O'ROURKE, Frank 'a Goal Scoring Legend' ^{2 3}

   Cause of his death was cerebral thrombosis over 35 days.

   Other names for Frank were OROURKE, Francis,⁶ O'ROURKE, Francis,^{5 7} RORK, Francis and ROURKE, Francis.⁴

  General Notes:

Francis Rourke was born in 1876 in Omoa Square in Cleland, part of the parish of Shotts. His father Edward Rourke, a coal miner, gave notice of his birth and made his X mark.

Francis was just 4 years of age when recorded by the 1881 census living with his family in Bothwell parish. He was a scholar and had been born in Shotts parish.

The 1901 census for Old Monkland parish, Lanarkshire, recorded Francis Orourke as the head of a household of seven listed people, living at 57 Langmuir Square Coatbridge. There were actually six people because the mother of the family, Mary Ward or Orourke aged 50 years, was listed under her maiden name and her married name. Francis was recorded as head probably because he was the eldest male earning in the household. The others were his sisters and brother. Francis was a "coal miner (hewer)", born in Cleland and aged 24 years.

In the birth certificates of his children Francis was recorded as a coal miner.

In Frank's adult life he gained fame as a club and international footballer. He played for Airdrie or Airdrieonians, then Albion Rovers, then Airdrie again, with whom he won a Scottish Division 2 Championship medal. In 1907 he played for Scotland against Ireland, and after this he joined Bradford City, playing in the FA Cup Final in 1911 and gaining an FA Cup winners medal. Some record books credit him with scoring City's winning goal. After his retirement from League football he captained City's Reserve side, and still turned out in an emergency.

The 1911 census recorded Frank O'Rourke as a boarder living in the household of Esther E. Gorvin, a 52 year old married woman born in London, situated at 68 Carlisle Place, Bradford. he was noted as 32 years old and married,. His birth place was "Clelland Lanarkshire" and he was a Professional Football Player with Bradford City.

When his wife Catherine died in 1948, Francis O'Rourke, the widower, gave notice of her death before the registrar at Baillieston on 29 September 1948. Frank O'Rourke was described in the death certificate, presumably on his own information, as being a general labourer.

The death of Francis O'Rourke took place on Christmas Eve 1954. In his death certificate he was recorded as the widower of Catherine Pryce, and as having been a retired coal miner. His recorded age was 78 years. Both of his parents were then deceased. ^{2 3 4 5 6 8}

  Research Notes:

THANKS

Patrick's People is indebted and grateful to M. McColgan, a descendant of Frank O'Rourke, for her generous contribution of information about this family.

ST BRIDGET'S RC CHURCH BAILLIESTON

Frank O'Rourke and Catherine Pryce were married in this church in 1903. First the parish, and then the church, were established in the last third of the 19th century when St Paul's Roman Catholic parish in Shettleston began to find difficulty in coping with the growing numbers of Catholics from the Baillieston district. before the construction of the church, a barn was used for Mass on Sundays. The local school served during the week. In 1893 Archbishop Eyre of Glasgow presided over the opening of the new church, designed by Pugin & Pugin. Just over 50 years later the parish became part of Motherwell diocese, just recently created.

PETER TERKEN CC

Frank and Catherine were married in 1903 before this priest. Peter Terken, a Dutchman, had arrived in the newish parish more than 20 years earlier and had been responsible for the building of a school that also served in weekdays as a church for the parishioners.

As parish priest, Father Terken was, and is remembered as being, supportive, influential and dynamic. Most famous is the account of his influence on John Wheatley, son of Irish immigrants, who lived and worked locally, and disgusted and distraught by the condition of the working people around him, became a socialist.

Surprisingly Wheatley managed to reconcile his socialist analysis with his Catholic beliefs. In 1906 he founded the Catholic Socialist Society in Glasgow. Soon after he was able to turn up at Mass the Sunday following the burning of his effigy loocally by fellow Catholics. ^{9 10}

  Medical Notes:

Neil J. B. Bowie MB ChB certified the cause of death.

D. McColgan, son in law of the deceased, of 8 Park Road Bargeddie near Baillieston, gave notice of Frank's Death before the registrar, Adam Ardrey, at Baillieston on 27 December 1954 ⁵

  Noted events in his life were:

• British Home International: between Scotland and Northern Ireland, 17 March 1907, Celtic Park, Glasgow. ¹¹ Frank was described as 'a robust Scottish centre-forward'. Scotland won 3-0 on that occasion at Celtic Park, Parkhead, Glasgow, before a crowd of 26000. Frank O'Rourke scored the first goal for Scotland.

• First Appearance: playing for Bradford City football team, April 1907. Frank O'Rourke was by all accounts a robust centre forward with a talent for scoring goals. He made a great impression on Bradford City officials when Airdrie played a friendly at Valley Parade in 1907, so much so that they travelled to the hotel in Leeds where the Airdrie team were lodged and roused Frank at 3.00 am to sign him there and then.

His 'shoot on sight' approach made him an immediate favourite. Frank held the record for City as scorer of 93 goals until this was broken by Bobby Campbell in October 1984. Of these 88 were League goals between April 1907 and March 1914. 63 goals were scored in Division 1 and a joint record was held of 5 cases of scoring 3 goals or more in a match.

• FA Cup Final replay: between Bradford City and Newcastle, 1911, three days after the original final, Manchester, Lancashire, England. ^{2 12} The Press maintained that in the course of this game Frank touched Jimmy Speirs' header before the ball entered the net.

In fact Frank never claimed the goal, and maintained to his family and friends that he made no contact with the ball.

Bradford won 1-0, and a newly designed FA Cup was awarded. Gaumont filmed this match from a single, mid pitch, low camera position.

• Because of football restrictions: Frank drove a taxi in Bradford, in 1914 outbreak of World War 1. ²

• Joined the Royal Flying Corps: after taxi driving, near outbreak of WW1.

• Retirement in his native Lanarkshire: and returned to Scotland, June 1926.

Frank married Catherine PRYCE, daughter of Patrick PRYCE and Mary Ann FYFE, on 5 June 1903 in St Bridget's RC Church, Baillieston, Lanarkshire, Scotland.¹ (Catherine PRYCE was born in 1879 in Old Monkland Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^{1 13} and died 28 September 1948 at 7.45 pm in 30 Monkland View Crescent, Bargeddie, Lanarkshire, Scotland ¹⁴.). The cause of her death was cerebral haemorrhage over 2 hours.

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage was celebrated after banns according to the rites and forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The priest was Peter Terken CC and the witnesses were Henry O'Rourke and Grace Pryce.

Francis O'Rourke was a bachelor of 26 years who worked as a coal miner. His address was 57 Longmuir Bargeddie. His father was deceased.

Catherine Pryce was unmarried and aged 24 years. Her address was 9 Longmuir Bargeddie. She worked as a domestic servant.

The marriage was registered at Baillieston on 8 June 1903, D. D. Smith being the signing registrar.

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