Kenneth O'Rourke (born 8 December 1949) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Colchester United.

Ken O'Rourke
Personal information
Full name Kenneth O'Rourke[1]
Date of birth (1949-12-08) 8 December 1949 (age 74)[1]
Place of birth Lambeth, London, England[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Leyton Orient
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1968 Arsenal 0 (0)
1968 Colchester United 1 (0)
Bedford Town
Metropolitan Police
Total 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Lambeth, London, O'Rourke showed great promise as an apprentice at Leyton Orient, leading to Arsenal signing him at the age of 17 in February 1967. Failing to make a first-team appearance for the Gunners, he was released by the club at the end of the 1967–68 season after scoring 12 goals in 42 youth games, joining Ipswich Town on a two-month trial. He again failed to make the grade at Ipswich, joining neighbours Colchester United on a similar trial period in October 1968.[2]

Whilst with Colchester, O'Rourke made his first and only Football League appearance[3] in a 2–0 Fourth Division defeat to Swansea City at Vetch Field on 23 November 1968.[4] He also made one other appearance for the U's in the FA Cup, a 5–0 thrashing of Chesham United in the first round one week prior to his league debut.[5]

O'Rourke was released at the end of his trial period, joining Bedford Town and later the Metropolitan Police for several years after becoming a police officer, playing in the Southern League.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Colchester United – Player profile". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 185. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  3. ^ "COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51–1989/90 & 1992/93–2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Colchester United – Match details – Swansea City 2–0 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 5–0 Chesham United". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.