Mick O'Brien (footballer, born 1893)

O'Brien did not play soccer until he was 18 when his family settled in South Shields in Tyne and Wear. He then played for several clubs in the North East of England, including Blyth Spartans, before attracting the interest of Celtic.[3] However, after failing to make it into the Celtic first team he joined Brentford in December 1914.[3] During the First World War, O'Brien served in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Flying Corps.[4]

Between 1919 and 1933, O'Brien went on to make 370 English League appearances, scoring 19 goals, for eight different clubs. These included Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Hull City, Walsall, Norwich City and Watford.[3] Although best known as a centre half, he was also capable of playing in the forward line and, while playing as an inside-left, he scored twice for an English League XI against a British Army XI in 1921[5] In 1926 he also had a brief spell playing for Brooklyn Wanderers, making 7 appearances in the American Soccer League.[6]

During the years O'Brien played international football, there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland – based IFA and the Irish Free State – based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including O'Brien, played for both teams. Meanwhile, many sources claim that O'Brien was from Kilcock, Co.Kildare. But although he may well have had family there, it has been established by the programme editor at Brentford FC (a former club) that he was born in Ushaw Moor, Co.Durham. There is speculation that he may have concocted the story about Kilcock in order to be eligible to represent the two Irish Associations. (A parent or grandparent was not sufficient to qualify in those days, it had to be birthplace.)[7]

After retiring as a player O'Brien became a coach, managing Queens Park Rangers between 1933 and 1935.[8][9] He led the club to fourth place in Third Division South in the 1933–34 season. However a poor season in 1934–35 led to his dismissal. After a spell as assistant manager at Brentford, O'Brien then took charge at Ipswich Town on 29 May 1936.[8] He became the club's first professional manager and during the subsequent 1936–37 season they made their professional debut in the Southern League and finished as champions. In later years O'Brien worked as a coach for Middlesex FA.[11][12]