{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{infobox football biography | name = Alan O'Brien | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1985|2|20}} | birth_place = [[Dublin]], Ireland | height = | position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]] | youthyears1 = 2001–2004 | youthclubs1 = [[Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy|Newcastle United]] | years1 = 2004–2007 | clubs1 = [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] | caps1 = 5 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = → [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2007–2009 | clubs3 = [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] | caps3 = 47 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2009–2011 | clubs4 = [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2011–2012 | clubs5 = [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2012 | clubs6 = [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] | caps6 = 12 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2012–2017 | clubs7 = [[Hungerford Town F.C.|Hungerford Town]] | caps7 = 73 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2017 | clubs8 = [[Chippenham Town F.C.|Chippenham Town]] | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2017–2018 | clubs9 = [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]] | caps9 = 4 | goals9 = 0 | totalcaps = 192 | totalgoals = 5 | club-update = | nationalyears1 = 2006–2007 | nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Alan O'Brien''' (born 20 February 1985) is an Irish former [[association football|footballer]] who last played for [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]].<ref name="Alan O'Brien Retires">{{cite web |title=Alan O'Brien Retires |url=https://www.mynewsmag.co.uk/alan-obrien-retires/ |website=My Local News|date=July 2018 }}</ref> O'Brien, who played as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]], represented the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] at full international level five times, all while he was on the books of [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].
== Club career == === Newcastle United === O'Brien played for [[Cabinteely F.C.|Cabinteely]] and [[St Josephs Boys AFC|St Josephs]] at youth level in Ireland before signing for [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref name = "injury blow">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3921715.stm Injury blow for O'Brien], [[BBC Sport]], 23 July 2004.</ref> He played in the under–17 national championship winning team who beat [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] 5–2 in a final played over two legs at [[Old Trafford (football)|Old Trafford]] and [[St James' Park]]. He then featured regularly for the Newcastle [[reserve team]] during the 2003/04 season, but he suffered a broken leg in a [[training ground]] accident in July 2004.<ref name = "injury blow"/> O'Brien progressed in the next year to the extent that he was in the first team squad,<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/queen_of_the_south/4182624.stm Queens fail in O'Brien loan bid], [[BBC Sport]], 24 August 2005.</ref> but he was sent on loan to [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] during October 2005.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/4295434.stm O'Brien seals Carlisle loan move O'Brien seals Carlisle loan move], [[BBC Sport]], 1 October 2005.</ref> He scored within 10 minutes of his debut for Carlisle,<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4277868.stm Carlisle 1–3 Bristol Rovers], [[BBC Sport]], 1 October 2005.</ref> but the loan spell was cut short due to injury.
O'Brien made his Newcastle first team debut on 7 January 2006 in a [[FA Cup]] tie against [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]. [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]] and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] were interested in signing O'Brien, but [[Glenn Roeder]] kept O'Brien due to the demands on a small Newcastle squad.<ref>Buckingham, Mark. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2390298,00.html Norwich miss out on O'Brien], [[Sky Sports]], 22 September 2006.</ref><ref>Bailey, Graeme. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2391402,00.html Wolves warned off Toon starlet], [[Sky Sports]], 4 October 2006.</ref> O'Brien eventually made his first full [[Premier League]] appearance on 20 January 2007 against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] at [[St James' Park]]. He played the full 90 minutes against West Ham, but never made another first team start.<ref name = "signed for Hibs">Buckingham, Mark. [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2492988,00.html Magpies winger to join Hibs], [[Sky Sports]], 25 June 2007.</ref>
=== Hibernian === On 25 June 2007, O'Brien agreed to sign a three-year contract with [[Scottish Premier League]] side [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] after the expiry of his contract with Newcastle United, who were entitled to compensation.<ref name = "signed for Hibs"/> O'Brien initially struggled to win a place in the Hibernian team, and he turned down a loan move to [[Football League One]] side [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] in January 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7217341.stm |title=O'Brien opts to remain with Hibs |work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC |date=30 January 2008|access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> He played more regularly for Hibs during the 2008–09 season, although he missed two months due to a knee injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2008/10/28/winger-alan-o-brien-returns-to-training-for-hibs-86908-20846970/ |title=Winger Alan O'Brien returns to training for Hibs |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=28 October 2008|accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref> He was released by the club on 1 July 2009 after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.<ref name = "signs for Swindon"/>
=== Swindon Town === Soon after his release by [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], O'Brien signed for [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].<ref name = "signs for Swindon">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8131967.stm |title=Swindon swoop for winger O'Brien |work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=3 July 2009 |access-date=14 August 2010}}</ref> He made his debut for Swindon on the opening day of the 2009–10 season in a 5–0 defeat away at [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]].<ref>[http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_3149147,00.html Gillingham vs. Swindon]</ref>
O'Brien managed four appearances for Swindon before suffering a hamstring injury in August.<ref>[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11758_5657921,00.html Swindon midfielder closing on first-team comeback]</ref> O'Brien made just one substitute appearance under the management of [[Paul Hart]], who decided to release O'Brien from his contract in April 2011.<ref name = "swindon release">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13168877|title=Alan O'Brien leaves struggling Swindon Town|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 April 2011|access-date=23 April 2011}}</ref> O'Brien made a total of 40 appearances, the majority as a substitute, in two seasons for Swindon.<ref name = "swindon release"/>
=== Yeovil Town === O'Brien signed for [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] on 12 August 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14505404|title=Yeovil Town complete deal for Alan O'Brien|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=12 August 2011|access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref> He was released from his contract by Yeovil on 4 January 2012, along with [[Kerrea Gilbert]], [[Flavien Belson]] and [[Abdulai Bell-Baggie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16414589|title=Yeovil Town release four but re-sign Watford's Gavin Massey|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=4 January 2012|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
=== Gateshead === O'Brien signed for [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] on 9 February 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16971186|title=Gateshead snap up ex-Newcastle United winger Alan O'Brien|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=9 February 2012|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> He made his debut on 18 February 2012 in a 2–1 defeat against [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3874/forest-green-rovers-2-1-gateshead|title=Forest Green Rovers 2–1 Gateshead|first=Jeff|last=Bowron|publisher=Gateshead F.C.|date=19 February 2012|accessdate=19 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407230244/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3874/forest-green-rovers-2-1-gateshead|archivedate=7 April 2012}}</ref> O'Brien was released by Gateshead at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4007/gateshead-201213-squad-update |title=Gateshead 2012/13 Squad Update |first=Jeff |last=Bowron |publisher=Gateshead F.C. |date=30 April 2012 |accessdate=30 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074619/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4007/gateshead-201213-squad-update |archivedate=29 November 2014 }}</ref>
=== Hungerford Town ===
In the summer of 2012, O'Brien joined [[Hungerford Town F.C.|Hungerford Town]]; he made his debut for the club in a 2–1 away win at [[Bridgwater Town F.C.|Bridgwater Town]] on 18 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/s/players-coaches-11575.html?player_id=718494 |title=First Team - Players & Coaches - Alan O'Brien - Hungerford Town Football Club |accessdate=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827073518/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/s/players-coaches-11575.html?player_id=718494 |archivedate=27 August 2012}}</ref>
=== Wealdstone ===
O'Brien signed for [[National League South]] side [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone FC]] in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Now O'Brien Re-Unites With Former Boss |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/now-obrien-re-unites-former-boss/ |website=Non-League|date=4 September 2017 }}</ref> His season was affected by a succession of injuries and, by July 2018, decided to retire from football.<ref name="Alan O'Brien Retires"/>
== International career == O'Brien was capped by Ireland at several youth levels. After impressing during the pre-season of 2006 he received a call up to the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|senior squad]] for the first time, where he joined up with then Newcastle teammates [[Damien Duff]], [[Stephen Carr]], and [[Shay Given]].<ref>Parkes, Ian. [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/staunton-keeps-watch-on-robson-for-irelands-dutch-clash-411078.html Staunton keeps watch on Robson for Ireland's Dutch clash], ''[[The Independent]]'', 9 August 2006.</ref> He came on as a second-half substitute for the friendly match against [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] to gain his first full international cap.
== Career statistics == ===Club=== {{updated|match played 9 December 2017}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3889/luton-town-2-0-gateshead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407230249/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/3889/luton-town-2-0-gateshead |url-status=dead |archivedate=7 April 2012 |title=Luton Town 2–0 Gateshead |publisher=Gateshead F.C. |date=26 February 2012 |accessdate=26 February 2012 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] |[[2004–05 Newcastle United F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|40591|2004|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|[[Premier League]] |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |[[2005–06 Newcastle United F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name="AO05">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2005|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |3||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |[[2006–07 Newcastle United F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref name="AO06">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2006|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |2||0||2||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="Intertoto">Appearances in the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup|Intertoto Cup]]</ref>||0||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !5!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!9!!0 |- |rowspan="2"|[[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] (loan) |[[2005–06 Carlisle United F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name="AO05"/> |[[EFL League Two|League Two]] |5||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||5||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !5!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!5!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] |[[2007–08 Hibernian F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref name="AO07">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2007|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|[[Scottish Premier League]] |23||0||3||0||1||0||0||0||27||0 |- |[[2008–09 Hibernian F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name="AO08">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2008|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |24||0||1||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="Intertoto"/>||0||26||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!0!!4!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!53!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] |[[2009–10 Swindon Town F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref name="AO09">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2009|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|[[EFL League One|League One]] |9||0||1||0||1||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="L1PO">Appearances in the [[EFL League One play-offs|League One play-offs]]</ref>||0||14||0 |- |[[2010–11 Swindon Town F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref name="AO10">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2010|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |21||0||1||0||1||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT">Appearances in the [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]]</ref>||0||26||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !30!!0!!2!!0!!2!!0!!6!!0!!40!!0 |- |rowspan="2"|[[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] |[[2011–12 Yeovil Town F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref name="AO11">{{Soccerbase season|40591|2011|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> |[[EFL League One|League One]] |13||0||1||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT"/>||0||15||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !13!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!15!!0 |- |rowspan="2"|[[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] |2011–12<ref name="AOSW">{{Soccerway|alan-o-brien/2903|accessdate=9 December 2017}}</ref> |[[National League (division)|Conference Premier]] |12||0||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT">Appearance in the [[FA Trophy]]</ref>||0||13||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !12!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!13!!0 |- |rowspan="6"|[[Hungerford Town F.C.|Hungerford Town]] |[[2012–13 Southern Football League#Division One South & West|2012–13]]<ref name="AOAU">{{cite web|title=Alan O'Brien|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/alan-o'brien|publisher=Aylesbury United F.C.|accessdate=9 December 2017}}</ref> |[[Southern Football League|SFL - Div 1 South & West]] |?||2||?||0||colspan="2"|—||?||0||?||2 |- |[[2013–14 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2013–14]]<ref name="AOAU"/> |rowspan="3"|[[Southern Football League|SFL - Premier Division]] |?||2||?||?||colspan="2"|—||?||?||?||2 |- |[[2014–15 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2014–15]]<ref name="AOAU"/> |33||5||1||0||colspan="2"|—||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in the [[Berks & Bucks Senior Cup]]; One appearance in the [[FA Trophy]]; One appearance in the [[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]]; one appearance in the [[2014–15 Southern Football League#Play-offs|Southern League Premier Division play-offs]]; one appearance and a goal in the [[Basingstoke Senior Cup]]</ref>||1||40||6 |- |[[2015–16 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2015–16]]<ref name="AOAU"/> |26||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Four appearances and a goal in the [[FA Trophy]]; two appearances in the [[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]]</ref>||1||34||3 |- |[[2016–17 National League#National League South|2016–17]]<ref name="AOAU"/> |[[National League South]] |19||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in the [[Berks & Bucks Senior Cup]]; One appearance in the [[FA Trophy]]</ref>||0||22||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !78!!12!!3!!0!!0!!0!!15!!2!!96!!14 |- |[[Chippenham Town F.C.|Chippenham Town]] |[[2017–18 National League#National League South|2017–18]]<ref name="AOSW"/> |[[National League South]] |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||3||0 |- |[[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]] |[[2017–18 National League#National League South|2017–18]]<ref name="AOSW"/> |[[National League South]] |4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career totals !197!!13!!13!!0!!3!!0!!25!!2!!238!!15 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 26 May 2007}} <ref>{{NFT player |id=15171 |name=O'Brien, Alan |accessdate=12 December 2017}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! National team !! Year !! Apps !! Goals |- |rowspan="2"|[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] |2006||4||0 |- |2007||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total!!5!!0 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *{{NFT player|pid=15171}} *{{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Alan}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Association footballers from County Dublin]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland men's B international footballers]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football wingers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland]] [[Category:Newcastle United F.C. players]] [[Category:Carlisle United F.C. players]] [[Category:Hibernian F.C. players]] [[Category:Swindon Town F.C. players]] [[Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players]] [[Category:Gateshead F.C. players]] [[Category:Hungerford Town F.C. players]] [[Category:Premier League players]] [[Category:English Football League players]] [[Category:National League (English football) players]] [[Category:Scottish Premier League players]] [[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]]