O’Brien, John

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Personal

Fullname: John O’Brien
Born: 3 Aug 1877
Died: […]
Birthplace: Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
Signed: 30 Mar 1895 (trial)
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Leith Athletic 5-6 Celtic, League, 30 Mar 1895
Internationals: none
*Note: After research in 2021, it is believed that the goalkeeper is John O’Brien from Mossend (Lanarkshire), and not his contemporary (Edward O’Brien) from Dalziel Rovers.

Biog

John O’Brien was a goalkeeper with Mossend Brigade Juniors who was loaned to Celtic for one game to cover for Dan McArthur who was on international duty.

O’Brien’s only appearance as a Celt was in a remarkable 6-5 victory over Leith Athletic on 30th March 1895. However, it was reported that:

“[He] did not play up to his reputation as Scotland’s best junior goalkeeper and was responsible for at least three of the five goals conceded. He was very nervous.”

Consequently O’Brien possesses the worst goals conceded per game ratio for a keeper in the history of Celtic (but only if you look at the stats in a crude fashion).

To be fair on him, this was back in the days when football team formations could be primitive, and often played in a format of 2-2-6 or even 1-1-8, almost like how all kids play in the school playground. So he had a hard task with likely little defence in front of him, but Celtic still won.

It must be added that when he had his trial at Celtic, it is believed that he may only have been 17 year of age, too young even for the modern day and age for a goalkeeper. For back then when football was far more physically aggressive than now (and much more was permissible), it was asking a lot for such a young inexperienced player to make the step up to such a difficult position.

The scoreline seems to indicate that it was mostly attacking play by both sides and this covered for deficiencies elsewhere. As an end of season game, with the league lost already in the last game to Hearts, likely there was more leniency in play from Celtic than beforehand.

So pinning the blame alone on to this young inexperienced goalkeeper isn’t necessarily fair, and  Celtic did still win the match.  However, if Leith Athletic had won or even drawn, then it could have kept them in the top tier (they were relegated, joint bottom on seven points). So maybe explains their push for goals in this game, but they were facing a far superior Celtic side who kept their noses in front.

As a measure of his ability, only two weeks prior he had played for Scotland juniors v England in Glasgow where it was reported that:

“His display… brilliant and seldom surpassed at either junior or senior level“.

John O’Brien’s career from research appears to have followed the below route:

Mossend Brigade, (Scottish junior), Celtic  (trial), Mossend Celtic, Benburb, Ashton North End.

So therefore sadly it appears he didn’t make it to the senior ranks beyond that one chance at Celtic.

Maybe a further opportunity could have shown his ability in a different light, but we’ll never know now. Competing with the great Dan McArthur for the goalkeeping spot was always going to be a tough challenge as well. Also if he had been given a further chance the next season he could have played a part with Celtic’s league title winning side.

Interestingly, he moved to Ashton North End for the period November 1896-1897, which was a similar time that famous pioneering black footballer Arthur Wharton played there too (1897-99). Arthur Wharton is believed to be the first black professional footballer, and he played as a winger and a goalkeeper; it is believed Arthur Wharton played in goals for Ashton North End. Therefore it is possible that he was a successor to John O’Brien. Ashton North End went bankrupt in 1899.

Note: this player should NOT be confused with Edward O’Brien who was a fellow contemporary player in the same era who moved from Dalziel Rovers to Benburb and then to Clyde. Sadly some reports do so.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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Scottish Referee, 30 August 1895.
Johnny O’brien, Mossend Brigade to Mossend Celtic. Which would mean that he joined Benburb 2 weeks later.

O’Brien (Benburb) has now joined the senior ranks. He played a League match for Clyde against St Mirren on Saturday. (believe this will have been Edward O’Brien)