Jamie O'Brien (footballer)

Not to be confused with Jim O'Brien (footballer).
Jamie O'Brien
Personal information
Date of birth8 June 1990
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Bohemians[1]
Youth career
–2006Cherry Orchard
2006–2007Birmingham City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2007–2009Birmingham City0(0)
2009→ Solihull Moors (loan)?(?)
2009–2010Bradford City23(2)
2010–2011St Patrick's Athletic9(0)
2011–2012Longford Town9(0)
2013–2015Athlone Town
2015-Bohemians
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:30, 23 March 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

James "Jamie" O'Brien (born 8 June 1990) is an Irish footballer who plays for Bohemians.[1] He made his debut in the Football League for Bradford City in August 2009. He has represented Ireland at all levels up to under-19.

Early life

O'Brien was born in Dublin and raised in the Ballyfermot district.[2] His younger brother Mark and cousin Cliff Byrne are also professional footballers.[2][3]

Club career

O'Brien began his football career with Ballyfermot club Cherry Orchard.[2] In the summer of 2006 he moved to England to take up a scholarship with Birmingham City. After only one year with the club, during which he was part of the youth team which reached the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup, he signed a two-year professional contract.[4] He played regularly for Birmingham's reserve team and was an unused substitute as they won the Birmingham Senior Cup in 2008.[5] O'Brien joined Conference North side Solihull Moors on a month's loan in January 2009,[6] but the loan was interrupted when the player sustained a pelvic injury a couple of weeks later.[7]

After his contract with Birmingham expired, O'Brien spent pre-season with League Two club Bradford City, he impressed during trials scoring on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Burnley, and on 4 August 2009 signed a three-month contract.[3] He made his professional debut for Bradford on 12 August as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 loss against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup.[8][9] His debut in the Football League came three days later as a late substitute in the goalless draw at home to Port Vale.[10] O'Brien scored his first goal for Bradford on 22 August, in a 5–4 victory away at Cheltenham Town.[11][12] Due to having surgery O'Brien has been restricted to substitute appearances.

O'Brien signed a new 18-month contract with Bradford City on 29 October,[13] but was released on 26 July 2010, 10 months early.[14] He subsequently returned to his native Dublin where he signed for his boyhood club St Patrick's Athletic.[15]

He signed for Longford Town in July 2011.[16] He was released in July 2012.

In July 2013 he was playing for Athlone Town.[17] He signed for Bohemians ahead of the 2015 season.[1]

International career

While a Cherry Orchard player, O'Brien captained Ireland's under-16 side. According to his manager Vincent Butler, he was "excellent for us this season and in most of our matches was the best player on the pitch",[18] and his performances with that team earned him the eircom/FAI Under-16 International Player of the Year award.[19] He graduated to the under-17s,[20] missing out on the elite qualifying round of the 2007 UEFA Under-17 championships through injury,[21] under-18s,[22] and, in the 2008–09 season, to the under-19s.[23]

References

Infobox statistics
General
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Season Preview 2015 - Bohemians". ExtraTime.ie. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Meet Ireland's Under 17 Squad Ahead Of Tonight's Friendly Against Italy". Football Association of Ireland (FAI). 23 January 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "James O'Brien given time to prove himself". Bradford City official website. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "Trio Sign Pro Deals". Birmingham City F.C. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Birmingham Senior Cup - Birmingham City 5 Burton Albion 0". Birmingham Mail. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Youngsters Join Moors On Loan". Birmingham City F.C. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  7. ↑ Stoner, Colin (28 January 2009). "Stuart Nicholson makes a dream start as Tamworth beat King's Lynn 2–0 at The Lamb". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Nottm Forest 3–0 Bradford". BBC Sport. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Nottingham Forest 3 Bradford City 0". Bradford City official website. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Bradford 0–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "Cheltenham Town 4 Bradford City 5". Bradford City official website. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Cheltenham 4–5 Bradford". BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "James O'Brien earns extended contract". Bradford City official website. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  14. ↑ "James O'Brien leaves City". Bradford City official website. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "Midfielder James O'Brien signs for Pat's". St Patrick's Athletic F.C. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  16. ↑ "Profile: James O'Brien". St Patrick's Athletic F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  17. ↑ Simon Parker (16 July 2013). "James O’Brien regrets cutting short stay at Bradford City". Telegraph & Argus.
  18. ↑ "Ireland's skipper, James O'Brien, looks for positive start against Croatia". FAI. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  19. ↑ "17th eircom/FAI International Award Winners Announced". FAI. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "Meet Ireland's Under 17 Squad Ahead Of Tonight's Friendly Against Italy". FAI. 23 January 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  21. ↑ "Ireland's U17 eager to challenge Germany for place in UEFA Championship finals". FAI. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  22. ↑ "Statistics: under18: James O'Brien". SoccerScene.ie. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "Under 19 Player Profiles". FAI. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.