Ken O'Rourke

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[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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

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
  1. "Colchester United – Player profile". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. 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.
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