An Interview with John O'Rourke

Forced to retire from League of Ireland football at 26, after winning two successive FAI Cup medals, John O’Rourke is only too familiar with the highs and lows of the domestic game. ExtraTime.ie met with John, to hear about his playing career and early entry into management.

Beginning with schoolboys club Springfield and progressing through Cobh Ramblers’ ranks, O’Rourke made his senior debut at 18, in the Premier Division.

“I only stayed one year because there were no jobs, so I hopped on the plane to England. I was there for a year and got a call to play in Belgium.”

The young footballer ended up at Tielt, but a language barrier and loneliness resulted in a 1991 return to the Rams, who were back in the First Division. A 1992/93 runners-up spot secured promotion, but even then John showed interest in off-field matters.

“I felt that the club was run by people, who retained the same philosophy as when in the Munster Senior League ... Get a good bunch of players together, go up and maintain it for just a season or two.”

“I was so involved in soccer through my family, I thought more than just about playing and knew that I’d be a manager ... The running of a club intrigued me. My dad, and his father before him, had every role within the club … Captain, manager, chairman.”

After an impressive 1994/95, O’Rourke earned a two-year contract with Shelbourne: “Damien Richardson was the manager for us (Cobh Ramblers) for a brief period and he got the job in Shelbourne. He asked me to go up and I got into the team straight away.”

Shelbourne defeated Sligo Rovers on penalties in 1995’s two-legged League Cup final … The Cobh native converting his side’s last spot-kick, as the westerners missed their next. In that season’s FAI Cup final, the Reds faced title winners St Patrick’s Athletic. In the previous week’s league encounter between both sides, Shelbourne’s goalkeeper Alan Gough got injured and had to be replaced by midfielder Brian Flood.

“At the time, it was unusual to have a sub goalkeeper. Fred Davis took Brian into goal after training sessions, to prepare him for an unlikely event. Come the final, Goughy gets sent off, everybody turns to Brian Flood and he doesn’t want to go in … There was a delay of about ten minutes. The story was, a club from the north were watching; to sign him for next season and that’s why he didn’t want to go in goal … He was still with us the following year.” After a 1-1 draw, Shelbourne won the replay 2-1.

In 1996/97, John played very little football when a knee injury occurred against Sligo: “My bone structure started breaking away and I had an operation. They said that I shouldn’t be playing football and the future wouldn’t be great if I continued. I was out for a while and taking tablets to get back. Christmas night I was in Cobh and I got severe stomach pains. I was rushed to hospital with a burst ulcer … A direct result of the tablets.”

O’Rourke forced his way back into contention towards the end of the season and relished selection for the 2-0 FAI Cup final win against Derry City.

“Dessie Baker was in the team more than I was, but I got the nod. I found out later that they put out two jerseys with both our names on the back ... The decision wasn’t made until very late.”

Despite three cup-winners medals in two years, John’s contract wasn’t renewed: “The club got word back that I wasn’t going to be able to continue playing at that level. In my own mind, there was no way, but a couple of weeks after the cup final, my knees started to give trouble again. I remember our club doctor saying: ‘you’re finished and have to face it.’ … It was a horrible feeling.”   

The determined midfielder didn’t admit defeat until that Christmas: “I thought that it would go on forever, but you’re never prepared for what could happen.”

As one door closed, another opened when O’Rourke was appointed Cobh Ramblers manager: “My dad was chairman, but that didn’t mean I was a shoo-in ... It certainly wasn’t nepotism. I knew that’s what people were thinking.”

In his first season, John led the Rams to a First Division third place and a play-off against Bohemians: “My goalkeeper, Alan O’Neill, who was player of the season, went to Lebanon. We had to put in a reserve goalkeeper and were 1-0 down after two minutes. He then went mad, decides to dig the Bohemians forward and gets sent off … The game was all over.”

The following year saw a mid-table finish and the young manger eventually resigned in late 2000: “The budget was cut again. The club wanted to go down the route of bringing in younger players. I encouraged them and gave a lot of Cobh lads their debut ... You think that you’d kick on, but the finances weren’t there.”

One of O’Rourke’s first games in charge was against Shelbourne in his testimonial match: “I was honoured, but really all over the place. I wasn’t begging for money, but I was out of work ... I couldn’t physically work because of my knees.”

“I was on medication since the injury … Not a lot of them worked, but one thing did, which I’m still on and will be for the rest of my days. It gave me a new lease of life and I went back playing.”

John joined College Corinthians for a year or so, returned to management with Midleton and this season is involved with Springfield, his first club ... A full-circle to travel this far? Yes, but with plenty of diversions along the way.