John O'Mara

John O'Mara (born 19 March 1947) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. In a nomadic career, he played in the Football League for Brentford, Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City.

Early years

Born in Farnworth, O'Mara began his career in the youth system at Division Two side Bury, before moving to Division Three side Gillingham in October 1965. He failed to make a senior appearance for the Gills and joined Southern League Division One side Dover on loan in February 1967, scoring seven goals in what remained of the 1966–67 season, helping fire the club to Kent Senior Cup success and promotion to the Southern League Premier Division as champions. O'Mara returned to Gillingham at the end of the campaign and departed the club in June 1967.

Margate

O'Mara joined Southern League Premier Division side Margate in June 1967. Injury, fitness and disciplinary problems hampered O'Mara's early months with the club and he eventually scored his first goal in a 3–2 victory over Erith & Belvedere on 4 December 1967. He spent much of the season in the reserve team, but managed 16 first team appearances and five goals before being released at the end of the 1967–68 season.

Wimbledon

O'Mara joined Southern League Premier Division side Wimbledon in the summer of 1968, having impressed the club's staff with his performance in a match against the Dons while a Margate player in December 1967. He had a prolific spell with the club, scoring 50 goals in 121 games, before departing in March 1971.

Brentford

O'Mara secured a move to the Football League when he joined Division Four side Brentford for a £1,500 fee in March 1971. He made 9 appearances in what remained of the 1970–71 season and scored two goals. O'Mara was a revelation in his first full season at Griffin Park, scoring 25 goals in 40 games to fire the Bees to promotion to Division Three with a third-place finish. He was presented with the club's Player of the Year award and won the Gallagher's Divisional Footballer of the Year gong, chosen by the managers of all the Division Four clubs. O'Mara made five appearances and scored one goal in the early part of the 1972–73 season, before departing the club in September 1972. He scored 28 goals in 57 games for the club.

Blackburn Rovers

O'Mara joined Division Three side Blackburn Rovers in September 1972 for a then-club record £50,000. He failed to truly settle at Ewood Park, but still managed 10 goals in 35 league games before departing in the summer of 1974.

Chelmsford City

O'Mara dropped back into Non-League football and joined Southern League Premier Division side Chelmsford City in the summer of 1974. He scored five goals in 12 league appearances before departing in December 1974.

Bradford City

O'Mara made a return to league football when he signed for Division Four side Bradford City in December 1974. His time with the Bantams was short-lived, making three league appearances and scoring once in a 1–1 draw with Workington on 7 December.

Germiston Callies

O'Mara fulfilled a personal ambition by moving to South Africa in 1975, having wished to emigrate to the country in 1967, a request which was denied by his parents. He joined National Soccer League side Germiston Callies, playing the 1975 and 1976 seasons with the club.

Return to Margate

O'Mara returned to Southern League Premier Division strugglers Margate in November 1976, as a favour to manager Les Riggs. He managed six goals in 16 appearances before departing the club in March 1977, after encountering hostility from the Margate supporters.

Maidstone United

O'Mara signed for Southern League Premier Division side Maidstone United in March 1977, scoring four goals for the club before departing in September 1977.

Third spell at Margate

O'Mara joined Margate for the third time in September 1977, initially on a game-by-game basis. Now playing Southern League Division One football, O'Mara found his form and scored 19 goals in 35 games, firing the Gate back to the Premier Division as champions. He remained with the club into the 1978–79 season, scoring two goals in 13 appearances (mostly as a substitute), before departing Hartsdown Park for the final time in November 1978. In his third spell with Margate, O'Mara scored 21 goals in 48 games. Across his three spells with the club, O'Mara made 80 appearances and scored 32 goals.

Return to Dover

In November 1978, O'Mara joined Southern League Division One South side Dover for the second time, having previously played for the club on loan from Gillingham 11 years earlier. Initially appearing for the club on a trial basis, he later signed permanently and scored 10 goals to help Dover back to the Premier Division as 1978–79 Division One South champions. O'Mara played into the 1979–80 season, scoring two goals in a 3–0 FA Cup first qualifying round win over Haywards Heath on 15 September 1979, before departing the club in November.

Ramsgate

O'Mara joined Kent League Division One side Ramsgate in November 1979, scoring four goals during the remainder of the 1979–80 season. He retired from football after the campaign.

Oddfellows

O'Mara made a comeback in 1986 at age 39, turning out for local Margate amateur side Oddfellows, managed by former Margate teammate Ray Summers.

An engineer by trade, O'Mara worked as a miner and served his apprenticeship at Chislet Colliery at 1968, delaying his move from Margate to Wimbledon to complete it. When O'Mara returned to Thanet in 1976, he worked at the Betteshanger Colliery. As of 2012, O'Mara was residing in Margate.

Brentford

• Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1971–72