock Rovers and Aberdeen. Moore was a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI.In February 1934 Moore scored four goals for the FAI XI in a World Cup qualifier against Belgium...
, Alex Stevenson
Alex Stevenson
Alexander Ernest Stevenson was an Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Everton, amongst other teams. As an international, Stevenson also played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
and Jimmy Kelly
Jimmy Kelly (Irish footballer)
Jimmy Kelly was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk. Kelly was one of the most prolific goalscorers ever to play in the Irish League, scoring 218 goals in the league between 1928 and 1952...
to a 2-0 win.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player O'Brien became a coach, managing Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
between 1933 and 1935. He led the club to fourth place in Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
in the 1933-34 season. However a poor season in 1934-35 led to his dismissal. After a spell as assistant manager at Brentford, O'Brien then took charge at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
on May 29, 1936. He became the club’s first professional manager and during the subsequent 1936-37 season they made their professional debut in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
and finished as champions. In later years O'Brien worked as a coach for Middlesex FA.
Honours
ManagerIpswich Town
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
- Winners 1936-37: 1