Former Town striker John O’Rourke died in hospital in Dorset on Thursday aged 71 after battling liver cancer.

O’Rourke joined the Blues from Middlesbrough for £30,000 in February 1968 for the final months of the Division Two championship-winning season and went on to score 31 goals in 72 appearances for Town before departing for Coventry City for £80,000 in November 1969.

Northampton-born O’Rourke was a youth player with Arsenal and then spent time with Chelsea before breaking into senior football with Luton in 1963 before joining Boro three years later.

After his spell with the Sky Blues, he spent time with QPR, AFC Bournemouth, Poole Town, South African side Johannesburg Rangers, Weymouth and Dorchester Town. Following his retirement, he ran a newsagents on the south coast.

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 17:07 - Jul 9 budgieplucker-bit like now then with most other teams seemingly able to afford better players than us.
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wayway added 22:08 - Jul 9 R.I.P John, a really exciting player to watch. When Bill McGarry bought him and Peter Morris in January 1968 we did not lose another game and ended up as champions. McGarry is the only manager to have bought players when we were in a strong position. Imagine if Robson had bought in Pat Jennings and Graeme Souness when he had the chance in 1981, we would not have thrown the championship away because of injuries

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WeWereZombies added 22:35 - Jul 9 No longer here No longer there No longer every fecking where But John O'Rourke will linger on in the memories of those of us who saw him shine for the Town.
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Hegansheroes added 08:55 - Jul 10 67/68 season was my 1st going without my Dad. Great times& O''Rourke & Morris clinched it for us. Who was at the 0-0 draw with Blackburn, last match. I got Ken Hancock's sock which he chucked out of the dressing room window. I thought John O'Rourke joined us from Luton but probably wrong
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