John O'Mara

[SpiderBee]

No club badges on the shirts in that '72 Grimsby game?

 

[vcmazz]

No club badges on the shirts in that '72 Grimsby game?

Indeed. Hadn't noticed that before. No badges for Brentford or Grimsby. And not a replica to be seen on the terraces :sad:.

 

[hairman]

Indeed. Hadn't noticed that before. No badges for Brentford or Grimsby. And not a replica to be seen on the terraces :sad:.

Good! I don't like seeing loads of fat blokes (or birds) masquerading as footballers. Apart from Kevin Dearden of course.

 

[vcmazz]

Good! I don't like seeing loads of fat blokes (or birds) masquerading as footballers. Apart from Kevin Dearden of course.

That's not what I meant. I was referring to the current trend in gun crime :yes:.

 

[sleekerslee]

That's not what I meant. I was referring to the current trend in gun crime :yes:.

I thought you were referring to designer handbags

 

[havantbee]

He was a hero of mine too. Saw him score in some 6 goal victories at Griffin Park which were two of my best days at Brentford. I do remember though that he wasn't that well regarded at first by the crowd, but he won them over.

During the mid 70's I was good friends with the son of a bees player and an ex team mate of big John. He had been sold to Blackburn, but there were talks about bringing him back for, I think, £5,000 and an offer had been made. Bees scouts went to see him play for the reserves on a really wet and windy afternoon on a really muddy and bad pitch.

The story is that after allowing for the wind, mud and lack of match practice, the scouts were so unimpressed with his performance that the offer was withdrawn.

Perhaps it was for the best, as I still remember him as a bees hero.

 

[beebopalula]

He was a hero of mine too. Saw him score in some 6 goal victories at Griffin Park which were two of my best days at Brentford. I do remember though that he wasn't that well regarded at first by the crowd, but he won them over.

During the mid 70's I was good friends with the son of a bees player and an ex team mate of big John. He had been sold to Blackburn, but there were talks about bringing him back for, I think, £5,000 and an offer had been made. Bees scouts went to see him play for the reserves on a really wet and windy afternoon on a really muddy and bad pitch.

The story is that after allowing for the wind, mud and lack of match practice, the scouts were so unimpressed with his performance that the offer was withdrawn.

Perhaps it was for the best, as I still remember him as a bees hero.

At the risk of getting slated by the JO fans, I have to say he will never be a club hero for me. He had one great season before being sold [ although, as usual we sold him cheaply]. The bloke couldn't trap a bag of spuds and was found out very quickly at Blackburn. I am now retreating to my bunker.

 

[JTofBFC]

The main reason I regard him as a cult figure is because he was my "first" Brentford hero. People are right about the excitement his very presence on the pitch generated. True his career never materialised into much after so maybe those doubting his cult status have a point but at the time that seemed to be how it was.

I used to deliver the Evening Mail as a kid in those days and I remember having my very own "American Pie-the day the music died " moment when I read that he had been banned for 5 weeks towards the end of the season. In those days you used to get suspensions for days/weeks not matches. It very nearly cost us promotion as we went into a tailspin but we just managed to recover in time for the final promotion push at the end of that season.

To be honest, I don't really recall us having a Centre Forward like him since . We've had many good even great ones, ie McCulloch, Taylor, Holdsworth, Blissett and several double acts, eg Joseph/Mahoney but no-one quite like Big John for the way he terrorised defences that season. Maybe it seems better than it was in rose tinted nostalgia !

 

[sonofabee]

The main reason I regard him as a cult figure is because he was my "first" Brentford hero. People are right about the excitement his very presence on the pitch generated. True his career never materialised into much after so maybe those doubting his cult status have a point but at the time that seemed to be how it was.

I used to deliver the Evening Mail as a kid in those days and I remember having my very own "American Pie-the day the music died " moment when I read that he had been banned for 5 weeks towards the end of the season. In those days you used to get suspensions for days/weeks not matches. It very nearly cost us promotion as we went into a tailspin but we just managed to recover in time for the final promotion push at the end of that season.

To be honest, I don't really recall us having a Centre Forward like him since . We've had many good even great ones, ie McCulloch, Taylor, Holdsworth, Blissett and several double acts, eg Joseph/Mahoney but no-one quite like Big John for the way he terrorised defences that season. Maybe it seems better than it was in rose tinted nostalgia !

It's a first but agree 100% JTofBFC - maybe it was our age or the lack of video footage to dampen my enthusiasm but he'll always be a legend to me.

 

[chockychocky]

Big John was my first crush, and I was absolutely besotted with him! I found out about him and then after that I went to all the home games with my friend (aged about 14 I think) and I can still remember the joy when he scored in the game when he came back from being suspended for 5 matches. I know we won 2-0. I drew a huge poster of him which I made from the cover of the Rothmans football book 1971-72 (I think) and I had this on my bedroom wall. He was Div. 4 footballer of the year. I still have a scrapbook of that magic season 1971/2, from that match onwards, and also the sad following season when nothing was the same. I also have some photos I took in the close season when they had a special open day at the training ground in Feltham - all the famous ones, Bobby Ross, John Docherty etc and of course, John O'Mara. I was devastated when he was transferred to Blackburn. My mum and I went up to Blackburn specially to see him play that season - I remember we ended up in with the Blackburn fans, but it didn't really matter. They didn't take much notice of a 14 year old girl and her mum...I was very sad when he left Brentford.

Even my children know about John O'Mara because sacriligious me wrote 'John O'Mara is the King' down the side of my school bible, which I still have!

I hope he's all right, and I wish him well - I have no idea what happened to him later on in life, but reading all these entries he meant a lot to lots of people for a very brief time in the early 70's. I haven't actually seen Brentford play for donkey's years now, as I live a long way away, but I found this thread, and it brought back a lot of memories. My husband and I watched the Youtube videos of the Big Match where we beat Grimsby Town 2-0 - well what an absolute blast from the past that was! The years rolled away...oh yes they were the good old days! And that was before I'd even met my husband - he was in the crowd somewhere behind me, and we wouldn't meet until another 2 years later...and now it's 40 years ago...oh God....

 

[vcmazz]

Big John was my first crush, and I was absolutely besotted with him! I found out about him and then after that I went to all the home games with my friend (aged about 14 I think) and I can still remember the joy when he scored in the game when he came back from being suspended for 5 matches. I know we won 2-0. I drew a huge poster of him which I made from the cover of the Rothmans football book 1971-72 (I think) and I had this on my bedroom wall. He was Div. 4 footballer of the year. I still have a scrapbook of that magic season 1971/2, from that match onwards, and also the sad following season when nothing was the same. I also have some photos I took in the close season when they had a special open day at the training ground in Feltham - all the famous ones, Bobby Ross, John Docherty etc and of course, John O'Mara. I was devastated when he was transferred to Blackburn. My mum and I went up to Blackburn specially to see him play that season - I remember we ended up in with the Blackburn fans, but it didn't really matter. They didn't take much notice of a 14 year old girl and her mum...I was very sad when he left Brentford.

Even my children know about John O'Mara because sacriligious me wrote 'John O'Mara is the King' down the side of my school bible, which I still have!

I hope he's all right, and I wish him well - I have no idea what happened to him later on in life, but reading all these entries he meant a lot to lots of people for a very brief time in the early 70's. I haven't actually seen Brentford play for donkey's years now, as I live a long way away, but I found this thread, and it brought back a lot of memories. My husband and I watched the Youtube videos of the Big Match where we beat Grimsby Town 2-0 - well what an absolute blast from the past that was! The years rolled away...oh yes they were the good old days! And that was before I'd even met my husband - he was in the crowd somewhere behind me, and we wouldn't meet until another 2 years later...and now it's 40 years ago...oh God....

Great post chockychocky and welcome to the good old GP of G . Can I suggest you look up NorthamptonBee and send him a personal message? I reckon your post would make a great addition to his book should the second edition materialize. See here https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=89542&p=1914815#post1914815 .

 

[vcmazz]

P.S. See how many of these legends you recognise - picture taken last year for the launch of 'The Big Brentford Book Of The Seventies'. Have you spotted your first love yet and is he still a dreamboat?

 

[blunstone]

john was very special - even if only for a very short time in the bees' colours.

we need a new hero me thinks!

 

[chockychocky]

P.S. See how many of these legends you recognise - picture taken last year for the launch of 'The Big Brentford Book Of The Seventies'. Have you spotted your first love yet and is he still a dreamboat?

Oh bless them! I think I recognise most of them, although I may be wrong....

Back row L- R: John Docherty, Alan Nelmes, John O'Mara, Bobby Ross, Gordon Phillips (?)
Front Row L-R: Jackie Graham (maybe), Peter Gelson, then not sure but could be Terry Scales

So kind of you to post the photo for me!
And Big John is still the king!!

 

[wanderer paul]

Oh bless them! I think I recognise most of them, although I may be wrong....

Back row L- R: John Docherty, Alan Nelmes, John O'Mara, Bobby Ross, Gordon Phillips (?)
Front Row L-R: Jackie Graham (maybe), Peter Gelson, then not sure but could be Terry Scales

So kind of you to post the photo for me!
And Big John is still the king!!

Close!

Back row: Ross (I think?!) Nelmes, O'Mara, McCullouch, Hawley

Front Row: Kruse, Gelson, Bence

 

[vcmazz]

Close!

Back row: Ross (I think?!) Nelmes, O'Mara, McCullouch, Hawley

Front Row: Kruse, Gelson, Bence

Even closer. Replace 'Ross' with Terry Scales and I believe that's a full house .

 

[blunstone]

I am not knocking today's players (honest 'gov) but with the exception of karleigh and koc and possibly the keeper who is a personaility, none of them is really much more than passing through?

i think the loan system (apart from real emergencies) doesn't help us gel with the players.

but i am an old fart i know!!!

 

[North London Bee]

I am not knocking today's players (honest 'gov) but with the exception of karleigh and koc and possibly the keeper who is a personaility, none of them is really much more than passing through?

i think the loan system (apart from real emergencies) doesn't help us gel with the players.

but i am an old fart i know!!!

I understand how you feel as part of the delight of supporting a small club like Brentford has always been identifying with players, some of them ideally locally born who stick around for several years, long enough for the fans to get to know and appreciate them and for them to show that the club has some real meaning for them.

Unfortunately those days have practically gone - you might as well mourn the passing of trolley buses.

Players are pretty much mercenaries now who exhibit loyalty when they are with you but will be kissing some other badge the moment they move on - accept it as it is the way of the world.

The finances of football now dictate the prime importance of the loan market and we have to use it for all the reasons indicated over the past weeks if we are not to fall behind our rivals.

 

[blunstone]

everything you say is, of course, 100% correct nlb.

the players are mostly (not all) mercenaries today - but so are fans. well fickle might be a better word.

in ten years time nostalgia won't be what it used to be. (sort of old joke - but an element of truth also?)

it will be difficult to remember players who were here for a month or two unlike players like ross, higginson, gelson, nelmes and many more who are still remembered decades later and are, to a man, true bees.

just like the and me.

 

[benfleetbee]

P.S. See how many of these legends you recognise - picture taken last year for the launch of 'The Big Brentford Book Of The Seventies'. Have you spotted your first love yet and is he still a dreamboat?

Almost half the squad there from our 71/72 promotion season. I think we only had a squad of about 14 players.

 

[moribee]

Memories, they were Brentford tho Omara and McCulloch were different eras or about 7 years apart?

 

[moribee]

everything you say is, of course, 100% correct nlb.

the players are mostly (not all) mercenaries today - but so are fans. well fickle might be a better word.

in ten years time nostalgia won't be what it used to be. (sort of old joke - but an element of truth also?)

it will be difficult to remember players who were here for a month or two unlike players like ross, higginson, gelson, nelmes and many more who are still remembered decades later and are, to a man, true bees.

just like the and me.

I still worship Turner and Renwick,great personal memories of those two

 

[Ealing Bee]

... and I also reckon that in the Spring of 1972 he was on the brink of being included in the Northern Ireland Squad.

Don't know about Northern Ireland (IFA) but I've found out that the Republic of Ireland (FAI) definitely enquired about him, but were informed by Brentford that he didn't qualify for them.

Might you be confusing the two Irish teams, or were NI interested as well?