Career Kevin O'Connor (footballer, born 1982)

1 career

1.1 1999–2001: years
1.2 2001–2004: breakthrough
1.3 2004–2007: conversion right back
1.4 2007–2009: central midfield
1.5 2009–2011: captain
1.6 2011–2014: injury hell

1.6.1 doncaster rovers penalty incident
1.6.2 2013 playoffs , reaching 500 appearances


1.7 2014–2015: player/coach , retirement

career
1999–2001: years

born in blackburn, lancashire irish parents, o connor joined division 2 side brentford schoolboy in 1995. began career striker , awarded scholarship in 1998. after run of 23 goals in 30 games reserves, o connor signed first professional contract in 1999. o connor received maiden call first team squad league match against cardiff city on 12 february 2000. unused substitute during 1–1 draw. o connor made brentford debut in 3–2 football league trophy semi-final defeat @ exeter city on 15 february 2000, replacing Ívar ingimarsson after 85 minutes. awarded first start in goalless league draw wycombe wanderers on 19 february 2000. o connor made 7 appearances during 1999–2000 season. succession of injuries meant o connor had wait until december 2000 first appearance of 2000–01 season, starting in 2–2 league draw wigan athletic, before being substituted mark williams on 62 minutes. o connor s appearance against wigan first of run in side , scored first senior goal of career in 2–1 league win on bristol city on 20 february 2001. made 12 appearances during 2000–01 season , scored 1 goal. found himself utilised in hole outgoing manager ray lewington.

2001–2004: breakthrough

o connor became regular second-half substitute under new manager steve coppell during 2001–02 season. scored second career goal in 1–0 league cup first round victory on norwich city on 21 august 2001. o connor appeared in 2 of brentford s 3 playoff games , endured heartbreak in 2002 division 2 playoff final bees denied place in division 1 2–0 winners stoke city in first appearance @ millennium stadium, after having missed 2001 football league trophy final. o connor made 32 appearances during 2001–02 season, scoring 1 goal. o connor ever-present right winger under new manager wally downes during 2002–03 season, scoring first ever brace 2 penalties in 3–3 league cup second round draw bournemouth on 10 september 2002 , converting third penalty in resultant shootout. through november 2002 january 2003, o connor went on run of scoring 5 goals in 11 games , finished 2002–03 season having scored 9 goals in 53 appearances. o connor signed new three-year contract in june 2003. o connor made consistent appearances during 2003–04 season , kept place in team following sacking of downes , appointment of martin allen manager in march 2004. scored equaliser in 1–1 draw bitter rivals queens park rangers in west london derby on 14 february 2004.

2004–2007: conversion right back

o connor began 2004–05 season substitute , scored goal of game versus wrexham on 14 august 2004 20-yard volley. injury michael dobson in 4–1 defeat bristol city (a game in o connor scored) on 30 august saw martin allen press o connor service right of season. o connor awarded captaincy first time match against hartlepool united on 19 october. made 44 appearances during 2004–05 season, scoring 2 goals brentford failed progress past sheffield wednesday in 2005 playoff semi-finals. o connor s performances in new right position earned him improved player of year award. after season, rewarded new two-year contract extension. o connor martin allen s first-choice right 2005–06 season , became club s regular penalty taker, netting spot against rochdale, tranmere rovers , walsall. o connor again nominated improved player of year award towards end of season. finished 2005–06 season having scored 8 goals in 38 appearances, once again suffered playoff heartbreak brentford failed on overcome swansea city in 2006 playoff semi-finals. o connor promoted captain , once again first-choice right under new manager leroy rosenior during months of 2006–07 season, keeping place after rosenior sacked , former-teammate scott fitzgerald appointed manager in december 2006. signed new contract in september 2006, running until june 2009. o connor made 43 appearances , scored 7 goals, efforts prevent brentford suffering relegation bottom-place finish in league 1 in vain.

2007–2009: central midfield

following signings of right backs ben starosta , craig pead new manager terry butcher prior 2007–08 season, o connor played predominantly in central midfield first season in league two, lost captaincy new signing john mackie. had start season, scoring in consecutive games against notts county , barnet in august 2007. o connor made 41 appearances , scored 3 goals brentford finished in mid-table. under new manager andy scott, o connor regained captaincy , began 2008–09 season starter, lost place in team after being sent off time in career, 14 minutes after coming on craig pead in 2–1 league win on dagenham & redbridge. injury captain adam newton towards end of 2008 saw o connor take on armband. o connor made 300th start brentford on 7 february 2009 against chester city @ griffin park. despite missing last 9 games of 2008–09 season, o connor made 33 appearances , scored 1 goal brentford promoted league 2 champions. held winners trophy aloft stand-in captain alan bennett after final game of season against luton town.

2009–2011: captain

o connor signed new two-year contract in june 2009. in league 1 2009–10 season, o connor appeared in 3 of brentford s matches, making 49 appearances , scoring 5 goals. scored brace of penalties in 2–1 league victory on tranmere rovers on 29 september 2009. made 400th bees appearance in 3–2 defeat swindon town on 1 may 2010. after completing ten years of continuous service brentford player, o connor rewarded testimonial on 14 july 2010 against local rivals fulham. o connor began 2010–11 season ever-present in central midfield , scored 2 goals of season in 3–0 away league victory on tranmere rovers on 16 october 2010. in january 2011, signed new two-and-a-half-year contract. after appointment of striker nicky forster interim manager (replacing sacked andy scott) in february 2011, o connor found himself in , out of side , extremely disappointed denied chance lead team out captain @ wembley stadium in 2011 football league trophy final, despite having started in every game on way final. o connor appeared 88th-minute substitute appearance in game, brentford lost 1–0 carlisle united. o connor made 53 appearances during 2010–11 season.

2011–2014: injury hell

under new manager uwe rösler, o connor began 2011–12 season substitute , scored first goal of campaign winning penalty in 1–0 league victory on wycombe wanderers on 10 september 2011. suffered serious ankle injury in 1–0 fa cup first round win on basingstoke town on 12 november, collapsing in agony after catching foot in turf. had made 18 appearances , scored 2 goals before injury ended season. o connor returned team in time start of 2012–13 season , featured regularly substitute. after making 11 appearances, suffered serious leg , ankle injury while falling in tackle in 1–0 victory on portsmouth on 6 november 2012 , determined out 6 months. o connor signed new contract in march 2013, running until june 2014. returned first team on 10 april 2013, unused substitute during 2–0 victory on crewe alexandra. o connor pressed service in next game, replacing lee hodson after 66 minutes of pulsating 2–2 draw sheffield united, game saw tony craig , clayton donaldson sent off brentford. craig s 3 match suspension began on brentford s penultimate game of season against hartlepool united. still not fit, o connor filled in @ centre alongside harlee dean in 1–1 draw, having never played position before.

doncaster rovers penalty incident

brentford s final game of 2012–13 season against doncaster rovers @ griffin park, bees needing win secure automatic promotion championship. score @ 0–0, brentford awarded penalty in fourth of 5 minutes injury time. before game, team made aware o connor uwe rösler s designated penalty taker, substitute striker marcello trotta grabbed ball o connor, intent take penalty. trotta crashed spot kick against bar , doncaster scored breakaway goal through james coppinger win 1–0 , consign brentford playoffs. o connor admitted after game tried follow orders trotts has gone zone, got ball , extremely confident. can say? if scores it, it’s perfect unfortunately he’s missed , it’s cost . o connor later iterated if brentford penalty during playoffs, take it.

2013 playoffs , reaching 500 appearances

brentford met swindon town in semi-finals of 2013 playoffs , trailing 1–0 in first leg, bees awarded injury time penalty, o connor converted goal of season. proved last appearance of season after tony craig had served suspension , returned starting lineup. o connor unused substitute 2013 playoff final, won 2–1 yeovil town. made 16 appearances during 2012–13 season. o connor returned fit 2013–14 season , once again deputised @ centre tony craig in 1–1 opening day draw port vale. groin injury suffered in october 2013 saw o connor miss 2 months of season, before return bench unused substitute 1–0 league victory on oldham athletic on 14 december. o connor made first appearance in on 4 months start in 2–0 win on port vale on 11 january 2014. deputised @ centre harlee dean , played full 90 minutes alongside tony craig. after 4 consecutive starts, club began negotiations on new one-year contract in february 2014.

on 20 march 2014, o connor signed new one-year contract, tying him bees until summer of 2015. following automatic promotion championship 3 games spare, o connor appeared in each match bring him 500 brentford appearances. after final game against stevenage concluded, o connor jointly lifted league 1 runners-up trophy craig. finished 2013–14 season 12 appearances , won special achievement award reaching 500 appearances.

2014–2015: player/coach , retirement

o connor made appearance of 2014–15 season in league cup first round match versus dagenham & redbridge on 12 august 2014. started match , scored winning penalty, after game had settled spot score level @ incredible 6–6 after time. mark warburton hinted in december 2014 o connor had come end of playing days, saying has had great career, s not stupid , knows focus has got on next stage of career . on 3 may 2015, o connor inducted brentford hall of fame, first person inducted while still under contract club. following brentford s defeat middlesbrough in playoff semi-finals, announced retirement football. o connor made 501 appearances , scored 44 goals in 16 seasons @ griffin park, finishing career in fourth position on brentford s all-time record appearances list. service brentford, presented sir tom finney award @ 2017 efl awards.