William O'Brien (26 January 1929 – 2015) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Darlington.[3] A centre half born in Middlesbrough,[1] O'Brien began his football career as a junior with his hometown club, Middlesbrough F.C.,[4] and was on the books of Leicester City for the 1947–48 season before serving in the Army. He joined Darlington in February 1950,[2] but did not make his first-team debut for more than a year, when he replaced the injured Geoff Stone on 17 March 1951 for a 4–1 defeat at home to Bradford City.[4][5] He kept his place for the next Third Division North match – an even heavier defeat, this time away to Hartlepools United – but that was his final appearance.[5]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William O'Brien[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 January 1929[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | ||
| Date of death | 2015 (aged 85–86) | ||
| Place of death | Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| – | Middlesbrough | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1948 | Leicester City | 0 | (0) |
| 1950–1951 | Darlington | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
References edit
- ^ a b c "Willie O'Brien". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Formerly on City's books". Leicester Mercury. 11 February 1950. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Darlington: 1946/47–1988/89 & 1990/91–2009/10". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Darlington attack doubtful". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 21 March 1951. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Tweddle, Frank (2000). The Definitive Darlington F.C. Nottingham: SoccerData. pp. 47, 106. ISBN 978-1-899468-15-7.
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