James Francis Edward O'Connor (born 20 November 1984) is an English former professional footballer who is now the assistant manager to Russell Penn at club Kidderminster Harriers. O'Connor played as a played as a defender. He won the FA Youth Cup with the Aston Villa youth team, and played on loan at Port Vale, before making his name with AFC Bournemouth in the 2005–06 season. Following this he was brought to Doncaster Rovers for a £130,000 fee in May 2006. He established himself as an essential first team player for the club, helping Sean O'Driscoll's side to the Football League Trophy in 2007 and promotion out of the League One play-offs in 2008. Voted Player of the Season at the club in 2009–10, he lost his first team place under Dean Saunders during the 2011–12 relegation campaign as Doncaster were relegated to League One. In August 2012, he joined Derby County for an undisclosed fee, but was transfer listed in May 2013 and loaned out to Bristol City from September 2013 until January 2014. He signed with Walsall in June 2014, and remained at the club for three seasons. He dropped into non-league football with Kidderminster Harriers in October 2017 and was appointed caretaker-manager there in April 2019. He retired as a player in November 2019, having made 503 league and cup appearances in a 15-year playing career, scoring 13 goals. Career Aston Villa O'Connor went to Wheelers Lane Boys' School in Birmingham between 1996 and 2001. He joined the Aston Villa youth set-up in 1997 after his P.E teacher Mr Alan Miller recommended O'Connor to the club as a creative midfield player. He instead established himself as a strong defender, and started in the 2002 FA Youth Cup final win against Everton. A traffic collision early in the year had ruled him out for a number of weeks and he missed the first leg of the semi-final, but returned to help his side resist an Everton attack fronted by Wayne Rooney in the final. Turning professional with Aston Villa in 2004; later in the year he enjoyed a three-month loan spell at League One side Port Vale to gain first team experience. He played 15 games for Martin Foyle's "Valiants" in 2004–05. After returning to Villa Park and featuring heavily in the Premier League Reserves title winning team he joined AFC Bournemouth on loan for the remainder of the