Ken O'Rourke explained

Ken O'Rourke
Fullname:Kenneth O'Rourke[1]
Birth Date:1949 12, df=y
Birth Place:Lambeth, London, England
Height:[2]
Position:Forward
Years1:1967–1968
Clubs1:Arsenal
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1968
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Clubs3:Bedford Town
Totalcaps:1
Totalgoals:0

Kenneth O'Rourke (born 8 December 1949) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Colchester United.

Career

Born in Lambeth, London, O'Rourke showed great promise as an apprentice at Leyton Orient, leading to Arsenal signing him at the age of 17 in February 1967. Failing to make a first-team appearance for the Gunners, he was released by the club at the end of the 1967–68 season after scoring 12 goals in 42 youth games, joining Ipswich Town on a two-month trial. He again failed to make the grade at Ipswich, joining neighbours Colchester United on a similar trial period in October 1968.[2]

Whilst with Colchester, O'Rourke made his first and only Football League appearance[3] in a 2–0 Fourth Division defeat to Swansea City at Vetch Field on 23 November 1968.[4] He also made one other appearance for the U's in the FA Cup, a 5–0 thrashing of Chesham United in the first round one week prior to his league debut.[5]

O'Rourke was released at the end of his trial period, joining Bedford Town and later the Metropolitan Police for several years after becoming a police officer, playing in the Southern League.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Colchester United – Player profile . https://archive.today/20130616114957/http://coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=301 . dead . 16 June 2013 . Coludata.co.uk . 21 May 2013 .
  2. Book: Whitehead . Jeff . Drury . Kevin . The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years . 2008 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-629-3 . 185.
  3. Web site: COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51–1989/90 & 1992/93–2011/12 . Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database . 21 May 2013.
  4. Web site: Colchester United – Match details – Swansea City 2–0 Colchester Utd . https://archive.today/20130616114946/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1266 . dead . 16 June 2013 . Coludata.co.uk . 21 May 2013 .
  5. Web site: Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 5–0 Chesham United . https://archive.today/20130616115003/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1265 . dead . 16 June 2013 . Coludata.co.uk . 21 May 2013 .