Johnny Orr (footballer)

Johnny Orr
Personal information
Full name John Tait Orr
Date of birth 15 December 1888
Place of birth Leith, Scotland
Date of death 13 May 1971(1971-05-13) (aged 82)
Place of death Leith, Scotland
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside forward
Youth career
Leith Renton[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906–1908 Newtongrange Star[3]
1908–1920 Blackburn Rovers 75 (30)
1922–1926 Leith Athletic 35 (14)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Tait Orr (15 December 1888 – 13 May 1971) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward.[4][5] Having moved from Newtongrange Star to Blackburn Rovers as a teenager in January 1908,[6] he was often a reserve for the likes of Eddie Latheron, Jock Simpson, Danny Shea and compatriot Walter Aitkenhead, but had a role in the squads which won the English Football League championship in 1911–12 and 1913–14.[7] Towards the end of the latter season, he was selected for the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots international trial match,[8] but this did not lead on to a full cap.

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 disrupted football and led to official competitions in England being cancelled a year later; during the conflict, Orr agreed to play some matches for Blackburn's local rivals Burnley[9] and also featured for Preston North End, but otherwise missed out on what would probably have been the peak years of his sporting career, and joined the British Army in 1917.[10][11] He remained on Blackburn's books until the end of the 1919–20 season, but made only three post-war league appearances due to injury[12] (despite some callous newspaper reports having predicted that after demobilisation from the armed forces, "he is certain of his place now" – Latheron having been killed in the war).[13] Orr returned to Scotland and made a comeback in his 30s playing for hometown club Leith Athletic[14] in minor competitions including the Scottish Football Alliance, and for two seasons in the Scottish Football League Division Three.[4] A benefit match was played for him in 1926.[15]

His uncle Willie Orr was also a football player (Celtic, Scotland) and manager (Airdrieonians, Leicester City).[1]

  1. ^ a b Gleanings, Athletic News, 17 February 1908, via British Newspaper Archive; "The Blackburn Rovers have a promising recruit in John Orr, whom then signed a week or two ago. He is a nephew of Willie Orr, the famous Celtic player, stands 5ft. 6in., and weighs about l0st. 4lb. He is 19 of age, and came to the Rovers from an Edinburgh junior club. A month ago he played in a trial match between the East of Scotland and Stirlingshire, and displayed such good form that he was a certainty for the junior international match if the Rovers had not signed him." (subscription required)
  2. ^ The Famous King's Park., Edinburgh Evening News, 8 March 1913, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  3. ^ 1906/07, The History of Newtongrange Star
  4. ^ a b John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
  5. ^ IMG - Blackburn Rovers 046, Cotton Town (Blackburn with Darwen Council)
  6. ^ Scottish Forward For Blackburn, Manchester Courier, 31 January 1908, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  7. ^ Johnny Orr, WorldFootball.net
  8. ^ Association Trial Match At Glasgow., The Scotsman, 16 March 1914, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  9. ^ Blackburn Rovers Players For Burnley., Manchester Courier, 16 August 1915, via Play Up Liverpool
  10. ^ Blackburn Rovers. | Crompton A Busy Man., Star Green 'Un, 25 August 1917, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  11. ^ Footballers In Army. | Letters From Former Blackburn Rovers Players, Lancashire Evening Post, 13 October 1917, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  12. ^ Mainly About Players., Lancashire Evening Post, 3 April 1920, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  13. ^ Mainly About Players., Lancashire Evening Post, 25 October 1919, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  14. ^ Cup tie At Easter Road., Edinburgh Evening News, 27 October 1922, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
  15. ^ Hibernians Down At Home, Athletic News, 3 May 1926, via British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)