Mark Andrew O'Connor (born 10 March 1963) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Queens Park Rangers, Exeter City, Bristol Rovers, AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham.
Playing career O'Connor was born in Rochford and began his career with Queens Park Rangers. He made only three appearances for Rangers in three seasons, and the 1983–84 campaign he spent out on loan at Exeter City. He joined Bristol Rovers in the summer of 1984. O'Connor earned one cap for the Republic of Ireland U21 side against England in 1985. He spent one and half years at Eastville Stadium making 99 appearances scoring 13 goals before leaving for AFC Bournemouth in March 1986. O'Connor spent five seasons at Dean Court making 148 appearances and helped the Cherries win the Third Division title in 1986–87. He then went on to play for Gillingham and then made a return to Bournemouth before ending his career back at Gillingham helping the side gain promotion in 1995–96. He broke his leg against Fulham on 25 November 1995 in a tackle with Martin Thomas which resulted in his retirement from playing just over a year later.
Coaching career After ending his playing career in 1998 he moved into coaching with manager Tony Pulis at Gillingham whom he played with at Bournemouth. He moved with Pulis to Portsmouth in June 2000 and became their academy manager where he remained until 2005 when he linked up again with Pulis at Plymouth Argyle. He spent a season at Plymouth before moving back to Stoke City with Pulis to become one of his first-team coaches alongside former teammate Adrian Pennock in June 2006. He left Stoke at the end of the 2012–13 season. On 22 July 2013 O'Connor joined Bristol City as their under-21 manager.
In January 2015 O'Connor joined West Bromwich Albion to work again with Pulis and Kemp.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsQueens Park Rangers1981–82Second Division10000000101982–83Second Division20000000201983–84First Division0000000000Total3000000030Exeter City (loan)1983–84Third Division381210031432Total381210031432Bristol Rovers1984–85Third Division4683140205591985–86Third Division342404121444Total80107181419913AFC Bournemouth1985–86Third Division91000000911986–87Third Division4372000304871987–88Second Division3721050004321988–89Second Division3324010103921989–90Second Division6000201090Total1281270805014812Gillingham1989–90Fourth Division1510000101611990–91Fourth Division4131020204631991–92Fourth Division3932020204531992–93Third Division211504021322Total11688080711399AFC Bournemouth1993–94Second Division4534040105431994–95Second Division130004000170Total583408010713Gillingham1995–96Third Division1812020002211996–97Second Division2203010002601997–98Second Division0000100010Total401504000491Career total4633533236120355241
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy and Full Members Cup.
Honours AFC Bournemouth Football League Third Division champions: 1986–87
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