{{Short description|Footballer (1953–1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Phil O'Connor | image = | full_name = Philip Kelvin O'Connor | height = | birth_date = {{birth date|1953|10|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Romford, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|9|23|1953|10|10|df=y}} | death_place = Australia | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1970–1971 | clubs1 = Southend United | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = | clubs2 = Bexley United | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1972–1975 | clubs3 = Luton Town | caps3 = 2 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1974–1975 | clubs4 = → Lincoln City (loan) | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 1975 | clubs5 = Balgownie Rangers | caps5 = | goals5 = | years6 = 1976 | clubs6 = Wollongong City | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 1977 | clubs7 = St George | caps7 = | goals7 = | years8 = 1980–1981 | clubs8 = A.P.I.A. Leichhardt | caps8 = | goals8 = | years9 = 1984–1985 | clubs9 = Blacktown City | caps9 = | goals9 = | nationalyears1 = 1976–1984 | nationalteam1 = Australia | nationalcaps1 = 20 | nationalgoals1 = 5 }}
'''Phil O'Connor''' (10 October 1953 – 23 September 1985) was a footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in England, he emigrated to Australia during his career and made 20 appearances for the Australia national team scoring give goals.
==Career== O'Connor began his career as an apprentice with Southend United before dropping into the non-league ranks with Bexley United. In 1972, he returned to the Football League with Luton Town. After a loan spell with Lincoln City in the 1974–75 season, O'Connor emigrated to Australia. He quickly made his way into the Australia national team, making his debut against Hong Kong on 11 August 1976<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1976A.html |title=Socceroo Internationals for 1976 |work=OzFootball |access-date=7 February 2008}}</ref> and going on to appear a total of 20 times scoring 5 goals, which included three appearances against England in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1983A.html |title=Socceroo Internationals for 1983 |work=OzFootball |access-date=7 February 2008}}</ref>
A fee of $7,000 saw him move from St George to A.P.I.A. Leichhardt for the 1980 National Soccer League season, netting a 14th minute debut goal in the club's 2–1 over Adelaide City at Lambert Park on 9 March 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A9RQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0OYDAAAAIBAJ&dq=phil%20o-connor%20leichhardt&pg=3368%2C3987208 |title=New boy Phil a hero |date=10 March 1980 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=19 December 2011}}</ref> After two seasons, he moved on to join Wollongong Wolves for the 1982 National Soccer League season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y4VWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o-YDAAAAIBAJ&dq=phil%20o-connor%20leichhardt&pg=6668%2C4699819 |title=Slickers looking at fourth title |date=14 February 1982 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=19 December 2011}}</ref> On 23 September 1985, O'Connor died in a car accident when his bread van veered off the Appin Road and hit a tree, killing him instantly.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MTZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOgDAAAAIBAJ&dq=phil%20o-connor%20appin&pg=1294%2C6350939 |title=Ex-Socceroo striker dies in car crash |date=24 September 1985 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=19 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blogs/lesmurray/5-12007/ |title=Trans-Tasman rivalry is dead |date=19 June 2001 |work=The World Game |access-date=30 May 2009 |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224014734/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blogs/lesmurray/5-12007/ |archive-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.redimps.com/archive3/index.mv?cat=players&drop=playerdetsdrop&play=ocon01 Lincoln City profile] * [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/O/OB.html Australian career history]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnor, Phil}} Category:1953 births Category:1985 deaths Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Australia men's international soccer players Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players Category:English Football League players Category:APIA Leichhardt FC players Category:Blacktown City FC players Category:Lincoln City F.C. players Category:Luton Town F.C. players Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Bexley United F.C. players Category:Irish emigrants to Australia Category:English emigrants to Australia Category:Road incident deaths in New South Wales Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen