Murphy John Image 1 Bradford City 1909

Description

Dublin born inside right John Murphy began his football career with Irish League club Shelbourne with whom he was an Irish Cup finalist in both 1907 and 1908 in defeats to Cliftonville and Bohemians as well as helping them to the runners up place in the Irish League in 1907. He represented The Irish League in a 6-3 defeat by the Football League at Roker Park, Sunderland, in October 1907 before a move to First Division club Bradford City in May 1909, making his Football League debut against Bury in January 1910, making 5 more appearances for The Bantams before the season end.

He was capped three times by Ireland while with Bradford City playing against England, Scotland and Wales between February and April 1910, but at the end of the season Murphy re-joined Shelbourne and was quickly proving his worth again. He was selected by the Irish League for the visit of the Football League to Celtic Park in October 1910 and by the end of that season finally had his hands on an Irish Cup winner’s medal following a 2-1 defeat of Bohemians in a replayed final at Dalymount Park.

After two fairly turbulent years back with Shels, Murphy took a second shot at football in England. He signed for Southern League club Luton Town in August 1912 (the deal required the approval of Bradford City who still held his registration) and he scored twice in 11 matches for The Hatters during 1912-13 before returning to Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers, his last recorded club.