Peter Murphy (footballer, born 1980)

Peter Michael Murphy (born 27 October 1980, in Dublin) is an Irish football player and coach, who is currently manager of Scottish League Two club Annan Athletic. Murphy played as a defender, but also operated through midfield. He currently holds the club record at Carlisle United for the most appearances for the club as an outfield player with over 400, before being released after 12 years of service in 2013.

For other people named Peter Murphy, see Peter Murphy (disambiguation).

Peter Murphy
Personal information
Full name Peter Michael Murphy[1]
Date of birth (1980-10-27) 27 October 1980
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Annan Athletic (Manager)
Youth career
Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2000–2001 → Halifax Town (loan) 21 (1)
2001–2013 Carlisle United 417 (23)
2013–2014 Celtic Nation
2014–2017 Ayr United 64 (1)
2017–2019 Annan Athletic 6 (1)
International career‡
1998–1999 Republic of Ireland U19 7 (0)
2000 Republic of Ireland U21 2 (0)
2007 Republic of Ireland 1 (0)
Managerial career
2017– Annan Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:01, 8 December 2017 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Playing career

Club

Murphy played his youth football at St Josephs Boys AFC football club in Dublin. He then went on to play for Blackburn Rovers, Halifax Town (on loan, scoring his first career goal in a match against Kidderminster Harriers)[2] and Carlisle United.

While at Brunton Park Murphy started 400+ games and scored the winning goal in the Conference National Playoff Final 2005, which ensured The Cumbrians return to the Football League.[3] On their return, Murphy also played a major part in the team that won the League Two title in 2006 and that narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs in 2007. Murphy was out of contract at the end of the 2006–07 season initially rejecting an offer of a new contract.[4] In July 2007, Murphy accepted a new contract from Carlisle United, signing a two-year contract.[5] On 3 April 2011, Murphy scored the winning goal in the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium against Brentford.[6] Two days before the match, Murphy's partner Lisa gave birth to a baby son.[7]

Murphy has become a Carlisle favourite because of his upbeat personality, and his record for most games of any outfield player in club history. On 7 October there was a testimonial match to mark his 10+ years of service with the Cumbrian club, in which a host of ex-Carlisle superstars took to the field on Brunton Park, with Grant Holt, Danny Graham, Keiren Westwood and Ian Harte all making the trip to Cumbria for this special occasion to celebrate his loyalty and service to Carlisle United.[8]

At the end of the 2012–13 season, Murphy was released by Carlisle.[9] Five Months after his release from Carlisle United, Murphy joined Carlisle based non-league side Celtic Nation.[10]

On 24 July 2014, Murphy signed for Scottish League One club Ayr United.[11] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat to Airdrieonians.[12] Murphy spent three seasons with the Honest Men, before being released on 10 May 2017 after the club's relegation from the Scottish Championship.[13]

International

Murphy is a former Ireland under-19 and under-21 international, playing in the UEFA Under-19 Championships in 1999.[14] In May 2007, Murphy received his first call up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the two-game American tour against Ecuador and Bolivia.[14] Murphy's international début came against Bolivia when he started the match before being substituted at half time.[15] This appearance meant he became first Carlisle United player to win full international honours while with the Brunton Park club since Eric Welsh, who won four caps for Northern Ireland in the 1960s.[16]

Managerial career

Murphy's first managerial appointment came with Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic, where he was appointed player/manager on 2 June 2017.[17]

Murphy receiving Manager of the Month in February.

Peter Murphy won the Ladbrokes Manager of the Month in August 2018 and won it again alongside Chris Johnston who won Player of the Month in February 2019. He won promotion to League 1 with Annan in May 2023 beating Clyde 5–2 on aggregate

Career statistics

Managerial record
As of match played 7 October 2023
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Annan Athletic 2 June 2017 Present 266 103 57 106 038.72
Total 266 103 57 106 038.7 —

Honours

Player
Carlisle United

Manager
Annan Athletic

References
  1. "Peter Murphy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. "Halifax 3–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 6 January 2001. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  3. "Stevenage 0–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 14 May 2005. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. "Hawley and Murphy leave Carlisle". BBC Sport. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
  5. "Murphy commits future to Carlisle". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  6. "Brentford 0 – 1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  7. Pam McClounie (3 April 2011). "Carlisle Utd ace becomes dad two days before Wembley final". News & Star. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  8. "Carlisle United's Peter Murphy testimonial attracts star names and 2,500 fans". News and Star. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  9. "Carlisle United: Peter Murphy among seven released". BBC Sport. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  10. "Carlisle legend Peter Murphy: Why I joined Celtic Nation". News and Star. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  11. "NEW SIGNINGS". Ayr United F.C. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  12. "Ayr 2–3 Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  13. "Players leaving". Ayr United FC. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  14. "Alan Bennett and Peter Murphy added to Ireland's squad for America". Football Association of Ireland official website. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  15. "Bolivia 1–1 Rep of Ireland". BBC Sport. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  16. "Blues man Murphy gets call-up to Ireland squad". Cumbria News & Star. 19 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  17. "Annan Athletic appoint new manager". Annan Athletic FC. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  18. "Annan Promoted". SPFL. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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