I've just been reading that he's managing a women's team in Calgary Canada.

Any road that's not the reason for the thread.

When did Brendan become a midfielder? Was it at Barnsley or Charlton?

If I haven't lost the plot I'm pretty sure that he played up front for us.

Brenda o Connell ....I always thought was a midfielder.

I'll be honest. I was half expecting this to be about Mrs Brown's Boys.

Before I realised... ah yeah... well I was close.

I also thought he played up front for us

When did Brendan become a midfielder? Was it at Barnsley or Charlton?

At Barnsley

Dazzler wrote:At Barnsley

Huddersfield originally on loan in `exchange` for Junior Bent. O`Connell came back `a yard faster` and Bent went back slower Actually went to watch a Huddersfield reserve team game with my sis (she liked him). She was overjoyed when he came over and chatted. He eventually went to Barnsley. We again went to watch him, this time and joyously at Ewood Park. We were in with the Barnsley fans (great atmosphere!), Barnsley scored a late winner (2 - 1)...not sure if O`Connell scored it but yes, he played in midfield and was VERY good there. I LOVED it as I could see my best mate in the home stands and he could see me celebrating away!!!!!!!

Always had a soft spot for Brendan O`Connell.

Definitely a striker for us and converted to midfield at Oakwell.

I remember Barnsley beating us at Turf Moor and BO playing very well for them.

Will never forget him skying over the bar from 2 yards at york ...came back a better player from his loan spell ..think we got nunior bent in loan exchange

Lived with a Barnsley fan at Uni (or was it a Burnley fan???) and he rated him highly.

Do they still do the 'Barnsley Handclap'?

Always played with 100% effort if not talent.Saw him play in the away game v Maidstone at Dartfords ground

Met him a few years back and asked him whose bright idea it was to convert to midfield - expected him to say some Barnsley coach - but he gave Frank Casper the credit.
Really nice chap and loved his time with us

He played one game for us in midfield before his transfer. He went to my daughters school in Chertsey, Surrey

Garnerssoap wrote:Met him a few years back and asked him whose bright idea it was to convert to midfield - expected him to say some Barnsley coach - but he gave Frank Casper the credit.
Really nice chap and loved his time with us

Frank didn't want him to go but the crowd were making it impossible for him to play for us. He'd been targeted by the Burnley fans but we were the losers because he went on to play really well at a higher level for Barnsley and then Charlton.

Does anyone remember his miss at York? In the same bracket as Sterling’s. Overall, a good player unfairly treated by the boo boys

Phil

I also remember seeing him playing and scoring at Dartford/Maidstone Utd. Bearing in mind the level we were at then he was a decent player and I think most people, like me, had a lot of time for him. As said, never let us down.

He actually scored at York......in a Sherpa Van game there in December, 1988.
(Think those details are right)
I remember because we travelled over Blubberhouses in the snow. Very scenic.

Culmclaret wrote:Does anyone remember his miss at York? In the same bracket as Sterling’s. Overall, a good player unfairly treated by the boo boys

Phil

Was it not at Cambridge when he missed the sitter?

Culmclaret wrote:Does anyone remember his miss at York? In the same bracket as Sterling’s. Overall, a good player unfairly treated by the boo boys

Phil

We could all see he had the ability but not as a striker.
Alway gave 100% and was well liked.

Good player in a generally under-performing team. It's a shame he'll be remembered for that miss. I was standing behind the goal a fair way back and the ball sailed over my head. Not sure but it might have cleared the ground altogether and ended up in the street.

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Huddersfield originally on loan in `exchange` for Junior Bent. O`Connell came back `a yard faster` and Bent went back slower Actually went to watch a Huddersfield reserve team game with my sis (she liked him). She was overjoyed when he came over and chatted. He eventually went to Barnsley. We again went to watch him, this time and joyously at Ewood Park. We were in with the Barnsley fans (great atmosphere!), Barnsley scored a late winner (2 - 1)...not sure if O`Connell scored it but yes, he played in midfield and was VERY good there. I LOVED it as I could see my best mate in the home stands and he could see me celebrating away!!!!!!!

Always had a soft spot for Brendan O`Connell.

I also went to that game at Ewood and was in with the Barnsley fans. A late winner by Andy Rammell i think who they had just got on loan from Man Utd. Went mental along with the Barnsley fans
I also went to see him at Huddersfield. Our game had been called off so we went to see them play Tranmere when they were at Leeds Road. In with the Tranmere fans. He looked better than he was with us that is for sure. Huddersfield won 1-0. Don't think he scored the goal though.
I will always remember him for missing from on the goal line at York..he contrived to somehow put it over the bar. Think Sterlings miss but a lot worse

They called him 'action man' at Barnsley, didnt they?

Seem to remember him starting well at Burnley on the goals front before things tailed off badly ...definitely a confidence player if ever there was one.

Papabendi wrote:They called him 'action man' at Barnsley, didnt they?

Seem to remember him starting well at Burnley on the goals front before things tailed off badly ...definitely a confidence player if ever there was one.

Set off like a house on fire that first season

The miss was definitely at York, the worst I've seen from one of our lads.

The Clarets behind the goal were mindblown, so much so that a couple of pies were launched at him, so the area was covered in pastry afterwards.

Always gave 100% did O'Connell.

Somethingfishy wrote:I also went to that game at Ewood and was in with the Barnsley fans. A late winner by Andy Rammell i think who they had just got on loan from Man Utd. Went mental along with the Barnsley fans
I also went to see him at Huddersfield. Our game had been called off so we went to see them play Tranmere when they were at Leeds Road. In with the Tranmere fans. He looked better than he was with us that is for sure. Huddersfield won 1-0. Don't think he scored the goal though.
I will always remember him for missing from on the goal line at York..he contrived to somehow put it over the bar. Think Sterlings miss but a lot worse

That was the chap...Andy Rammell. It was a great day, wasn`t it!!!!!?????

ClaretTony wrote:Set off like a house on fire that first season

Wasn`t one of his first games for us Halifax Town away or Doncaster Rovers away? Can recall being sat/stood level with one of the penalty areas.

yes it was definitely at Barnsley....he lacked pace up front for us but worked his socks off....I always admired his engine....I thought he needed to drop to midfield personally then he came back to the turf with the tykes and played midfield...he had a great game..our loss at the time I thought....seemed like a good lad.

Somethingfishy. I think I was in the group with you that went to both Blackburn and Huddersfield. We were in Tranmere end and remember Brenda(n) coming over to take a corner. He was flabbergasted when he saw us. Think they subbed him and iffy onoura came on to score their winner, our game at Hereford was called off that day. Rammell and Saville (who played for us on loan) played up front that day at Blackburn.

I like brendan o connell. Played well for the clarets. ,but got some stick off some clarets fan's for some reason, went on to play for Barnsley and did well for them

gtclaret wrote:He played one game for us in midfield before his transfer. He went to my daughters school in Chertsey, Surrey

GT do you still live in Chertsey? Used to stay at a campsite in Laleham for holidays in London when I was a kid. Lovely part of the world on the banks of the Thames.

Remember him being the best forward we'd had in a while when he arrived. He then lost his confidence and looked like he was going backwards. It was a bit of a shock when Barnsley came in for him on loan (a step up at the time) but he returned fit and like the player we first signed. I for one was very disappointed when the switch to Huddersfield happened, even allowing for Barnes arrival. Burnley training was clearly light years behind other clubs at the time. How times have changed

As said definitely a striker for us.

The first match I saw him play for us was at Blackpool in a Lancs cup game pre-season.
Not long into the match some numpties started chanting "Brendan Brendan score a goal" they repeated the chant quite a few times when he was in possession, until Brendan made a plea towards them to 'shut the fk up'

I too liked Brendan and was a bit miffed that he found his true position at Barnsley and not with us.
Like we did with Dobson and Brennan to name but 2.