Alan O'Brien

{{infobox football biography

| name = Alan O'Brien

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1985|2|20}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Winger

| youthyears1 = 2001–2004 | youthclubs1 = Newcastle United

| years1 = 2004–2007 | clubs1 = Newcastle United | caps1 = 5 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = → Carlisle United (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2007–2009 | clubs3 = Hibernian | caps3 = 47 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2009–2011 | clubs4 = Swindon Town | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2011–2012 | clubs5 = Yeovil Town | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2012 | clubs6 = Gateshead | caps6 = 12 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2012–2017 | clubs7 = Hungerford Town | caps7 = 73 | goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2017 | clubs8 = Chippenham Town | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2017–2018 | clubs9 = Wealdstone | caps9 = 4 | goals9 = 0

| club-update = 17:27, 12 December 2017 (UTC)

| nationalyears1 = 2006–2007 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalteam-update = 16:57, 19 April 2009 (UTC)}}

Alan O'Brien (born 20 February 1985)is an Irish former footballer who last played for Wealdstone.{{cite web |title=Alan O'Brien Retires |url=https://www.mynewsmag.co.uk/alan-obrien-retires/ |website=My Local News|date=July 2018 }} O'Brien, who played as a winger, represented the Republic of Ireland at full international level five times, all while he was on the books of Newcastle United.

Club career

= Newcastle United =

O'Brien played for Cabinteely and St Josephs at youth level in Ireland before signing for Newcastle United.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3921715.stm Injury blow for O'Brien], BBC Sport, 23 July 2004. He played in the under–17 national championship winning team who beat Manchester United 5–2 in a final played over two legs at Old Trafford and St James' Park. He then featured regularly for the Newcastle reserve team during the 2003/04 season, but he suffered a broken leg in a training ground accident in July 2004. O'Brien progressed in the next year to the extent that he was in the first team squad,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/queen_of_the_south/4182624.stm Queens fail in O'Brien loan bid], BBC Sport, 24 August 2005. but he was sent on loan to Carlisle United during October 2005.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/4295434.stm O'Brien seals Carlisle loan move O'Brien seals Carlisle loan move], BBC Sport, 1 October 2005. He scored within 10 minutes of his debut for Carlisle,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4277868.stm Carlisle 1–3 Bristol Rovers], BBC Sport, 1 October 2005. but the loan spell was cut short due to injury.

O'Brien made his Newcastle first team debut on 7 January 2006 in a FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town. Wolves and Norwich City were interested in signing O'Brien, but Glenn Roeder kept O'Brien due to the demands on a small Newcastle squad.Buckingham, Mark. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2390298,00.html Norwich miss out on O'Brien], Sky Sports, 22 September 2006.Bailey, Graeme. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2391402,00.html Wolves warned off Toon starlet], Sky Sports, 4 October 2006. O'Brien eventually made his first full Premier League appearance on 20 January 2007 against West Ham United at St James' Park. He played the full 90 minutes against West Ham, but never made another first team start.Buckingham, Mark. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2492988,00.html Magpies winger to join Hibs], Sky Sports, 25 June 2007.

= Hibernian =

On 25 June 2007, O'Brien agreed to sign a three-year contract with Scottish Premier League side Hibernian after the expiry of his contract with Newcastle United, who were entitled to compensation. O'Brien initially struggled to win a place in the Hibernian team, and he turned down a loan move to Football League One side Crewe Alexandra in January 2008.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7217341.stm |title=O'Brien opts to remain with Hibs |work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC |date=30 January 2008|accessdate=26 February 2012}} He played more regularly for Hibs during the 2008–09 season, although he missed two months due to a knee injury.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2008/10/28/winger-alan-o-brien-returns-to-training-for-hibs-86908-20846970/ |title=Winger Alan O'Brien returns to training for Hibs |work=Daily Record |date=28 October 2008|accessdate=26 February 2012}} He was released by the club on 1 July 2009 after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

= Swindon Town =

Soon after his release by Hibernian, O'Brien signed for Swindon Town.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8131967.stm |title=Swindon swoop for winger O'Brien |work=BBC Sport|date=3 July 2009 |accessdate=14 August 2010}} He made his debut for Swindon on the opening day of the 2009–10 season in a 5–0 defeat away at Gillingham.[http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3149147,00.html Gillingham vs. Swindon]

O'Brien managed four appearances for Swindon before suffering a hamstring injury in August.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11758_5657921,00.html Swindon midfielder closing on first-team comeback] O'Brien made just one substitute appearance under the management of Paul Hart, who decided to release O'Brien from his contract in April 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13168877.stm|title=Alan O'Brien leaves struggling Swindon Town|work=BBC Sport|date=22 April 2011|accessdate=23 April 2011}} O'Brien made a total of 40 appearances, the majority as a substitute, in two seasons for Swindon.

= Yeovil Town =

O'Brien signed for Yeovil Town on 12 August 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14505404.stm|title=Yeovil Town complete deal for Alan O'Brien|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=12 August 2011|accessdate=12 August 2011}} He was released from his contract by Yeovil on 4 January 2012, along with Kerrea Gilbert, Flavien Belson and Abdulai Bell-Baggie.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16414589.stm|title=Yeovil Town release four but re-sign Watford's Gavin Massey|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=4 January 2012|accessdate=4 January 2012}}

= Gateshead =

O'Brien signed for Gateshead on 9 February 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16971186|title=Gateshead snap up ex-Newcastle United winger Alan O'Brien|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=9 February 2012|accessdate=9 February 2012}} He made his debut on 18 February 2012 in a 2–1 defeat against Forest Green Rovers.{{cite news|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3874/forest-green-rovers-2-1-gateshead|title=Forest Green Rovers 2–1 Gateshead|first=Jeff|last=Bowron|publisher=Gateshead F.C.|date=19 February 2012|accessdate=19 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407230244/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3874/forest-green-rovers-2-1-gateshead|archivedate=7 April 2012}} O'Brien was released by Gateshead at the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4007/gateshead-201213-squad-update |title=Gateshead 2012/13 Squad Update |first=Jeff |last=Bowron |publisher=Gateshead F.C. |date=30 April 2012 |accessdate=30 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074619/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4007/gateshead-201213-squad-update |archivedate=29 November 2014 }}

= Hungerford Town =

In the summer of 2012, O'Brien joined Hungerford Town; he made his debut for the club in a 2–1 away win at Bridgwater Town on 18 August 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/s/players-coaches-11575.html?player_id=718494 |title=First Team - Players & Coaches - Alan O'Brien - Hungerford Town Football Club |accessdate=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827073518/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/s/players-coaches-11575.html?player_id=718494 |archivedate=27 August 2012}}

= Wealdstone =

O'Brien signed for National League South side Wealdstone FC in September 2017.{{cite web |title=Now O'Brien Re-Unites With Former Boss |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/now-obrien-re-unites-former-boss/ |website=Non-League|date=4 September 2017 }} His season was affected by a succession of injuries and, by July 2018, decided to retire from football.

International career

O'Brien was capped by Ireland at several youth levels. After impressing during the pre-season of 2006 he received a call up to the senior squad for the first time, where he joined up with then Newcastle teammates Damien Duff, Stephen Carr, and Shay Given.Parkes, Ian. [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/staunton-keeps-watch-on-robson-for-irelands-dutch-clash-411078.html Staunton keeps watch on Robson for Ireland's Dutch clash], The Independent, 9 August 2006. He came on as a second-half substitute for the friendly match against Netherlands to gain his first full international cap.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 9 December 2017}} {{cite web|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3889/luton-town-2-0-gateshead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407230249/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3889/luton-town-2-0-gateshead |url-status=dead |archivedate=7 April 2012 |title=Luton Town 2–0 Gateshead |publisher=Gateshead F.C. |date=26 February 2012 |accessdate=26 February 2012 }}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Newcastle United \|2004–05{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2004\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|rowspan="3"\|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005–06{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2005\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2006–07{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2006\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|2	0	2	0	0	0	1Appearances in the Intertoto Cup	0	5	0
colspan="2"\|Total !5	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	9	0
rowspan="2"\|Carlisle United (loan) \|2005–06 \|League Two \|5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
colspan="2"\|Total !5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
rowspan="3"\|Hibernian \|2007–08{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2007\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Premier League \|23	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	27	0
2008–09{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2008\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|24	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	26	0
colspan="2"\|Total !47	0	4	0	1	0	1	0	53	0
rowspan="3"\|Swindon Town \|2009–10{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2009\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|rowspan="2"\|League One \|9	0	1	0	1	0	3Appearances in the League One play-offs	0	14	0
2010–11{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2010\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|21	0	1	0	1	0	3Appearances in the Football League Trophy	0	26	0
colspan="2"\|Total !30	0	2	0	2	0	6	0	40	0
rowspan="2"\|Yeovil Town \|2011–12{{Soccerbase season\|40591\|2011\|accessdate=9 February 2012}} \|League One \|13	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	15	0
colspan="2"\|Total !13	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	15	0
rowspan="2"\|Gateshead \|2011–12{{Soccerway\|alan-o-brien/2903\|accessdate=9 December 2017}} \|Conference Premier \|12	0	0	0	0	0	1Appearance in the FA Trophy	0	13	0
colspan="2"\|Total !12	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	13	0
rowspan="6"\|Hungerford Town \|2012–13{{cite web\|title=Alan O'Brien\|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/alan-o'brien\|publisher=Aylesbury United F.C.\|accessdate=9 December 2017}} \|SFL - Div 1 South & West \|?	2	?	0	colspan="2"\|—	?	0	?	2
2013–14 \|rowspan="3"\|SFL - Premier Division \|?	2	?	?	colspan="2"\|—	?	?	?	2
2014–15 \|33	5	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	6Two appearances in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup; One appearance in the FA Trophy; One appearance in the Southern League Cup; one appearance in the Southern League Premier Division play-offs; one appearance and a goal in the Basingstoke Senior Cup	1	40	6
2015–16 \|26	2	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	6Four appearances and a goal in the FA Trophy; two appearances in the Southern League Cup	1	34	3
2016–17 \|National League South \|19	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	3Two appearances in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup; One appearance in the FA Trophy	0	22	1
colspan="2"\|Total !78	12	3	0	0	0	15	2	96	14
Chippenham Town \|2017–18 \|National League South \|3	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	3	0
Wealdstone \|2017–18 \|National League South \|4	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	4	0
colspan="3"\|Career totals !197	13	13	0	3	0	25	2	238	15