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ANTHONY O'CONNOR
Full Name: Anthony Dean O'Connor
Born: 25 October 1992
1. Came from: Blackburn Rovers Went to: Blackburn Rovers
1. First game: 12 August 2014 Last game: 10 January 2015
2. Came from: Blackburn Rovers Went to:
2. First game: 07 February 2015 Last game: 14 May 2015
Appearances: 47 (45/2) Goals: 3
Born in Cork, the 21-year-old defender became John Sheridan's ninth summer signing on the eve of the 2014-15 season, on loan from Blackburn Rovers until January 2015.
Having previously played for Irish sides Kilreen Celtic and Nu Farm, O'Connor joined the Blackburn Rovers Academy in 2008 and signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2011. He was capped three times by the Republic of Ireland's under-17s in 2008 and nine times (scoring twice) for the under-19s between 2010 and 2011. In 2013 he also won eight caps for the Republic's under-21s.
O'Connor was unable to break into the first team at Ewood Park, so was loaned out to aid his development. At the start of the 2012-2013 season he was borrowed by Burton Albion, where he became an ever-present that season and helped the Brewers to the League Two play-offs. He returned to Ewood Park and was then loaned to Torquay United in October 2013, where he made 31 appearances in three successive one-month loan periods, followed by a fourth until the end of the season.
Having been dismissed in Torquay's final game before dropping out of the Football League - a home defeat by Wycombe Wanderers at the end of their disastrous campaign - he was ineligible to play in Argyle's 2014-15 season opener, but soon carved out a regular place as a defensive midfielder. A series of solid, dependable performances during his half-season loan at Home Park helped the club into the play-off positions and his versatility in a holding midfield role contributed to Argyle's mean defence.
O'Connor returned to Ewood Park in the new year, but rumour and conjecture continued throughout the January transfer window, during which time Argyle's on-pitch performances slumped and the club fell out of League Two play-off contention. Argyle and Blackburn eventually came to an agreement on the last day of the transfer window and a permanent deal was agreed to allow O'Connor to leave the Championship club, with the Pilgrims taking over his contract until the end of the 2014-15 season.
During the close season O'Connor was offered a new deal at Home Park, ahead of Derek Adams' arrival, but the 22-year-old elected to join one of his former clubs, Burton Albion, on a two-year deal with Argyle receiving nominal compensation.
However, after 24 appearances and a single goal in the 2015-16 season, O'Connor signed a deal with Aberdeen in June 2016, and made his debut that summer in the second leg of a Europa League first qualifying round tie against Luxembourg side Fola Esch. O'Connor played a total of 90 times and scored five goals two seasons at Pittodrie before moving back south of the border.
After signing a three-year contract with Bradford City in June 2018 O'Connor was made club captain in October of the same year. However, his first season ended in disappointment and culminated in relegation from League One. He went on to make 137 appearances for Bradford, scoring nine goals before being released at the end of his contract.
The midfielder then returned to League One, with Morecambe signing a two-year deal in June 2021. In his two seasons he played 62 times and scored five goals before moving back to League Two with league newcomers Harrogate Town, for whom he signed in January 2023.
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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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