Scottish footballer
Joseph O'Brien (27 December 1875 – after 1906) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full back in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, in the Northern League for Aberdeen, and in the Southern League for Reading, Swindon Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.[1] While a Reading player, he was selected for the Southern League representative XI.
Life and career
O'Brien was born in Shettleston, Lanarkshire, in 1875.[1] He played football for Baillieston Thistle, Clitheroe and Sheffield[1] before signing for Southern League club Reading in 1896.[3] He earned a "big reputation" with Reading,[4] was selected for the Southern League representative XI to face the London Association in 1899,[3] and signed for Football League First Division club Blackburn Rovers in April 1900.[4] In the absence of Allan Hardy, he went straight into the team for the league match against Sheffield United on 13 April, which finished as a 3–3 draw.[5] Hardy's return for the visit of Derby County "materially strengthened" the team, according to the Blackburn Standard, whose reporter thought O'Brien had been "of little use" the day before.[6] He made two more league appearances before returning to Scotland where he spent the 1901–02 season with Aberdeen, for whom he scored twice from eleven Northern League matches.[7]
For his next club, Swindon Town, he played in all five FA Cup ties and all but one Southern League fixture in 1902–03.[8] He spent the folliwng season back with Reading, before joining another Southern League club, Brighton & Hove Albion, for 1904–05. He was a regular in their side, partnering Tom Robertson at full back, before returning to Swindon Town for 1905–06.[3] This time he was less of a first-team regular, appearing in 21 Southern League matches and 14 in the United League, a secondary competition.[9] He finished his football career in the north-west of England with Stalybridge Rovers and Haslingden.[2]
References