Seamus O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Seamus O'Connell is an English former amateur footballer who played in the Scottish Football League
for Queens Park and in the Football League
for Middlesbrough
, Chelsea
and Carlisle United
during the 1950s.
O'Connell was born in Carlisle. His cousin Sean O'Connell
was an all-time great Gaelic football
er who played for Derry
.
A forward, O'Connell divided his playing time with working for his family's cattle-farming business. He played for Scottish amateur club Queens Park, and made his English Football League debut for Middlesbrough
on Boxing Day 1953, scoring in a 3–2 win against Newcastle United
. He joined Chelsea
in August 1954 and scored a hat-trick
on his debut (one of only two Chelsea players to do this, the other being George Hilsdon
) against Manchester United
in October 1954, although his side still lost 6–5. The season was nonetheless a success for O'Connell and Chelsea, as he scored eight goals in eleven league games and helped the club win their first League Championship
.
O'Connell remained with Chelsea for another season before returning to the amateur game, and ended his time at the club with 12 goals from 17 games. He was a three-time winner of the FA Amateur Cup
, with Bishop Auckland
in 1955 and 1956, and Crook Town in 1959. He won four caps for the England amateurs
.
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
for Queens Park and in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
during the 1950s.
O'Connell was born in Carlisle. His cousin Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell was an Irish Gaelic footballer and manager. He played for Derry in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and was on the Derry side that finished runners-up to Dublin in the 1958 All-Ireland Championship - winning an Ulster Championship with the county that year, and three more in 1970,...
was an all-time great Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played for Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
.
A forward, O'Connell divided his playing time with working for his family's cattle-farming business. He played for Scottish amateur club Queens Park, and made his English Football League debut for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on Boxing Day 1953, scoring in a 3–2 win against 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...
. He joined Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in August 1954 and scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on his debut (one of only two Chelsea players to do this, the other being George Hilsdon
George Hilsdon
George Richard Hilsdon was a footballer who began his career at West Ham United, making his debut in the 1903-04 season. His brother Jack Hilsdon also played for West Ham at this time...
) against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in October 1954, although his side still lost 6–5. The season was nonetheless a success for O'Connell and Chelsea, as he scored eight goals in eleven league games and helped the club win their first League Championship
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
O'Connell remained with Chelsea for another season before returning to the amateur game, and ended his time at the club with 12 goals from 17 games. He was a three-time winner of the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
, with Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
in 1955 and 1956, and Crook Town in 1959. He won four caps for the England amateurs
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
.
External links
- Coverage of the 1955 and 1956 Amateur Cup Finals at British Pathé