Playing career

O'Brien played for Glasgow based St. Anthony's before heading to England to play for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. He joined Port Vale in May 1968. He played a mere four Third Division South games for the "Valiants" in the 1938-39 season, scoring one goal in a 2-1 victory over Newport County at The Old Recreation Ground on 29 August. He left the club in April 1939, and later played for Watford.

Statistics

• Sourced from William O'Brien profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	1936-37	Third Division South	1	0	0	0	1	0
	1937-38	Third Division South	15	5	0	0	15	5
	Total		16	5	0	0	16	5
Port Vale	1938-39	Third Division South	4	1	0	0	4	1
Career Total			20	6	0	0	20	6

[ Source: Wikipedia ]