Murdoch Johnny Image 3 Airdrieonians 1929

Description

New Stevenston, Lanarkshire born outside right Johnny Murdoch began his football career with Clydesdale Wanderers and played for Kirkintilloch Rob Roy before he signed for Airdrieonians in 1921, spending seven years with The Diamonds for whom he scored 27 goals in 152 appearances, being heavily involved as they finished in second place in the Scottish League Championship four years in a row between 1923 and 1926. However he was not in their team that won the Scottish Cup in 1924.

In 1928 Murdoch signed for Motherwell and formed part of their famous forward line of Murdoch, McMenemy, McFadyen, Stevenson and Ferrier, scoring ten of ‘Wells League goals of the fantastic haul of 119 that were scored by the League Championship winning side in 1932, also being involved in four other top three finishes and playing in two Scottish Cup Finals with The Steelmen as they were beaten by Celtic, first in a replay in 1931 (Murdoch scoring Motherwell’s second in a 4-2 defeat at Hampden Park), and then by a single goal in 1933.

In five years at Fir Park he scored 50 goals in 142 League appearances (with Scottish Cup appearances and goals on top) and won his only cap for Scotland when he played in a 0-0 draw with Ireland at Windsor Park in February 1931. Signed by Dundee in 1933, he scored 10 goals in 37 appearances for The Dark Blues in 1933-34, joining Dunfermline Athletic in 1934 where he scored once in 16 appearances over the next season. He finished his career in England with United Counties League club Stewarts & Lloyds Corby before his retirement.