William James O'Kane (born 17 June 1948) is a Northern Irish former footballer. He played as a defender.

Club career

O'Kane was born in

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...

, and began his career with Derry City. He signed for

Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Football Club is a professional association football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Founde ...

in November 1968 and made his League debut on 30 April 1969 against Leeds United F.C. Initially, he succeeded Terry Hennessey at centre back, but in 1971 he moved to right back and stayed there for the rest of his career. His best period was 1973–76, on his return from a broken leg, but injuries were never far away and they finally finished him as a player in the 1975–76 season, when he was still only 28. He scored his only goal for Forest in the 1973-74 FA Cup Quarter-Final against

Newcastle United Newcastle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Since th ...

, but as the game (which Forest lost 3-4 after comfortably leading 3-1 in the second half) was ordered to be replayed due to the United fans invading the pitch, the match, and O'Kane's goal, was stricken from the records.

International career

During his career, and despite being troubled persistently by injuries, O'Kane made 20 international appearances for

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. He scored one goal against Portugal in 1973.

Coaching

O'Kane moved onto the coaching staff at Nottingham Forest after his playing days and was the only man to have survived throughout the Brian Clough years until Joe Kinnear arrived at the club. O'Kane finally left his position at the club in early 2005 after a 36-year spell.

References

1948 births Living people Association footballers from Derry (city) Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Derry City F.C. players Nottingham Forest F.C. players Northern Ireland men's international footballers Shamrock Rovers F.C. guest players Men's association football defenders Nottingham Forest F.C. non-playing staff English Football League players {{NorthernIreland-footy-bio-stub