Jim O'Brien (footballer, born 1987)

James John O'Brien (born 28 September 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Notts County. His previous clubs include Motherwell and Ross County in Scotland, and Barnsley and Coventry City in England.

For the Athlone Town midfielder, see Jamie O'Brien (footballer).

Jim O'Brien
O'Brien with Bradford City in 2018
Personal information
Full name James John O'Brien[1]
Date of birth (1987-09-28) 28 September 1987
Place of birth Dumbarton, Scotland
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Notts County
Number 6
Youth career
Bellsmyre Boys Club
Dumbarton United[2]
2000–2006 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Celtic 1 (0)
2007 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 13 (1)
2008 → Dundee United (loan) 10 (0)
2008–2010 Motherwell 64 (4)
2010–2014 Barnsley 123 (7)
2014–2016 Coventry City 70 (8)
2016 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 9 (1)
2016–2017 Shrewsbury Town 18 (0)
2017 → Ross County (loan) 16 (1)
2017–2018 Ross County 25 (0)
2018–2019 Bradford City 11 (0)
2019– Notts County 135 (12)
International career
2005 Republic of Ireland U19 1 (0)
2006–2008 Republic of Ireland U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:53, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

Born in Scotland, he represented Ireland at youth international level.

Club career

Celtic and loans

Raised in Dumbarton, O'Brien began his career in the youth system at Celtic. He was loaned out to Dunfermline Athletic during the 2006–07 season.[3] He made his debut in their 3–2 Scottish Cup victory over Rangers on 7 January 2007. He scored his first goal in Dunfermline's 4–1 victory over Motherwell on 7 May 2007.[4]

He made his debut Celtic in a 2–1 victory over Gretna on 7 October 2007; he filled in as a right-back due to all of Celtic's recognised players in that position being injured.[5]

O'Brien joined Dundee United on loan on 31 January until May 2008.[6]

Motherwell
O'Brien playing for Motherwell in

On 8 August 2008, O'Brien signed for Motherwell.[7] He scored four goals in 64 league appearances for Motherwell, earning selection for the PFA Scotland team of the year in 2009–10.[8]

Barnsley

On 7 May 2010, O'Brien signed a pre-contract agreement with English Championship side Barnsley,[8] then under the stewardship of Mark Robins. He scored his first goal for the club during a 5–2 win againstLeeds United at Oakwell in September 2010. As of 5 April 2013, O'Brien had scored five and assisted eight goals for Barnsley.[9] In May 2014, O'Brien rejected a new contract offer from Barnsley.

Coventry City

O'Brien completed a move to Coventry City on a two-year contract on 4 July 2014. He made his league debut on the opening day of the 2014–15 season in a 3–2 defeat to Bradford City. He scored a disputed first goal for the club against Sheffield United at Sixfields (later credited as an own goal by Blades defender Bob Harris). His second goal for the club was less disputable as he scored from close-range to make the score 2–2 against Peterborough United at the Ricoh Arena on 25 October 2014; the Sky Blues went on to win the game 3–2.

On 15 February 2016, O'Brien was loaned out to Scunthorpe United on an emergency basis.[10]

Shrewsbury Town and Ross County

On 17 June 2016, O'Brien completed a move to League One side Shrewsbury Town. He signed a two-year deal arriving as a free agent following his release from Coventry.[11] A first-team regular during the first half of the season, he scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup second-round replay against Fleetwood Town.[12]

On 18 January 2017, O'Brien joined Scottish Premiership side Ross County on loan from Shrewsbury until the end of the 2016–17 season.[13] He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Dundee United, scoring the final goal in a 6–2 victory.[14]

He left Shrewsbury by mutual consent in July 2017, despite having a year left to run on his contract.[15] then signed a two-year contract with Ross County.[16]

Bradford City and Notts County

In September 2018 he signed a short-term contract with Bradford City.[17] He left the club in January 2019.[18]

On 8 January 2019, O'Brien signed for Notts County the same day he was released by Bradford City.[19] He was released at the end of the 2018–19 season,[20] but rejoined the club on 1 August 2019.[21]

On 11 May 2021, O'Brien scored his first career hat-trick in Notts County's 4–0 win away at Maidenhead United.[22] He scored his second career hat-trick on 22 April 2023 in a 5–2 victory at Maidstone United.[23]

International career

Although O'Brien represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 levels, he opted to switch allegiances and represent the nation of his birth, citing a chance to work with Craig Levein, who he also worked with while at Dundee United.[24]

Career statistics
As of match played 12 May 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic 2006–07[25] Scottish Premier League 0000000000
2007–08[26] 1010000020
Total 1010000020
Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 2006–07[25] Scottish Premier League 131500000181
Dundee United (loan) 2007–08[27] 100000000100
Motherwell 2008–09[28] 291300000321
2009–10[29] 35310202[lower-alpha 1]0403
Total 644402020724
Barnsley 2010–11[30] Championship 331100000341
2011–12[31] 312001000322
2012–13[32] 302401000352
2013–14[33] 292112000323
Total 12376140001338
Coventry City 2014–15[34] League One 44610102[lower-alpha 2]0486
2015–16[35] 26210101[lower-alpha 2]0292
Total 708202030778
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2015–16[35] League One 9100000091
Shrewsbury Town 2016–17[36] 180312020251
Ross County (loan) 2016–17[36] Scottish Premiership 160210000181
Ross County 2017–18[37] 250103000290
Career total 349212431307039224
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honours

Notts County

See also

References
  1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. Dumbarton footballer Jim O’Brien talks about his progress in SPL with Motherwell FC, Daily Record, 9 April 2010
  3. "Dunfermline take Celtic's O'Brien". BBC News. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  4. "Dunfermline 4–1 Motherwell". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  5. "O'Brien sees Old Firm opportunity". BBC Sport. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  6. "Robson agrees terms with Celtic". BBC News. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  7. "'Well unveil double signing". Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  8. "Motherwell winger Jim O'Brien to join Barnsley". BBC Sport. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  9. "James O'Brien | Football Stats | Notts County | Age 34 | Soccer Base".
  10. "Coventry City midfielder Jim O'Brien has joined Scunthorpe United on an emergency loan deal". Coventry City FC. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  11. "Jim O'Brien: Shrewsbury Town sign midfielder after Coventry City departure". BBC Sport. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  12. "Fleetwood Town 3–2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  13. "Transfer news: Jim O'Brien joins on loan from Shrewsbury". Ross County FC. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  14. "Ross County 6–2 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  15. "O'Brien leaves Town". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  16. "Ross County: Jim O'Brien makes move permanent following loan spell". BBC Sport. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  17. "Jim O'Brien: Bradford City sign former Barnsley and Coventry midfielder". BBC Sport. 13 September 2018.
  18. "O'BRIEN AGREES EARLY RELEASE". Bradford City A.F.C.
  19. "Notts sign O'Brien". Notts County F.C.
  20. "Notts County: Jon Stead and David Vaughan among 12 released". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  21. "O'Brien caps off busy 24 hours as Notts land seven signings". August 2019.
  22. Maidenhead United 0–4 Notts County, BBC Sport, 11 May 2021
  23. , BBC Sport, 22 April 2023
  24. "O'Brien commits to Scotland". Sky Sports. 22 April 2010.
  25. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  26. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  27. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  28. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  29. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  30. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  31. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  32. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  33. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  34. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  35. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  36. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  37. "Games played by Jim O'Brien in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  38. Aloia, Andrew (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield 2–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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