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Billy O'Rourke

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Billy O'Rourke
Personal information
Full name William James O'Rourke
Date of birth (1960-04-02)2 April 1960
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Date of death 28 January 2002(2002-01-28) (aged 41)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1976–1978 Burnley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1984 Burnley 14 (0)
1983Blackpool (loan) 6 (0)
1984 Chester City 5 (0)
1984–1987 Blackpool 92 (0)
1986Tranmere Rovers (loan) 15 (0)
1987–1988 Tranmere Rovers 38 (0)
Total 170 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William James O'Rourke (2 April 1960 – 28 January 2002) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played in The Football League for four clubs.

Playing career

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O'Rourke began his career as an apprentice with Burnley, with whom he turned professional in February 1978. His debut came at QPR in October 1979, in a match shown on Match of the Day.[1] Burnley lost 7–0, with O'Rourke leaving the pitch in tears;[1] however, his performance led to the Burnley Express naming him as his side's man of the match.[1]

He went on to make 13 more league appearances for the Clarets before joining Blackpool on loan in August 1983, followed by a move to Chester City in March 1984. Just five appearances later he was back at Blackpool, this time on a permanent basis, playing every league game in the next two seasons. He was voted Player of the Year in his first full season.[2]

In September 1986, O'Rourke joined Tranmere Rovers on loan, making a permanent switch to Prenton Park the following February. He remained with the club the following season, before leaving Football League circles. He then joined ICI Thornton.[3]

Honours

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Blackpool

Death

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O'Rourke died following a brain haemorrhage on 28 January 2002.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Obituaries". The London Clarets. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  2. ^ Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  3. ^ "Tranmere Rovers 1946/47-2006/07". Neil Brown. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
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