Phil O'Connor

NSL Career: St. George, APIA, Wollongong City, Blacktown 221 (87) / 1977 - 1985

Socceroos Career: 21 (5) A Internationals / 14 (1) B Internationals

One of the best nationalised British footballers in Australian history, Phil O'Connor was a devastating forward and one of the deadliest finishers in the early days of the NSL. An old-fashioned winger who was quick with and without the ball, O'Connor tricked his way past defenders before sending in accurate crosses to his team mates or scored goals with his powerful left foot.

Originally from Romford, England - O'Connor started his career with English Fourth Division side Southend United as a 17 year old but moved to Southern Football League Division One South (non-league) club Bexley United after failing to break in to the Southend first team. At Bexley, O'Connor began to develop in to a talented winger and was signed by English Second Division side Luton Town during the 1972/73 season. 

O'Connor made two appearances in the Second Division for Luton but couldn't get back in to the first team during the 1973/74 season and went on loan to Fourth Division club Lincoln City during the 1974/75 season, scoring one goal in four appearances as the club narrowly avoided promotion. O'Connor immigrated to Australia in 1975 to join Balgownie Rangers (amalgamated with Safeway United for the 1975 NSW Division One season).

O'Connor remained with the club for the 1976 season when they changed their name to Wollongong City (not to be confused with the future NSL club) and made his full international debut for Australia before being chased by Sydney's biggest clubs prior to the inaugural Phillips Soccer League season in 1977. 

Joining St. George, O'Connor formed a dangerous attacking trio with Mark Jankovics and Neville Morgan and scored eight goals in 25 league games in his first season. O'Connor continued his excellent form during 1978 season and was re-called to the national team for the first time since 1976. The winger scored 18 goals in 47 league games during the 1978 and 1979 seasons and played in St. George's losing cup final to Adelaide City in 1979. 

APIA signed O'Connor for $7,000 in 1980 where he became the club's main attacking threat, scoring 10 goals in 26 league games in his first season before being joined up front by young Marshall Soper and Seb Giampaolo to help APIA achieve their highest NSL finish (fourth) in the 1981 season.

The winger moved to Wollongong City in 1982 and reached the peak of his career: scoring a personal best 16 goals in 29 league games, helping Wollongong reach the finals series for the first time and got a Socceroos call-up for the first time in two years. O'Connor scored three goals in Australia's Merlion Cup (invitational tournament in Singapore) campaign, scoring the opener in the final as Australia defeated South Korea three-two. 

O'Connor played in every Socceroos A match during 1983 and scored two goals during Australia's back-to-back Merlion Cup successes. O'Connor scored 12 goals in 28 league games to maintain his impressive strike rate in the NSL but was unable to help Wollongong avoid a second-to-last finish before moving to Blacktown City in 1984.

O'Connor became Blacktown's key forward and helped the club reach the finals series for the first time in the NSL. At seasons end, O'Connor played his last game for the Socceroos, finishing his international career with a total of 6 goals in 35 appearances. The experienced forward continued to score goals for Blacktown in the 1985 season and took his overall NSL goal tally to 87. 

On September 23, 1985 - tragedy struck the Australian football community when O'Connor was killed instantly in a automobile accident, just 17 days shy of his 32nd birthday. Given his form at the time of his death, the brilliant winger might have played on for a couple of years and gone on to reach the 100-goal mark in one of the best individual NSL careers that missed out on team success.