John Tait Orr (15 December 1888 – 13 May 1971) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward.IMG - Blackburn Rovers 046, Cotton Town (Blackburn with Darwen Council) Having moved from Newtongrange Star to Blackburn Rovers as a teenager in January 1908,Scottish Forward For Blackburn, Manchester Courier, 31 January 1908, via British Newspaper Archive he was often a reserve for the likes of Eddie Latheron, Jock Simpson, Danny Shea and compatriot Walter Aitkenhead, but had a role in the squads which won the English Football League championship in 1911–12 and 1913–14.Johnny Orr, WorldFootball.net Towards the end of the latter season, he was selected for the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots international trial match,Association Trial Match At Glasgow., The Scotsman, 16 March 1914, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club but this did not lead on to a full cap.
The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 disrupted football and led to official competitions in England being cancelled a year later; during the conflict, Orr agreed to play some matches for Blackburn's local rivals BurnleyBlackburn Rovers Players For Burnley., Manchester Courier, 16 August 1915, via Play Up Liverpool and also featured for Preston North End, but otherwise missed out on what would probably have been the peak years of his sporting career, and joined the British Army in 1917.Blackburn Rovers. Crompton A Busy Man., Star Green 'Un, 25 August 1917, via British Newspaper Archive Footballers In Army. Letters From Former Blackburn Rovers Players, Lancashire Evening Post, 13 October 1917, via British Newspaper Archive He remained on Blackburn's books until the end of the 1919–20 season, but made only three post-war league appearances due to injuryMainly About Players., Lancashire Evening Post, 3 April 1920, via British Newspaper Archive (despite some callous newspaper reports having predicted that after demobilisation from the armed forces, "he is certain of his place now" – Latheron having been killed in the war).Mainly About Players., Lancashire Evening Post, 25 October 1919, via British Newspaper Archive Orr returned to Scotland and made a comeback in his 30s playing for hometown club Leith AthleticCup tie At Easter Road., Edinburgh Evening News, 27 October 1922, via British Newspaper Archive in minor competitions including the Scottish Football Alliance, and for two seasons in the Scottish Football League Division Three. A benefit match was played for him in 1926.Hibernians Down At Home, Athletic News, 3 May 1926, via British Newspaper Archive
His uncle Willie Orr was also a football player (Celtic, Scotland) and manager (Airdrieonians, Leicester City).
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