Simon Murray (footballer)

Simon Murray (born 22 March 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premiership club Ross County.

Simon Murray
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-03-15) 15 March 1992
Place of birth Dundee, Scotland
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Ross County
Number 15
Youth career
Dundee Celtic Boys Club
Dee Club
Dundee United Social Club
Montrose
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Montrose 1 (0)
2011 → Downfield (loan)
2012–2013 Tayport
2014 Dundee Violet
2014–2015 Arbroath 21 (14)
2015–2017 Dundee United 54 (17)
2015 → Arbroath (loan) 15 (5)
2017–2018 Hibernian 22 (6)
2018 → Dundee (loan) 14 (3)
2018–2020 Bidvest Wits 22 (5)
2020–2023 Queen’s Park 50 (26)
2023– Ross County 21 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 30 September 2023 (UTC)

After beginning his senior career with Montrose, Murray played for several junior clubs before returning to senior football with Arbroath in 2014. He signed for Dundee United in January 2015, but initially remained with Arbroath on loan. After two seasons in the United first team, Murray moved to Hibernian in 2017. He spent the latter part of the 2017–18 season on loan at Dundee, then moved to South African club Bidvest Wits in July 2018. He returned to Scotland during 2020, when he signed for Queen's Park, with whom he would lead the side in back-to-back promotions and a rise to the Scottish Championship. He signed for Ross County in January 2023.

Early life

Murray was born in Dundee. His father Gary Murray was also a professional footballer, playing for Montrose and Hibernian.[2][3] After playing for a number of youth teams, including Dundee Celtic Boys Club, Dee Club and Dundee United Social Club, Murray joined Montrose as a youth player.[4]

Playing career

Early career

Murray began his professional career with Montrose. He made his only appearance for the first team as a substitute against Queen's Park at Hampden in May 2011. After a loan spell at Dundee-based junior club Downfield, Murray joined another junior club, Tayport, in February 2012.[5]

After leaving Tayport, Murray spent almost a year living in Australia. On his return to Scotland, he briefly played junior football for Dundee Violet before signing for Arbroath in May 2014.[2] Murray worked as a plumber while playing for Arbroath.[3] After scoring 18 goals in 28 matches for Arbroath, Murray was signed by Dundee United for a £50,000 fee in January 2015.[6] He was immediately loaned back to Arbroath for the rest of the 2014–15 season.[6]

Dundee United

Murray made his debut for Dundee United against Aberdeen in August 2015.[7] He scored his first goal six days later, in his first away game for United, the second goal in a 2–0 win at Motherwell.[8] Murray scored seven goals for United in the 2015–16 season, as they were relegated to the Scottish Championship.[9]

Murray scored a hat-trick for United in their first home game of the 2016–17 season in a 6–1 win over Cowdenbeath in the group stages of the League Cup.[10] He scored 18 goals in all competitions for United in 2016–17.[9] United won the 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup and progressed to the Premiership play-off final, but lost 1–0 on aggregate to Hamilton.[11] Murray was sent off for two bookable offences in the first leg, but the second yellow card (and therefore the red) was appealed.[12]

Hibernian

Soon after the play-off final defeat, Murray signed for Hibernian.[9] He scored seven goals in his first four appearances for Hibs, in their League Cup group.[3] He then scored on his league debut for Hibs, the third goal in a 3–1 win against Partick Thistle.[13] On 24 October 2017, Murray scored the only goal in the Edinburgh Derby which saw Hibernian win 1–0 against Heart of Midlothian.[14]

On 31 January 2018, Murray moved to Dundee on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[15]

Bidvest Wits

Hibernian sold Murray to South African club Bidvest Wits for an undisclosed fee in July 2018.[16] Murray suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in 2019, which prevented him from playing for several months.[17] He intimated in February 2020 that he would like to return to Scotland.[17]

Queen's Park

After returning to Scotland, Murray joined League Two club Queen's Park in September 2020.[18] He scored six goals in eleven appearances in his first season with the club as they were promoted as divisional champions.[19]

On 10 September 2021, Murray was awarded with the Scottish League One Player of the Month for August 2021, having scored four goals in five games in the league for that month.[20] He was then unavailable for much of the next six months with injury and the team struggled to win matches in his absence, drawing half of the 36 fixtures to finish in fourth place and reach the Scottish Championship play-offs. On 15 May 2022, fit-again Murray scored the winning goal from the penalty spot during extra time in the second leg of the play-off final to defeat Airdrieonians (who had finished runners-up in the regular season, 21 points ahead of Queen's Park); this secured back-to-back promotions for the Spiders, meaning they would compete in the second tier of Scottish football for the first time in nearly forty years.[21]

On 16 June 2022, Murray signed a new one-year contract extension with Queen's Park.[22] On 7 January 2023, Murray would net 4 goals in a single game against Cove Rangers in a 0–6 away win which would open up a 4-point gap at the top of the Scottish Championship.[23]

Ross County

Murray signed for Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 31 January 2023 for an undisclosed fee.[24] The same day, he would make his debut for the Staggies as a substitute in a league draw at home draw against his former club Hibernian.[25] Murray would score a key goal as well as netting in the penalty shoot-out to help County come back against Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off final to keep them in the top flight.[26]

Murray would get the 2023–24 season started in style with a hat-trick away from home against Stranraer in the Scottish League Cup group stage.[27]

Career statistics
As of match played 30 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Montrose 2010–11[28] Scottish Third Division 10–––10
2011–12[29] Scottish Third Division ––––
Total 10–––10
Arbroath 2014–15[30] Scottish League Two 361953103[lower-alpha 3]24524
Dundee United 2015–16[31] Scottish Premiership 2271020–257
2016–17[32] Scottish Championship 3210106411[lower-alpha 4]45018
Total 541720841147525
Hibernian 2017–18[33] Scottish Premiership 2261058–2814
2018–19[34] Scottish Premiership –––1[lower-alpha 5]010
Total 2261058102914
Dundee (loan) 2017–18[33] Scottish Premiership 143–––143
Bidvest Wits 2018–19[1] South African Premier Division 2153231–278
2019–20[35] South African Premier Division 100000–10
Total 2253!23100288
Queen’s Park 2020–21[19] Scottish League Two 1061000–116
2021–22[36] Scottish League One 18500416[lower-alpha 6]3289
2022–23[37] Scottish Championship 221510431[lower-alpha 7]02818
Total 50262084736733
Ross County 2022–23[37] Scottish Premiership 142––2[lower-alpha 8]1163
2023–24 Scottish Premiership 720067–139
Total 1140067212912
Career total 2218013531242410290119
  1. Includes Scottish Cup, Nedbank Cup
  2. Includes Scottish League Cup, MTN 8
  3. One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances and two goals in Scottish League One play-offs
  4. Five appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, six appearances and four goals in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  5. Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  6. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, four appearances and three goals in Scottish Championship play-offs
  7. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  8. Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Dundee United

Individual

References
  1. "Scotland - S. Murray - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  2. Stormont, Brian (17 May 2014). "Murray can't wait to get going". Arbroath Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  3. Hardie, David (2 August 2017). "Gary Murray: We knew my Hibee son Simon would make it". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. "First Team – Simon Murray". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  5. "Murrray leaves Montrose for Tayport". Scottish Professional Football League. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. "Dundee United sign Arbroath striker Simon Murray". BBC Sport. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  7. "Dundee United open season with a loss". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  8. "Motherwell 0–2 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  9. Lewis, Jane (29 May 2017). "Simon Murray: Striker agrees move to Hibernian from Dundee United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  10. McLauchlin, Brian (19 July 2016). "Dundee United 6–1 Cowdenbeath". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  11. Crawford, Kenny (28 May 2017). "Dundee United: Boss Ray McKinnon says his side ran out of steam in play-off final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  12. "Dundee Utd's Simon Murray free to face Hamilton after appeal against yellow card". BBC Sport. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  13. Sutherland, Jonathan (5 August 2017). "Hibernian 3–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  14. English, Tom (24 October 2017). "Hibernian 1–0 Hearts". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  15. "Hibernian sign Scott Allan, send Simon Murray to Dundee". BBC Sport. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  16. "MURRAY COMPLETES MOVE TO BIDVEST WITS". Hibernian FC. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  17. McPartlin, Patrick (13 February 2020). "Simon Murray: Former Hibs striker eyes Scotland return as he turns down extended South Africa stay". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  18. "Simon Murray Joins The Spiders". Queen's Park F.C. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  19. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  20. "MURRAY LANDS LEAGUE 1 AWARD". spfl.co.uk. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  21. Lindsay, Clive (15 May 2022). "Airdrieonians 1–2 Queen's Park". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  22. "SIMON BACK FOR ANOTHER SEASON". queensparkfc.co.uk. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  23. "Queen's Park thrash Cove to go four points clear". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  24. "Ross County transfers: Simon Murray joins from Queen's Park". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  25. "County come from behind to draw with Hibs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  26. "Ross County stay up after epic play-off comeback". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  27. "Stranraer v Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  28. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  29. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  30. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  31. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  32. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  33. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  34. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  35. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  36. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  37. "Games played by Simon Murray in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  38. Young, Chick (25 March 2017). "Dundee United 2–1 St Mirren". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
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