Liam O'Brien (footballer, born 1991)

Liam Daniel O'Brien (born 30 November 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Southern League Premier Division Central club Stratford Town. He began his professional career at Portsmouth and received one England U19 cap while at the club.

Liam O'Brien
Personal information
Full name Liam Daniel O'Brien[1]
Date of birth (1991-11-30) 30 November 1991[2]
Place of birth Ruislip, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Stratford Town
Youth career
0000–2008 Queens Park Rangers
2008–2010 Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2010 → Eastbourne Borough (loan) 1 (0)
2011–2013 Barnet 21 (0)
2013 → Hastings United (loan) 4 (0)
2013–2014 Brentford 0 (0)
2014–2016 Dagenham & Redbridge 34 (0)
2016–2017 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2017–2019 Coventry City 11 (0)
2019–2020 Yeovil Town 6 (0)
2020– Stratford Town 0 (0)
National team
2010 England U19 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:16, 22 August 2020 (UTC)

Career

Youth career

O'Brien attended Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Ruislip and St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth[4] and started his football career as a striker with Ruislip Rangers,[4] one of the longest established youth football clubs in Middlesex. He admitted he became a goalkeeper by accident and commented that he "started off as a pretty average striker and then I wasn't getting into the team. The team were playing a tournament and didn't have a goalkeeper so I had a try. Once I went in I liked it and did quite well".[4] He later signed schoolboy terms at Championship side Queens Park Rangers,[5] the club he supports.[6]

Portsmouth

In February 2008, after failing to sign scholarship terms at Queens Park Rangers,[5] O'Brien signed a three-year contract with Premier League side Portsmouth[7] after having trialled for Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Arsenal.[8] He was enticed by the prospect of training with then-England international goalkeeper David James.[9] Portsmouth Director Of Youth operations Paul Hart commented that "in the present climate there are few decent young English goalkeepers, but for a young boy Liam is mature and confident".[8] He began his two-year scholarship at the beginning of the 2008/09 season.[10] Allotted the number 31 shirt, O'Brien received his maiden call into the first team when he was an unused substitute for a 4-1 league defeat to Liverpool on 15 March 2010.[11] He was named on the bench for two more Premier League games during the 2009/10 season and made eight Premier Reserve League South appearances. Following Portsmouth's relegation, O'Brien was promoted to first team for the 2010/11 season in the Championship. He was an unused substitute for five Championship and League Cup games in August, but his contract was terminated by manager Steve Cotterill in October 2010 and he left the club having failed to make a senior appearance.[12]

Eastbourne Borough (loan)

On 9 September 2010, O'Brien joined Conference Premier side Eastbourne Borough on loan,[13] after seeking a move away from Portsmouth when the ailing club scrapped its reserve team.[14] O'Brien made his debut in a 4–0 heavy defeat against Barrow two days later.[15] O'Brien returned to Portsmouth in October, having made just one appearance.[16]

Barnet

O'Brien signed a contract with League Two side Barnet in January 2011[17] after training with the club for a month.[6] Awarded the number 18 shirt, he made his Barnet debut and the first Football League appearance of his career on 8 January 2011 in a 3–1 win over Bradford City.[18] O'Brien battled it out with Jake Cole and loanee Sam Walker for the number 1 jersey[9] and made eight appearances during the remainder of the 2010/11 season.[19] Under new manager Lawrie Sanchez, O'Brien served mainly as backup to new first-choice keeper Dean Brill[9] and made only 11 appearances during the 2011/12 season.[20] After starting in Barnet's first four games of the 2012/13 season, O'Brien found himself appearing sporadically as an unused substitute and he was last called into the squad for a 2-0 FA Cup first round defeat to Oxford United on 3 November 2012.[21] The arrival of Graham Stack and Sam Cowler further pushed O'Brien down the pecking order.[9] Following Barnet's relegation to the Conference Premier in May 2013, O'Brien was released by the club.[22] He made 23 appearances during his two and a half years at Barnet.[23]

Hastings United (loan)

Isthmian League Premier Division side Hastings United signed O'Brien on a one-month loan in January 2013, after first choice keeper Matt Armstrong-Ford picked up a knee injury just before the club's FA Cup third round tie against Championship side Middlesbrough.[24] O'Brien saved a penalty from Ishmael Miller but Hastings eventually fell to a 4–1 defeat.[25] After five appearances, O'Brien's loan at Hastings was cut short due to a groin injury.[26]

Brentford

On 15 August 2013, O'Brien signed a three-month deal with League One side Brentford, as backup for keepers Richard Lee, David Button and Jack Bonham.[27] Awarded the number 21 shirt, his first involvement with the first team came on 14 September, when he was an unused substitute for a 4-2 league victory over Tranmere Rovers.[28] O'Brien made his debut for the Brentford Development Squad the following Tuesday in a 1-1 Professional U21 Development League 2 South draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.[29] On 15 November 2013, O'Brien signed a two-month contract extension.[30] On 14 January 2014, it was announced that O'Brien had been awarded a contract extension until the end of the 2013/14 season.[31] It was revealed on 29 April that O'Brien would be released from his contract at the end of the season.[32] He failed to make a first team appearance during his time with the Bees[33] and only made a single outing for the Development Squad.[34] O'Brien's departure was confirmed with an announcement on 14 May.[35]

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 29 May 2014, O'Brien signed a two-year contract with League Two Dagenham & Redbridge.[36] On 12 August, he faced his former side Brentford in the League Cup First Round where his team lost 4–2 on penalties after a 6-6 thriller.[37] In May 2016 as his contract expired, he was released along with eleven players as Dagenham were relegated to the National League.[38]

Return to Portsmouth

On 8 August 2016, O'Brien signed a short-term deal with his first professional club Portsmouth.[39] He finally made his debut for the club on 30 August, starting in a 4–3 EFL Trophy away loss against Yeovil Town.

Yeovil Town

On 2 September 2019, O'Brien signed for National League side Yeovil Town on an undisclosed length short-term deal.[40] In January 2020, O'Brien's contract was extended until the end of the 2019–20 season.[41]

International career

O'Brien was called into the England U19 squad for a friendly versus the Netherlands in February 2010[42] and won his first cap. He was an unused substitute for a 4-0 2010 European U19 Championship elite qualification victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 28 May 2010. O'Brien was called into the squad for the finals, but was removed at the request of Steve Cotterill, due to injuries suffered by the Portsmouth's first team goalkeepers.[43]

Personal life

O'Brien said that "losing a friend and a truly great player", Kiyan Prince, while at Queens Park Rangers, was the worst moment of his career.[9]

Career statistics
As of match played on 29 February 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth 2009–10[44] Premier League 000000—00
2010–11[44] Championship 00—00—00
Total 000000—00
Eastbourne Borough (loan) 2010–11[45] Conference Premier 10———10
Barnet 2010–11[45] League Two 80———80
2011–12[46] League Two 10000001[lower-alpha 1]0110
2012–13[47] League Two 30—100040
Total 210001010230
Hastings United (loan) 2012–13[48] IL Premier Division 4010——50
Brentford 2013–14[44] League One 0000000000
Dagenham & Redbridge 2014–15[49] League Two 10000101[lower-alpha 1]0120
2015–16[50] League Two 24010002[lower-alpha 1]0270
Total 340101030390
Portsmouth 2016–17[51] League Two 0000003[lower-alpha 1]030
Coventry City 2017–18[52] League Two 7010102[lower-alpha 1]0110
2018–19[53] League One 4000103[lower-alpha 1]080
Total 110102050190
Yeovil Town 2019–20[54] National League 6000—2[lower-alpha 2]080
Career total 7703040140970
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Somerset Premier Cup

Honours

Coventry City

References
  1. "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. May 2013. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 425. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "Liam O'Brien". Coventry City F.C. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. Administrator (28 February 2008). "QPR REPORT: Ex-QPR's Liam O'Brien Explains Why He Joined Portsmouth - And How He Became a Goalie". Qprreport.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  5. Administrator (29 January 2008). "QPR REPORT: QPR Goalkeeper Liam O'Brien Trialing With Arsenal". Qprreport.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  6. joshilan14 (19 September 2012). "Liam O'Brien interview | The Football League 72". Thefootballleague72.wordpress.com. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  7. "Portsmouth swoop for QPR keeper O'Brien | Premiership News". Tribal Football. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  8. Portsmouth win chase... sign QPR goalie, Liam O'Brien; QPR Report, 8 February 2008
  9. "Farewell to Liam O'Brien - Barnet FC - Black and Amber". Barnet-mad.co.uk. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  10. "Portsmouth complete deal for QPR keeper O'Brien | Premiership News". Tribal Football. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  11. Sinnott, John (15 March 2010). "BBC Sport - Football - Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth". BBC News. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. "Portsmouth - O'Brien shown the door". Portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  13. Portsmouth loan Liam O'Brien to Eastbourne Borough; BBC Sport, 9 September 2010
  14. "BBC Sport - Football - Portsmouth loan Liam O'Brien to Eastbourne Borough". BBC News. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  15. Gamecast: Barrow v. Eastbourne Borough – English Conference; ESPN Soccernet, 11 September 2010
  16. "Liam O'Brien Bio, Stats, News - Football / Soccer". Espn Fc. 3 November 1991. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  17. Barnet sign England Under-19 goalkeeper Liam O'Brien; BBC Sport, 6 January 2011
  18. "Match Report Bradford – Barnet 1 – 3". Barnet FC. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  19. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  20. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  21. "BBC Sport - Barnet 0-2 Oxford United". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  22. Retained List – Phase One
  23. "Liam O'Brien | Football Stats | Brentford | Age 22". Soccer Base. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  24. "O'Brien agrees Hastings loan". Barnetfc.com. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  25. Middlesbrough 4 – 1 Hastings Utd
  26. United look East to resolve keeper crisis
  27. "Brentford sign Liam O'Brien". Brentfordfc.co.uk. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  28. "BBC Sport - Tranmere 3-4 Brentford". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  29. "It Was Nice To Make Some Saves". Brentfordfc.co.uk. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  30. "New Contract For Liam O'Brien". Brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  31. "Liam O'Brien Signs New Deal". Brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  32. http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brentford-keeper-heading-for-exit-7025370
  33. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=53465
  34. http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/201314-development-squad-stats-1710997.aspx
  35. http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brentford-release-four-players-after-7121680
  36. "Liam O'Brien: Dagenham sign ex-Brentford goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 29 May 2014.
  37. http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/dagenham-and-redbridge-brentford-match-report-1823537.aspx
  38. "Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Liam O'Brien one of 11 players released by club following relegation from the Football League". Barking & Dagenham Post. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  39. "Pompey sign goalkeeper Liam O'Brien and midfielder Amine Linganzi". Portsmouth FC. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  40. "Stopper snapped up". Yeovil Town F.C. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  41. "Transfer | Liam O'Brien extends his stay". ytfc.net. Yeovil Town F.C. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  42. "Portsmouth keeper O'Brien wins England U19 call | Premiership News". Tribal Football. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  43. "O'Brien pulled out of England duty - Portsmouth News". Portsmouth.co.uk. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  44. "Games played by Liam O'Brien - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  45. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  46. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  47. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  48. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2012/2013 for Hastings United". Hastings United FC. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  49. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  50. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  51. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  52. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  53. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  54. "Games played by Liam O'Brien in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  55. Law, James (28 May 2018). "Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
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