Billy Murdoch (footballer)

A wing half (midfielder), Murdoch – known as Billy or sometimes as Willie – began his football career as a youth at Drumchapel Amateurs, where he was spotted by Celtic in 1967.[3] He spent his first season out on loan at Kilsyth Rangers (who had also shown an interest in signing him)[4] and whilst on assignment was selected for the Scotland Junior international team for a match against Wales in 1968, scoring a penalty.[5]

Murdoch was a peripheral member of the Quality Street Gang, the club's promising reserve squad of the late 1960s.[6] Although some of his contemporaries such as Kenny Dalglish, Davie Hay and Danny McGrain became star players, Murdoch never made a first-team appearance - Celtic were not only dominant in Scotland but one of the best sides in Europe during that period and he was in competition for a place with various Scottish internationals and European Cup winners, including his brother. After two years of part-time training and infrequent reserve matches while also learning a trade as a glazier, Murdoch left Celtic at his own request in 1970 and signed for Bristol City.[4]

After a short spell in England Murdoch was homesick and returned to his home country to play with semi-professional Stenhousemuir,[7] with manager Alex Smith having been alerted to his availability due to a mutual connection with a glazing company.[4]

In 1972, he scored the winning goal in one of Stenny's most memorable victories, a 2–1 Scottish League Cup second leg win over Rangers at Ibrox Park. The Glasgow giants (the holders of the UEFA Cup Winners Cup at the time) had already won the first leg 5–0 but still included a number of their regulars in the return line-up. The outcome was bittersweet for the Stenhousemuir board who had agreed to Smith's request to retain the £100-a-head player win bonus as motivation (despite there being no chance of winning the tie overall); the unexpected victory led to financial hardship for the club.[8]

Murdoch moved to Kilmarnock in 1976 for a fee of £10,000[8] and played for four seasons at Rugby Park during which time the club fluctuated between the top two national divisions (promoted in 1976, relegated in 1977, promoted in 1979) and also had financial problems which meant they were unable to employ their players on a full-time basis.

Perhaps Murdoch's most fondly remembered contribution was scoring in a 6–1 victory over local rivals Ayr United in a 1976–77 Scottish Premier Division fixture.[9] He played in a total of 78 games for Killie and scored 4 goals.[10]

In 1979 Murdoch left Kilmarnock and returned to Stenhousemuir to see out his senior career. In total he made 161 league appearances for the club over his two spells.[11] He also spent a spell back in the Junior grade with Cumbernauld United.[7]