michael george mick obrien born 25 september 1979 in liverpool is an english former professional footballer he represented england as a schoolboyobrien a leftsided midfielder began his career as a trainee with everton turning professional in october 1997 at everton he had captained the fa youth cup winning side in 1998 but his progress was hampered by injury and he was released at the end of the 199899 seasonhe joined torquay united in august 1999 and later that month on the opening day of the season scored on his league debut against shrewsbury town at gay meadow after a first season in and out of the starting lineup but with some notable moments including as a goal from a 30yard free kick at loftus road in the fa cup third round tie against queens park rangers in december 1999 obrien fell out of favour with manager wes saunders he was loaned to conference side southport in january 2001 returning in march with torquay struggling at the foot of the football league with saunders sacked obrien returned to the first team squad under new manager colin lee playing four times as a substitute before the end of the season the last of these games on the final day of the season saw obrien come on early in the first half for jason rees as torquay won 32 away to barnet to avoid relegation and send barnet down insteadlee left at the end of the season and was replaced by roy mcfarland obrien was one of a number of players on shortterm contracts giving mcfarland a chance to assess the squad he appeared as a late substitute for tony bedeau on 11 august 2001 as torquay lost 10 away to bristol rovers but was released at the end of that monthhe joined droylsden in september 2001 moving to chester city the following month and appearing in their conference side he was released by chester at the of the 200203 season having not played in their first team that seasonhe returned to droylsden in august 2003 playing seven times up to early octoberhe returned to the droylden side in october 2005 playing his final game for them that season on 12 december as droylsden lost at home to workingtonhe also became kit man to the everton youth team also taking some of the coaching and by april 2008 was one of evertons academy coaches