Brendan O'Callaghan

Brendan Richard O'Callaghan (born 23 July 1955) is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers and Stoke City and Oldham Athletic.[1][2]

Brendan O'Callaghan
Personal information
Full name Brendan Richard O'Callaghan[1]
Date of birth (1955-07-23) 23 July 1955[1]
Place of birth Bradford, England[1]
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1977 Doncaster Rovers 187 (64)
1977–1984 Stoke City 265 (44)
1984–1986 Oldham Athletic 10 (0)
Total 462 (109)
National team
1979–1982 Republic of Ireland 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Bradford to Irish parents, O'Callaghan was spotted by Doncaster Rovers playing for Bradford Boys and Yorkshire schools.[2] But the offer to become a professional footballer was a tough decision to make for O'Callaghan as he had been accepted into Loughborough College to undertake a physical education teaching diploma. He signed the contract, deferring college for a year in case the football did not work out.[2] After six months in Donny's reserves he was promoted to the first team and he developed a fine partnership with Peter Kitchen and he top scored in 1975–76 with 28 goals. By the time his goal tally had reached 77 for Doncaster he had attracted the attentions of bigger clubs and on 1 March 1978 Stoke City manager Alan Durban signed him for £40,000.[2]

The following Wednesday O'Callaghan was on the bench as Stoke struggled to break down a resolute Hull City and with time running out and Stoke winning a corner Durban decided to bring O'Callaghan on for his début.[2] From the resulting corner he headed past Eddie Blackburn to make him an instant hero (fastest debut goal).[2] He ended the 1977–78 season with six goals and was top-scorer in 1978–79 with 16 as Stoke won promotion to the First Division.[2] With Stoke making a slow start in 1980–81 Durban moved O'Callaghan, who had lost his place to the younger Lee Chapman, to centre back filling in for the injured Denis Smith.[2] He adapted well and his partnership with Mike Doyle saw Stoke in to a final mid-table position of 11th.[2] He began the 1981–82 season in defence before reverting to forward in January 1982 where he scored five goals and he again scored five in 1982–83.[2] He struggled under Richie Barker's long ball tactics in 1983–84 and he handed in a transfer request but Barker was sacked and replaced by Bill Asprey and so O'Callaghan stayed at Stoke.[2] Under Asprey Stoke staged a relegation survival but in 1984–85 Stoke were awful and well on their way to an embarrassing relegation so O'Callaghan moved on to Oldham Athletic for £30,000 after making 294 appearances for Stoke scoring 47 goals. In the first match of the 1985–86 he suffered an adductor muscle strain which caused him to retire on the advice of doctors.[2]

Post-retirement

After leaving Oldham O'Callaghan took a degree in business administration at the University of Dublin. Having been Stoke's Professional Footballers' Association representative, he worked in 1989 as a community development officer at the Victoria Ground. He later became north-west Midlands area manager for Save the Children charity.[2]

Style of play

Tall at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) and weighing over 13 stone (180 lb; 83 kg), 'Big Bren', as he was known, worked well as a willing target man, shielding the ball and acting as a link between midfield and a pacey striker.[2]

Career statistics

Club

Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Doncaster Rovers 1973–74 Fourth Division 381041204411
1974–75 Fourth Division 311121003312
1975–76 Fourth Division 422210764928
1976–77 Fourth Division 461520435218
1977–78 Fourth Division 3071021338
Total 18765102151021277
Stoke City 1977–78 Second Division 1560000156
1978–79 Second Division 411510514716
1979–80 First Division 3651031406
1980–81 First Division 3771000387
1981–82 First Division 4151020445
1982–83 First Division 3753020425
1983–84 First Division 3811051442
1984–85 First Division 2002020240
Total 2654410019329447
Oldham Athletic 1984–85 Second Division 90000090
1985–86 Second Division 10000010
Total 1000000100
Career Total 4621092023413516124

International

Source:[4]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 197930
198110
198220
Total60

See also

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  3. Brendan O'Callaghan at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. O'Callaghan, Brendan at National-Football-Teams.com
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