Jack O’Connell

[PrestwichBlade]

Tough news for the lad, although I'm sure he's known himself for some time. Terrific player and leader. Always a shame seeing a top player's career ended early, best of luck to him in his future endeavours.

 

[Lightsoot]

Devastated for him. A fantastic player who played an instrumental role in our success and our identity. Wishing him and his family all the very best for the future.

 

[wavy-blade]

Sad news always hoped he would be back , all the players used to call him "pancake" cus he flattened everyone

Big miss !

 

[10-0 win]

Sad to hear. past 3 years must have been hard for him. Never forget how he and Bash gave cb's a new name. All the best!

 

[Top Cat 317]

So sad Jack, you where a great player. We will really miss you. All the best, have a good life x

 

[JayGreen17]

Sad day, great player and great lad. Good luck Jack, you will always be a Blade.

 

[Argentinemanager]

This is really sad for jack, everyone could see the effort he put in to get back, but sadly it wasnt to be. Possibly the best defender ive seen for us and would have gone on to be a top player for a big club and country. All the best for the future and please come back so we can show our appreciation

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Danetheblade]

Announced his retirement from the game.

Even though we all knew it, it’s sad to see. One of the best players I’ve seen play for us. Tragic he didn’t get to show his talent for England.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

And that is why players go for the big money signing. A career ended with one injury. Best of luck for the future. I'm sure you will be succesful whatever the future holds. Will be truly missed in Red and White.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[ThatJa]

Your crying im not crying

 

[SUFC Guy]

What a player and what a beast in defence.

Hope he stays in the game in some capacity.

Is it possible that we could have a testimonial for Jack and Billy?

 

[VLYDONIMIR]

Good Luck to him, i'm certain that there's a role at a football club that
they'll offer him. Far too good to disappear from the sport and hopefully
he'll go on to achieve much, much more regardless of what role.

 

[Harry's Game]

It is bad enough if this had happened in a game but for it to happen in training is particularly annoying and even more tragic for the player.

Hopefully we now have more modern coaching methods in place and have abandoned the prehistoric methods that sound macho and tough and a bit ’Northern’

 

[ADeP]

Announced his retirement from the game.

Good Luck to him, i'm certain that there's a role at a football club that
they'll offer him. Far too good to disappear from the sport and hopefully
he'll go on to achieve much, much more regardless of what role.

What a player. It's such a shame that he's been robbed of his career, which always looked on the upwards trajectory.
Given everything thats been said about him with the group, in the gym and his new venture he's mentioned, BOAST - why not get him on the coaching staff? If he wants to do the badges, that is...

 

[bertieblade]

I wonder if we had him covered by insurance. Apologies if someone has already asked the question

 

[VLYDONIMIR]

I knew i'd seen a photo of JO'C and Snr together.

 

[Aidan Murphy]

All the best to him , very similar end as that of Whitehouse.. two legends .. what a combination down the left they could of been btw

 

[Nightsweats]

It is bad enough if this had happened in a game but for it to happen in training is particularly annoying and even more tragic for the player.

Hopefully we now have more modern coaching methods in place and have abandoned the prehistoric methods that sound macho and tough and a bit ’Northern’

The injuries we rack up at Shirecliffe suggests not.

 

[brownblade]

Announced his retirement from the game.

Bloody hell. Sad despite it being no surprise.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Very sad, great great player. Hopefully the time injured has given him the opportunity to plan the next step in his career. Strikes me as a lad who achieves what he sets his mind to.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Inevitable sadly.

Doesn’t make it any less sickening when an Elite level player succumbs to injury way ahead of time.

Jack. You woz a gud un and your contribution to what was an incredibly successful period in our clubs history will never be forgotten.

The biggest ever GLTTL I could ever write. Thank you.

.

!

UTB

 

[ChrisDysonHT]

Announced his retirement from the game.

A really sad day but the lad could not have done anything more to come back ....... what a player and what a hero for us is L1, Championship and PL ... he was so so so close to an England cap. All he best JOC X

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Still think there's a big future for him within the game, really hope so.

 

[Houso]

No surprise, but no less upsetting.

You could say he was one the best central defenders to play for us. But that wouldn't be enough. Best defenders? Nah. One of the most best players? Yep, I think he was that good.

Can't remember many more reliable or more consistent.

Should have played at a higher level than he made it to with us.

Thanks for everything Jack.

 

[Harry's Game]

The injuries we rack up at Shirecliffe suggests not.

At least they aren’t contact injuries anymore

 

[bornablade]

Thanks for everything Jack.

The Magic Hat day at MK Dons, the assist and the goal against Ipswich, the bucaneering style in that first season in the Premier league when certain pundits wrote off our ovelapping centre backs. You showed them.

You have put everything into getting back to fitness in the past 3 years. Hours and hours of hard work in the gym shows your professionalism. You deserved better.

Gutted.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

The interview with him on sutv confirming that Southgate was looking at him must make his girlfriend's success with the womens side a bit of a weird one to deal with. It's not like he can just "forget" football when his Mrs is in world cups etc!

 

[Tongeincheek]

An absolute colossus.
A setter of standards.
One of the best players ever to pull on the red and white stripes.

Knew when to keep a cool head, and when to deploy his fearsome bulk with rage.

Thanks for everything Jack, including posing for the unedited photo that I use as my profile picture.