View source for Mick O'Brien (footballer, born 1979)

{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Mick O'Brien
| image               =
| fullname            = Michael George O'Brien
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1979|09|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England
| height              =
| position            = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub         =
| clubnumber          =
| youthyears1         = 199?–1997
| youthclubs1         = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| years1 = 1997–1999 | years2 = 1999–2001 | years3 = 2001 | years4 = 2001 | years5 = 2001–2003 | years6 = 2003 | years7 =2005
| clubs1 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] | clubs2 = [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] | clubs3 = →[[Southport F.C.|Southport]] (loan) | clubs4 = [[Droylsden F.C.|Droylsden]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2001/player_details.php?playerid=2404|title=Player Details: Season 2001–2002|publisher=SoccerFacts UK|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref> | clubs5 = [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] | clubs6 = [[Droylsden F.C.|Droylsden]]<ref name=sf0304 /> | clubs7 =[[Droylsden F.C.|Droylsden]]<ref name=sf0506 />
| caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | caps2 = 52 | goals2 = 5 | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 0 | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 2 | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0 | caps7 = 6 | goals7 = 1
}}
'''Michael George O'Brien''' (born 25 September 1979) is an English former professional [[association football|footballer]]. He represented [[England national football team|England]] as a schoolboy.
O'Brien, a left-sided midfielder, began his career as a trainee with [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], turning professional in October 1997. At Everton he had captained the [[FA Youth Cup]] winning side in 1998,<ref name="fa ablett">{{cite news|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/02/FAYC_GaryAblett.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080512092300/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/02/FAYC_GaryAblett.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-05-12|title=Ablett coaching the way|publisher=The Football Association|date=2005-02-15|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref> but his progress was hampered by injury and he was released at the end of the 1998–99 season.
He joined [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] in August 1999 and later that month, on the opening day of the season, scored on his league debut against [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] at [[Gay Meadow]]. After a first season in and out of the starting line-up, but with some notable moments, including as a goal from a 30-yard free kick at [[Loftus Road]] in the [[FA Cup]] third round tie against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in December 1999, O'Brien fell out of favour with manager [[Wes Saunders]]. He was loaned to Conference side [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] in January 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southport/1124342.stm|title=O'Brien in Southport loan deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2001-01-18|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref> returning in March with Torquay struggling at the foot of [[the Football League]]. With Saunders sacked, O'Brien returned to the first team squad under new manager [[Colin Lee]], playing four times as a substitute before the end of the season. The last of these games, on the final day of the season, saw O'Brien come on early in the first half for [[Jason Rees (footballer)|Jason Rees]] as Torquay won 3–2 away to [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] to avoid relegation and send Barnet down instead.
Lee left at the end of the season and was replaced by [[Roy McFarland]]. O'Brien was one of a number of players on short-term contracts, giving McFarland a chance to assess the squad. He appeared as a late substitute for [[Tony Bedeau]] on 11 August 2001, as Torquay lost 1–0 away to [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]], but was released at the end of that month.
He joined [[Droylsden F.C.|Droylsden]] in September 2001, moving to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] the following month<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chester/1621259.stm|title=Chester back on track|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2001-10-27|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref> and appearing in their Conference side. He was released by Chester at the end of the 2002–03 season, having not played in their first team that season.
He returned to Droylsden in August 2003, playing seven times up to early October.<ref name=sf0304>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=8368|title=Player Details: Season 2003–2004|publisher=SoccerFacts UK|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
He returned to the Droylden side in October 2005, playing his final game for them that season on 12 December as Droylsden lost at home to [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]].<ref name=sf0506>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2005/player_details.php?playerid=6900|title=Player Details: Season 2005–2006|publisher=SoccerFacts UK|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www3.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/viewarticle.aspx?id=311673 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070813134844/http://www3.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/viewarticle.aspx?id=311673 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-08-13 |title=Reds cut Droylsden to pieces at Butchers Arms |publisher=News & Star |date=2005-12-13 |accessdate=2009-01-19 }}</ref>
He also became kit man to the Everton youth team, also taking some of the coaching<ref name="fa ablett" /> and by April 2008 was one of Everton's Academy coaches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/content/everton-youth-chiefs-visit-thailand-academy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913221651/http://www.tribalfootball.com/content/everton-youth-chiefs-visit-thailand-academy |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-13 |publisher=Tribal Football |date=2008-04-25 |accessdate=2009-01-19 }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
SoccerFunZone.com
==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
SoccerFunZone.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Mick}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Torquay United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Southport F.C. players]]
[[Category:Droylsden F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Liverpool]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]