James O'Connor (footballer born 1984)
Encyclopedia
James Francis Edward O'Connor (born 20 November 1984 in Birmingham
) is an English
professional footballer who plays as a defender
for Doncaster Rovers
.
A former Aston Villa
youth player
, he also played on loan at Port Vale
before making his name with Bournemouth
in the 2005–06 season. Following this he was brought to Doncaster Rovers for a £130,000 fee, where he has established himself as an essential first team player.
in 1997 after his P.E teacher Mr Alan Miller recommended O'Connor to the club as a creative midfield player. He instead established himself as a strong defender, and featured in the 2002 FA Youth Cup
win. A car crash early in the year had ruled him out for a number of months and he missed the first leg of the semi-final, but returned to help his side resist an Everton
attack fronted by Wayne Rooney
in the final.
Turning professional with Aston Villa
in 2004; later in the year he enjoyed a three month loan spell at League One
Port Vale
to gain first team experience.
on loan at the start of the 2004–05 season and in January 2005 signed permanently, after Villa agreed to a free transfer. O'Connor quickly became an integral part of the team, making his name as a tough tackler and promising player. He scored his only goal for the Cherries in a 2–2 draw against Scunthorpe United
at Glanford Park
.
for £130,000 due to Bournemouth's financial difficulties. He made a solid start to his Rovers career in the 2006–07 season with consistent performances throughout the season in defence.
In the 2007–08 season, O'Connor began to excel in the right-back slot, providing width and speed to the Rovers attacks, as well as playing his part as a key player in a solid defence. O'Connor's first goal in his Doncaster career was the third of a resounding 4–0 victory away at Brentford
in December 2006. He capped a fine season by helping the club to Football League Trophy
success
following a 3–2 win over Bristol Rovers
at the Millennium Stadium
.
In 2008, O'Connor was named Man of the Match as Doncaster beat Leeds United
in the League One play-off final
at Wembley Stadium
. Not long after this he pledged his future to Doncaster by signing a new three year contract.
During the following season, O'Connor helped Doncaster to secure a fourteenth place finish in the Championship
. Along the way he scored the only goal in their win against Sheffield United
at Bramall Lane
.
O'Connor was awarded all three of the club's available supporters awards for the 2009–10
season after a succession of good performances playing at right-back and centre-half. He scored his only goal of the season away at Brentford in the FA Cup
Third Round.
O'Connor started the 2010–11
season by scoring Doncaster's first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win against Preston North End
. He went on to make 37 starts despite an injury hampered season, with one of the highlights being his secondnd goal of the season against local rivals Scunthorpe United
in a 3–1 win at Glanford Park
.
|2004–05
||Aston Villa
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2004–05
||Port Vale
||League One
||13||0||0||0||0||0||15||0
|-
|2004–05||Bournemouth
||League One
||6||0||0||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|2005–06||Bournemouth
||League One
||39||1||1||0||1||0||43||1
|-
|2006–07||Doncaster Rovers
||League One
||40||1||3||0||3||0||49||1
|-
|2007–08||Doncaster Rovers
||League One
||43||0||2||0||2||0||49||0
|-
|2008–09||Doncaster Rovers
||Championship
||32||1||4||0||0||0||36||1
|-
|2009–10
||Doncaster Rovers
||Championship
||38||0||2||1||1||0||41||1
|-
|2010–11
||Doncaster Rovers
||Championship
||34||2||2||0||1||0||37||2
|-
|2011–12
||Doncaster Rovers
||Championship
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
245||5||14||1||8||0||276||6
245||5||14||1||8||0||276||6
with Doncaster Rovers
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
.
A former Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
youth player
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
, he also played on loan at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
before making his name with Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in the 2005–06 season. Following this he was brought to Doncaster Rovers for a £130,000 fee, where he has established himself as an essential first team player.
Aston Villa
O'Connor went to Wheelers Lane Boys School in Birmingham between 1996 and 2001. He joined the Aston Villa youth set-upAston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
in 1997 after his P.E teacher Mr Alan Miller recommended O'Connor to the club as a creative midfield player. He instead established himself as a strong defender, and featured in the 2002 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
win. A car crash early in the year had ruled him out for a number of months and he missed the first leg of the semi-final, but returned to help his side resist an Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
attack fronted by Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
in the final.
Turning professional with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 2004; later in the year he enjoyed a three month loan spell at League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
to gain first team experience.
Bournemouth
Not making the grade at Villa, he joined BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on loan at the start of the 2004–05 season and in January 2005 signed permanently, after Villa agreed to a free transfer. O'Connor quickly became an integral part of the team, making his name as a tough tackler and promising player. He scored his only goal for the Cherries in a 2–2 draw against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
at Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
.
Doncaster Rovers
In May 2006, he was sold to Doncaster RoversDoncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
for £130,000 due to Bournemouth's financial difficulties. He made a solid start to his Rovers career in the 2006–07 season with consistent performances throughout the season in defence.
In the 2007–08 season, O'Connor began to excel in the right-back slot, providing width and speed to the Rovers attacks, as well as playing his part as a key player in a solid defence. O'Connor's first goal in his Doncaster career was the third of a resounding 4–0 victory away at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in December 2006. He capped a fine season by helping the club to Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
success
2007 Football League Trophy Final
The 2007 Football League Trophy Final was the 24th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 1 April 2007, the last time that the final would be played in the...
following a 3–2 win over Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
.
In 2008, O'Connor was named Man of the Match as Doncaster beat Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in the League One play-off final
2008 Football League One play-off Final
The 2008 Football League One play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2008, at the end of the 2007–08 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from League One to the Championship, and was contested by Doncaster Rovers, who had finished...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Not long after this he pledged his future to Doncaster by signing a new three year contract.
During the following season, O'Connor helped Doncaster to secure a fourteenth place finish in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. Along the way he scored the only goal in their win against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
.
O'Connor was awarded all three of the club's available supporters awards for the 2009–10
2009–10 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season
The 2009–10 Football League Championship was Doncaster Rovers F.C.s second season in the Championship. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club has played during the 2009–10 season.-Legend:...
season after a succession of good performances playing at right-back and centre-half. He scored his only goal of the season away at Brentford 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...
Third Round.
O'Connor started the 2010–11
2010–11 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season
The 2010–11 season will be the 131st season in Doncaster Rovers Football Club's existence, and their 3rd consecutive year in the second tier of English football.-Pre-season:Doncaster's first pre-season friendly is an away game against local team Askern Villa...
season by scoring Doncaster's first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. He went on to make 37 starts despite an injury hampered season, with one of the highlights being his secondnd goal of the season against local rivals Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
in a 3–1 win at Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
.
Statistics
|-|2004–05
2004–05 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 2004–05 season in English football was Aston Villa F.C.'s 13th consecutive season in the FA Premier League, and their second season under the management of David O'Leary.-Season summary:...
||Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2004–05
2004–05 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Port Vale's ninety-third season of football in the Football League, and first in the newly created League One. Martin Foyle's first full season in charge, Vale survived a relegation dogfight to finish in eighteenth place...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||13||0||0||0||0||0||15||0
|-
|2004–05||Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||6||0||0||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|2005–06||Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||39||1||1||0||1||0||43||1
|-
|2006–07||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||40||1||3||0||3||0||49||1
|-
|2007–08||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||43||0||2||0||2||0||49||0
|-
|2008–09||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||32||1||4||0||0||0||36||1
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season
The 2009–10 Football League Championship was Doncaster Rovers F.C.s second season in the Championship. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club has played during the 2009–10 season.-Legend:...
||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||38||0||2||1||1||0||41||1
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season
The 2010–11 season will be the 131st season in Doncaster Rovers Football Club's existence, and their 3rd consecutive year in the second tier of English football.-Pre-season:Doncaster's first pre-season friendly is an away game against local team Askern Villa...
||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||34||2||2||0||1||0||37||2
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season
-Kits:Doncaster continue with Nike as their kit suppliers and One Call Insurance as their shirt sponsor. Their home kit contains Doncaster's traditional broad red and white hoops however this season they have opted for black trimmings on their kit and the red shorts and socks replace last season...
||Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
245||5||14||1||8||0||276||6
245||5||14||1||8||0||276||6
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
statistics included in totals column.
Honours
with Aston Villa- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
winner: 2002
with Doncaster Rovers
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 20072007 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2007 Football League Trophy Final was the 24th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 1 April 2007, the last time that the final would be played in the... - Football League One play-offsFootball League One play-offsThe Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
winner: 20082008 Football League One play-off FinalThe 2008 Football League One play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2008, at the end of the 2007–08 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from League One to the Championship, and was contested by Doncaster Rovers, who had finished...
External links
- James O'Connor player profile at doncasterroversfc.co.uk