Tom O'Dea (footballer)

Last updated
Tom O'Dea
Personal information
Date of birth 20 November 1948 (1948-11-20) (age 76) [1]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Home Farm
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1970-1974 Shamrock Rovers
1973 New Jersey Schaefer Brewers
1975 Hartford Bicentennials 12 (0)
1975 Home Farm 2+
1976 Utah Golden Spikers 11 (0)
1977-1979 New Jersey Americans 40+ (0)
Total65+(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tom O'Dea (born 20 November 1948) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Shamrock Rovers, Home Farm, New Jersey Schaefer Brewers (and for the later named New Jersey Americans), Hartford Bicentennials (later Connecticut Bicentennials) and Utah Golden Spikers (later Utah Pioneers) in the League of Ireland, North American Soccer League (NASL) and American Soccer League (ASL) respectively. [1] [2] He also coached after retiring from playing in 1979 for New Jersey Americans for the remainder of the year before the club relocated.

Contents

Career

Playing

Tom began his senior career at Shamrock Rovers where he played for 5 seasons in the League of Ireland Premier Division between 1970 and 1974.

He played for New Jersey Schaefer Brewers in 1973, as well, due to the ASL playing a calendar season whilst the League of Ireland Premier Division played from August to May before the change in 2003. [3] This allowed Tom to play during the summer whilst Shamrock Rovers did not have games.

After returning to the United States in 1975, Tom played for Hartford Bicentennials for one season where he appeared in 12 games in the NASL. At the club his shirt number was #13. [1]

During 1975 he also returned to Home Farm where he played in the clubs short Cup Winners Cup campaign against Lens where they lost 7-1 on aggregate. [4]

He later returned to the ASL in 1976, where he would remain until he retired, and played for Utah Golden Spikers (who were later rebranded to Utah Pioneers) [5] where he appeared in 11 games for the club in the one season he was there. At the club his shirt number was #5. [6]

Finally, he ended his playing career returning to New Jersey Americans. New Jersey Schaefer Brewers were renamed to New Jersey Americans before Tom rejoined. [5] During his time as a player at the club, Tom appeared in roughly 40 matches however it is unknown how many games he played in the 1979 season. He was at the club when they won the 1977 ASL Playoff Championship Final 3-0 against Sacramento Gold (previously Sacramento Spirits). [7] [ failed verification ] Tom's shirt numbers at the club were #17 (1977), #4 (1978) and #5 (1979). [1]

Post-playing

Tom coached for New Jersey Americans in 1979. He did not relocate with the team to Miami where they became Miami Americans for the 1980 season. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "NASL-Tom O'Dea". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  2. ↑ "Club History". Home Farm Football Club. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  3. ↑ Carter, Simon. "Comparing the Irish Football System with Other European Leagues". extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  4. ↑ "Tom O'Dea". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  5. 1 2 "The Year in American Soccer - 1976". www.sover.net. Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. ↑ "Utah Golden Spikers Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  7. ↑ "New Jersey Romps, 3-0, for ASL title". Hartford Courant. 5 September 1977. Retrieved 9 August 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "The Year in American Soccer - 1980". homepages.sover.net. Archived from the original on 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
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