Tommy O'Hara

Tommy O'Hara (17 August 1952 – 27 January 2016)[2] was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Active in Scotland and the United States of America, O'Hara made over 350 career league appearances. He also earned one international cap with the US national soccer team in 1982.

Tommy O'Hara
Personal information
Date of birth (1952-08-17)17 August 1952
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Date of death 27 January 2016(2016-01-27) (aged 63)
Place of death Kingskettle, Scotland
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1974 Celtic 0 (0)
1974–1978 Queen of the South 137 (9)
1978–1980 Washington Diplomats 89 (1)
1981 Jacksonville Tea Men 31 (0)
1981–1983 Motherwell 53 (0)
1983–1984 Falkirk 36 (3)
1984–1985 Partick Thistle 17 (0)
Total 363 (13)
National team
1982 United States[1] 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early career

Born in Bellshill, O'Hara moved from junior club Kirkintilloch Rob Roy to the Scottish club Celtic, in the East End of Glasgow in 1971. However, O'Hara failed to play in any league matches at Celtic Park.[3]

Queen of the South

O'Hara joined Queen of the South, the club to whom he gave his longest service. In subsequent interviews for the club, Tommy O'Hara was listed amongst the best players at the club at that time by Allan Ball, Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd and Jocky Dempster.[4] O'Hara played in one of the more successful sides in the Willie Harkness era at Queens. Queens enjoyed some notable cup results as well as being deprived of promotion to Scotland's top flight, only by league reconstruction.[5]

NASL

In March 1978, O'Hara moved to the United States where he signed with Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League.[6] He spent three seasons with the club and amongst his teammates was Johan Cruyff.[5]

Financial difficulties led the team to sell his contract in December 1980 to the Jacksonville Tea Men. He played one season in Jacksonville, then returned to Scotland.[7]

Return to Scotland

O'Hara then played for Motherwell, Falkirk and Partick Thistle in the Scottish Football League.[3]

Death

Queen of the South, the club to whom O'Hara gave his longest service, were informed of his untimely death on 28 January 2016.[8]

See also

References
  1. Tommy O'Hara at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-tommy-o-hara-footballer-1-4034256
  3. "Tommy O'Hara - statistics". Neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  4. "Queens Legends". QosFC.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  5. "Club History". QosFC.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. "NASL-Tommy O'Hara". Nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  7. Dips Find New Homes Washington Post, The (DC) - Tuesday, 16 December 1980
  8. "Tommy O'Hara". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
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