Peter O'Rourke

Football manager infobox
playername = Peter O'Rourke


fullname = Peter O'Rourke
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = June 1873
cityofbirth = Newmilns
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1956|1|10|1873|6|1|df=y
cityofdeath = Bradford
countryofdeath = England
position = Centre half
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =



0000–1903
1903–1905
clubs = Celtic
Burnley
Lincoln City
Third Lanark
Chesterfield
Bradford City
caps(goals) =




49 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears = 1905–1921
1922
1922–1923
1924–1925
1928–1930
1930–1932
1932–1933
managerclubs = Bradford City
Pontypridd
Dundee United
Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford City
Walsall
Llanelli

Peter O'Rourke (June 1873 – 10 January 1956) was a Scottish footballer and manager.

Career

O'Rourke was a centre half who played for Celtic, Burnley, Lincoln City, Third Lanark and Chesterfield before his final playing days at Bradford City. He became player-manager in 1905 following the departure of Robert Campbell while he was still captain. He was given the job permanently and in December 1905 played his final game in an FA Cup tie against Darlington.

He led the Bantams to the Second Division championship in 1908. Three years later, O'Rourke clinched the FA Cup with Bradford in 1911, beating Newcastle United 1–0 in a replay. His son, Francis, died in Newfoundland in October 1919, affecting him deeply, and in June 1921, due to ill health, O'Rourke retired from the game.cite book
last = Frost
first = Terry
title = Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988
publisher = Breedon Books Sport
year = 1988
pages = p. 66
isbn = 0907969380]

He came back with Welsh side Pontypridd in 1922 for five months. In December of that year, O'Rourke joined Dundee Hibernians, who were then a non-league club, but stayed for only three months, resinging after lacking financial support.cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=300|title=Dundee United A - Z ( R )|publisher=Dundee United FC website] His next managerial job was with Bradford Park Avenue from 1924 to 1925. He spent just ten months at Park Avenue but signed another son, Peter, who scored twice on his debut against Durham City.

He returned to Bradford City in 1928, winning the Third Division North the following year. After leaving Bradford for the second time in 1930, he moved to Walsall, before a final managerial spell with Llanelli. He retired in July 1933.

After retiring, O'Rourke returned to Bradford living in Burlington Terrace next to City's Valley Parade ground until he died in January 1956 at the age of 82. [cite book
last = Dewhirst
first = John
title = City Memories - An Illustrated Record of Bradford City A.F.C.
publisher = True North Book
year = 1998
isbn = 1 900 463 57 1]

Honours

Manager

Bradford City
* Football League Second Division: 1907–08
* FA Cup: 1910–11
* Football League Third Division North: 1928–29

References

External links

* [http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10266~687438,00.html Bradford City website profile]
*