Peter O'Rourke

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Peter O'Rourke
Personal information
Full name Peter O'Rourke
Date of birth June 1873
Place of birth    Newmilns, Scotland
Date of death    10 January 1956 (aged 82)
Place of death    Bradford, England
Playing position Centre half
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*




0000–1903
1903–1905
Celtic
Burnley
Lincoln City
Third Lanark
Chesterfield
Bradford City





49 (1)   
Teams managed
1905–1921
1922
1922–1923
1924–1925
1928–1930
1930–1932
1932–1933
Bradford City
Pontypridd
Dundee United
Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford City
Walsall
Llanelli

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Peter O'Rourke (June 1873 – 10 January 1956) was a Scottish footballer and manager.

Contents

[edit] Career

O'Rourke was a centre half who played for Celtic, Burnley, Lincoln City, Third Lanark and Chesterfield before his final playing days at Bradford City. He became player-manager in 1905 following the departure of Robert Campbell while he was still captain. He was given the job permanently and in December 1905 played his final game in an FA Cup tie against Darlington.

He led the Bantams to the Second Division championship in 1908. Three years later, O'Rourke clinched the FA Cup with Bradford in 1911, beating Newcastle United 1–0 in a replay. His son, Francis, died in Newfoundland in October 1919, affecting him deeply, and in June 1921, due to ill health, O'Rourke retired from the game.[1]

He came back with Welsh side Pontypridd in 1922 for five months. In December of that year, O'Rourke joined Dundee Hibernians, who were then a non-league club, but stayed for only three months, resinging after lacking financial support.[2] His next managerial job was with Bradford Park Avenue from 1924 to 1925. He spent just ten months at Park Avenue but signed another son, Peter, who scored twice on his debut against Durham City.[1]

He returned to Bradford City in 1928, winning the Third Division North the following year. After leaving Bradford for the second time in 1930, he moved to Walsall, before a final managerial spell with Llanelli. He retired in July 1933.

After retiring, O'Rourke returned to Bradford living in Burlington Terrace next to City's Valley Parade ground until he died in January 1956 at the age of 82.[3]

[edit] Honours

[edit] Manager

Bradford City

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport, p. 66. ISBN 0907969380. 
  2. ^ Dundee United A - Z ( R ). Dundee United FC website.
  3. ^ Dewhirst, John (1998). City Memories - An Illustrated Record of Bradford City A.F.C.. True North Book. ISBN 1 900 463 57 1. 

[edit] External links