Aaron O'Driscoll

Aaron Maurice O'Driscoll (born 4 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Christchurch United in the Southern League in New Zealand.

Aaron O'Driscoll
Aaron O’Driscoll playing for Manchester City in 2014.
Personal information
Full name Aaron Maurice O'Driscoll[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-04) 4 April 1999
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Christchurch United
Number 6
Youth career
0000–2014 Cherry Orchard
2014–2016 Manchester City
2016–2020 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Mansfield Town 3 (0)
2021 → Longford Town (loan) 36 (1)
2022 Shelbourne 25 (0)
2023– Christchurch United 17 (3)
International career‡
2016 Republic of Ireland U17 1 (0)
Republic of Ireland U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:04, 12 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:03, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Dublin,[3] O'Driscoll played youth football for Cherry Orchard before signing for Manchester City's academy in 2014.[4][5] He was released by Manchester City after two seasons at the club, having suffered an injury in his second.[5] He signed a professional contract with Southampton in July 2016.[4][5] He appeared nine times for the club's under-21 side in the EFL Trophy before being released in summer 2020.[6][3]

He signed a two-year contract with League Two side Mansfield Town following a trial period with the club.[7][6][8] He made his debut for the club on 29 August 2020 in a 4–0 EFL Trophy defeat away to Preston North End.[3] On 26 February 2021, Aaron joined Longford Town on loan until the end of November.[9] He made his debut for the club on 20 March 2021 in a 2–0 home win over Derry City.[3] In a difficult season for the team which ended with Longford's relegation from the League of Ireland Premier Division, O'Driscoll played every game and was a standout performer being awarded the supporters player of the year award.

On 13 January 2022, O'Driscoll signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne.[10]

On 23 March 2023, O'Driscoll joined New Zealand Southern League side Christchurch United.[11] He scored 3 goals in 17 appearances as the club won the 2023 Southern League.[12] On 10 September 2023 he was part of the team that won the 2023 Chatham Cup, defeating Melville United on penalties in the final.[13]

International career

O'Driscoll made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland at under-17 level.[3] He also played at under-19 level alongside future senior internationals including Aaron Connolly, Lee O'Connor and Dara O'Shea.[8]

Personal life

He is the son of former footballer Maurice O'Driscoll, who won the League of Ireland Premier Division with St Patrick's Athletic.[8]

Career statistics
As of match played 10 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton U21 2017–18[14] ———3[lower-alpha 3]030
2018–19[15] ———3[lower-alpha 3]030
2019–20[16] ———3[lower-alpha 3]030
Total 0000009090
Mansfield Town 2020–21[17] League Two 3010103[lower-alpha 3]080
2021–22[18] 00———00
Longford Town (loan) 2021[3] League of Ireland Premier Division 36121——382
Shelbourne 2022[3] League of Ireland Premier Division 25000——250
Christchurch United 2023 Southern League 17371––244
Total 814102101201036
  1. Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup
  2. Includes EFL Cup & League of Ireland Cup
  3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours
Christchurch United

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Mansfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 40. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. "Aaron O'Driscoll". www.premierleague.com. Premier League. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. Aaron O'Driscoll at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. Fennessy, Paul (11 July 2016). "Promising Irish teenager thrilled to sign professional contract with Southampton". The42. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  5. "Former Manchester City starlet Aaron O'Driscoll joins Southampton". Goal. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  6. "Stags sign O'Driscoll on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  7. Thirkill, Stephen (20 August 2020). "Aaron O'Driscoll keen to establish himself in the Mansfield Town starting eleven". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  8. Dollery, Paul (20 August 2020). "'We might just have a top player on our hands' - O'Driscoll moves on after Southampton exit". The42. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. "Mansfield Town's Aaron O'Driscoll extends Longford Town loan deal". Longford Town FC. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  10. "Shelbourne announces signing of Aaron O'Driscoll". Shelbourne FC. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. "Aaron O'Driscoll joins Christchurch United after leaving Shelbourne". EXTRATIME. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  12. https://cufc.co.nz/news/tpost/tsk4m8tgx1-christchurch-united-fc-secures-back-to-b
  13. https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/132741?newsfeedId=1229959
  14. "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  15. "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  17. "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  18. "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  19. https://cufc.co.nz/news/tpost/tsk4m8tgx1-christchurch-united-fc-secures-back-to-b
  20. https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/132741?newsfeedId=1229959
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