George O'Neill
Encyclopedia
George O’Neill was a Scottish-American soccer forward. He began his career in Scotland, playing with eight clubs over nine seasons before moving to the Philadelphia Atoms
of the North American Soccer League
. He retired from playing professionally in 1976. In 1973, he earned two caps with the U.S. national team
.
in 1963, but never entered the first team. After one season, he moved to Barrow A.F.C.
of the English Football League Third Division North
for the 1964–65 season. He played seven games with Barrow before transferring back north to Ayr United
. He finished out the 1964–65 season with Ayr, playing only four games. He then moved to Scottish Amateur Football League
club Dunoon Athletic for the 1965–66 season. Whether this was a loan from Ayr or a transfer remains unknown. In 1966, he joined Partick Thistle
where he finally found significant playing time. Over his four seasons with the club, he played 72 games and scored five goals. He then moved to Morton
for a little more than a season before transferring on March 16, 1971 to Dunfermline Athletic
. He saw time in twenty-five games before moving to St. Mirren
in 1972. He played only two games with St. Mirren before leaving Scotland for the United States.
of the North American Soccer League
. That year, the Atoms won the NASL championship. He remained with the team until it folded following the 1976 season.
on November 3, 1973. The second was another 1–0 loss to Haiti two days later.
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
until he was fired in 1980. He then replaced Derek Travis as the assistant coach of the Philadelphia Fury
of the NASL.http://jamiepeck.com/atoms/psuedoatoms.htm He spent several years as a coach with the Philadelphia Inter Soccer Club before becoming the interim head coach of the University of Pennsylvania
men's soccer team on Aug. 18, 1993 after Steve Baumann resigned. He led the team to a 5–10 record before being named to the head coach position. He was then hired as the team’s head coach in January 1994. O’Neill was fired following the 1997 season after he amassed a 28–47–4 record over his five seasons as head coach.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E3D61238F936A25752C1A961958260
Philadelphia Atoms
The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League . They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field ....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He retired from playing professionally in 1976. In 1973, he earned two caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Scotland
O’Neill signed for Scottish club CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in 1963, but never entered the first team. After one season, he moved to Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
of the English Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
for the 1964–65 season. He played seven games with Barrow before transferring back north to Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
. He finished out the 1964–65 season with Ayr, playing only four games. He then moved to Scottish Amateur Football League
Scottish Amateur Football League
The Scottish Amateur Football League is a football league competition for amateur teams in Scotland. It was formally founded in 1909 when Scottish Football League club Queen's Park decided that their fourth team needed regular competition...
club Dunoon Athletic for the 1965–66 season. Whether this was a loan from Ayr or a transfer remains unknown. In 1966, he joined Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
where he finally found significant playing time. Over his four seasons with the club, he played 72 games and scored five goals. He then moved to Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
for a little more than a season before transferring on March 16, 1971 to Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
. He saw time in twenty-five games before moving to St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in 1972. He played only two games with St. Mirren before leaving Scotland for the United States.
NASL
In 1973, O’Neill signed with the expansion Philadelphia AtomsPhiladelphia Atoms
The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League . They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field ....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. That year, the Atoms won the NASL championship. He remained with the team until it folded following the 1976 season.
National team
In 1973, O’Neill earned two caps with the U.S. national team. The first came in a 1–0 loss to HaitiHaiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
on November 3, 1973. The second was another 1–0 loss to Haiti two days later.
Coaching
In 1978, O’Neill was hired to coach the Philadelphia FeverPhiladelphia Fever
.The Philadelphia Fever were an indoor soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1982. Their home arena was the Spectrum)...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
until he was fired in 1980. He then replaced Derek Travis as the assistant coach of the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
of the NASL.http://jamiepeck.com/atoms/psuedoatoms.htm He spent several years as a coach with the Philadelphia Inter Soccer Club before becoming the interim head coach of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
men's soccer team on Aug. 18, 1993 after Steve Baumann resigned. He led the team to a 5–10 record before being named to the head coach position. He was then hired as the team’s head coach in January 1994. O’Neill was fired following the 1997 season after he amassed a 28–47–4 record over his five seasons as head coach.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E3D61238F936A25752C1A961958260