Phil O'Connor
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Philip Kelvin O'Connor | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Romford, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 September 1985 (aged 31) | ||
| Place of death | Australia | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1971 | Southend United | 0 | (0) |
| Bexley United | |||
| 1972–1975 | Luton Town | 2 | (0) |
| 1974–1975 | → Lincoln City (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 1975 | Balgownie Rangers | ||
| 1976 | Wollongong City | ||
| 1977 | St George | ||
| 1980–1981 | A.P.I.A. Leichhardt | ||
| 1984–1985 | Blacktown City | ||
| International career | |||
| 1976–1984 | Australia | 20 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Phil O'Connor (10 October 1953 – 23 September 1985) was a footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in England, he emigrated to Australia during his career and made 20 appearances for the Australia national team scoring give goals.
Career
[edit]O'Connor began his career as an apprentice with Southend United before dropping into the non-league ranks with Bexley United. In 1972, he returned to the Football League with Luton Town. After a loan spell with Lincoln City in the 1974–75 season, O'Connor emigrated to Australia. He quickly made his way into the Australia national team, making his debut against Hong Kong on 11 August 1976[1] and going on to appear a total of 20 times scoring 5 goals, which included three appearances against England in 1983.[2]
A fee of $7,000 saw him move from St George to A.P.I.A. Leichhardt for the 1980 National Soccer League season, netting a 14th minute debut goal in the club's 2–1 over Adelaide City at Lambert Park on 9 March 1980.[3] After two seasons, he moved on to join Wollongong Wolves for the 1982 National Soccer League season.[4] On 23 September 1985, O'Connor died in a car accident when his bread van veered off the Appin Road and hit a tree, killing him instantly.[5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Socceroo Internationals for 1976". OzFootball. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ "Socceroo Internationals for 1983". OzFootball. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ "New boy Phil a hero". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 March 1980. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Slickers looking at fourth title". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 1982. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Ex-Socceroo striker dies in car crash". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 September 1985. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Trans-Tasman rivalry is dead". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 19 June 2001. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
External links
[edit]- 1953 births
- 1985 deaths
- Australian men's soccer players
- Men's association football midfielders
- Australia men's international soccer players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- English Football League players
- APIA Leichhardt FC players
- Blacktown City FC players
- Lincoln City F.C. players
- Luton Town F.C. players
- Southend United F.C. players
- Bexley United F.C. players
- Irish emigrants to Australia
- English emigrants to Australia
- Road incident deaths in New South Wales
- 20th-century Australian sportsmen