Jonathan Mark O'Brien (born 2 November 1961) is an English former

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played as a

goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or intercepting o ...

Career

In 1984, O'Brien signed for hometown club Southend United on non-contract terms, after playing for

Maldon Town Maldon & Tiptree Football Club is a football club based in Maldon, Essex, England. They are currently members of the and play at the Wallace Binder Ground. History Maldon Town Football Club was established in August 1946 as part of the Maldon ...

and

Tilbury Tilbury is a port town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. The present town was established as separate settlement in the late 19th century, on land that was mainly part of Chadwell St Mary. It contains a 16th century fort and an ancie ...

. After new manager

Bobby Moore Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore (12 April 1941 – 24 February 1993) was an English professional footballer. He most notably played for West Ham United, captaining the club for more than ten years, and was the captain of the England natio ...

was appointed Southend manager, O'Brien was invited to train with the first team. On 10 November 1984, O'Brien made his Southend debut in a 2–1 home victory against Peterborough United. Following another ten

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

appearances for Southend, O'Brien dropped back into non-league, playing for Chelmsford City,

Dartford Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...

, Barking,

Hitchin Town Hitchin Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. They are currently members of the . Founded in 1865 and known as 'The Canaries', Hitchin Town have been based at Top Field since their fou ...

Wivenhoe Town Wivenhoe Town F.C. is an English football club based in Wivenhoe, Essex. The club are currently members of the and play at Broad Lane. History The club was established as Wivenhoe Rangers by Frank Slaughter and students from Colchester Gram ...

and Great Wakering Rovers.

References

1961 births Living people Men's association football goalkeepers English men's footballers Footballers from Southend-on-Sea Maldon & Tiptree F.C. players Tilbury F.C. players Southend United F.C. players Chelmsford City F.C. players Dartford F.C. players Barking F.C. players Hitchin Town F.C. players Wivenhoe Town F.C. players Great Wakering Rovers F.C. players English Football League players {{England-footy-goalkeeper-stub