Frank O'Rourke (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Frank O'Rourke was a Scottish
international footballer
who played in Scotland and England, for Bradford City
.
, moved to Albion Rovers, before moving back to Airdrieonians, for whom he won a Division Two
title winning medal.
He won his one and only cap
for Scotland
scoring against Ireland on 16 March 1907 before a month later signing for Bradford City
. He had been playing at Valley Parade
in a friendly for Airdrieonians after which the City board woke him from his hotel room in Leeds to sign. He scored on his debut on 6 April 1907 in a 2–1 defeat to Nottingham Forest
, two in his second game and a fourth goal in his third.
He finished as top goal-scorer with 21 goals in 1907–08
, one ahead of strike partner Wallace Smith
, including four in a 7–1 victory over Gainsborough Trinity
as City won the Second Division title. He was again top goal-scorer the following season with 19 goals as he played in every game for City, who stayed up on goal average from Manchester City
. He was again top goal-scorer in 1909–10
thanks to three goals in the FA Cup
, although he was one goal behind Robert Whittingham in the league.
The club's league position of seventh was beaten in 1910–11
as City came fifth, the club's highest league finish, with O'Rourke scoring 13 goals. The season also saw City win its only piece of major silverware in its history when it defeated Newcastle United
in the 1911 FA Cup final. O'Rourke scored just one goal in the run to the final when he netted the first goal in the 3–0 semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers
. The first game of the final had finished 0–0 with the only goal of the replay being scored by captain Jimmy Speirs. Some sources has credited the goal to O'Rourke, but he denied touching the ball.
O'Rourke was now 32 and his games and goals dried up, as he made just 46 more appearances in the final four seasons before the First World War
netting 11 goals. But his final tally of 88, from 192 league appearances, stood as a club record for 69 years when Bobby Campbell
broke it in October 1984 on his way to 121 club league goals.
His playing contract was terminated in September 1922, though his last league game came in 1914. He remained as first-team trainer until 1926 before he retired to his birthplace, Bargeddie, where he died on Christmas Eve 1954, aged 77.
Bradford City
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played in Scotland and England, for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.
Career
O'Rourke started his career with AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
, moved to Albion Rovers, before moving back to Airdrieonians, for whom he won a Division Two
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
title winning medal.
He won his one and only cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
scoring against Ireland on 16 March 1907 before a month later signing for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He had been playing at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
in a friendly for Airdrieonians after which the City board woke him from his hotel room in Leeds to sign. He scored on his debut on 6 April 1907 in a 2–1 defeat to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, two in his second game and a fourth goal in his third.
He finished as top goal-scorer with 21 goals in 1907–08
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
, one ahead of strike partner Wallace Smith
Wallace Smith (footballer)
Wallace Smith , also known as Wally Smith, was an English footballer who played for six clubs during his career, including three league clubs....
, including four in a 7–1 victory over Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
as City won the Second Division title. He was again top goal-scorer the following season with 19 goals as he played in every game for City, who stayed up on goal average from Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. He was again top goal-scorer in 1909–10
1909-10 in English football
The 1909–10 season was the 39th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Aston Villa won their sixth top division title.Lincoln CIty were re-admitted to the Football League after a season away, at the expense of Chesterfield.-Honours:...
thanks to three goals in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, although he was one goal behind Robert Whittingham in the league.
The club's league position of seventh was beaten in 1910–11
1910-11 in English football
The 1910–11 season was the 40th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Huddersfield Town entered the Football League for the first time. Grimsby Town were the team who made way for them...
as City came fifth, the club's highest league finish, with O'Rourke scoring 13 goals. The season also saw City win its only piece of major silverware in its history when it defeated Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the 1911 FA Cup final. O'Rourke scored just one goal in the run to the final when he netted the first goal in the 3–0 semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. The first game of the final had finished 0–0 with the only goal of the replay being scored by captain Jimmy Speirs. Some sources has credited the goal to O'Rourke, but he denied touching the ball.
O'Rourke was now 32 and his games and goals dried up, as he made just 46 more appearances in the final four seasons before the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
netting 11 goals. But his final tally of 88, from 192 league appearances, stood as a club record for 69 years when Bobby Campbell
Bobby Campbell (Northern Irish footballer)
Robert McFaul "Bobby" Campbell is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for many clubs in England....
broke it in October 1984 on his way to 121 club league goals.
His playing contract was terminated in September 1922, though his last league game came in 1914. He remained as first-team trainer until 1926 before he retired to his birthplace, Bargeddie, where he died on Christmas Eve 1954, aged 77.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | March 4, 1907 | Celtic Park Celtic Park Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
3–0 | Win | British Home Championship British Home Championship The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84... |
Honours
Airdrieonians- Scottish Division TwoScottish Football League Second DivisionThe Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
: 1902–031902-03 in Scottish footballThe 1902–03 season was the 13th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Hibernian-Scottish League division two:-Scottish Cup:...
Bradford City
- English Division TwoFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
: 1907–081907-08 in English footballThe 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup... - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 1911