Darren Murphy
Murphy playing for Stevenage Borough in the 2009 FA Trophy final
Personal information
Full name Darren Murphy[1]
Date of birth (1985-07-28) 28 July 1985
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2001–2003 Cobh Ramblers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Cobh Ramblers 75 (9)
2007–2008 Cork City 29 (2)
2008–2012 Stevenage 39 (1)
2012 → Aldershot Town (loan) 3 (0)
2012–2013 Port Vale 3 (0)
2013 Macclesfield Town 0 (0)
2013 Woking 3 (0)
2014 Cork City 4 (0)
2015–2017 Cobh Ramblers 8 (0)
2017 Avondale United 0 (0)
Total 164 (12)
Managerial career
2021 Cobh Ramblers U19
2021 Cobh Ramblers (interim)
2021–2022 Cobh Ramblers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Darren Murphy (born 28 July 1985) is an Irish football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder. Murphy started his playing career at Cobh Ramblers, progressing through the club's youth system before breaking into the first team during the 2003 season. He then joined Cork City in 2007, and spent two seasons at the club. In December 2008, he joined Stevenage and helped the team win the FA Trophy in his first season there. Murphy was part of the Stevenage team that earned back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier into League One. He was released by Stevenage when his contract expired in May 2012.

He subsequently joined Port Vale on a free transfer two months later. Murphy signed for Macclesfield Town in January 2013, but returned to Ireland two weeks later after tearing his calf muscle. Injury would disrupt the latter stages of his career, spending time with Woking in September 2013, before returning to Cork City two months later. He rejoined Cobh Ramblers in February 2015 and also played once for Avondale United. Murphy made the transition from playing to coaching, spending time as first-team coach at Cobh Ramblers, before being appointed as the team's under-19 manager in February 2021. After becoming interim manager of the first team in July 2021, Murphy was appointed first-team manager in September 2021 and remained in the post until June 2022.

Early life

Born in Cork, Republic of Ireland,[3] he is a native of Carrignavar.[4] Murphy combined playing football alongside serving his electrical apprenticeship in Cork from 2003 to 2006.[5]

Playing career

Murphy started his career at Irish club Cobh Ramblers, as part of the club's youth system.[6] He made his senior debut for Cobh Ramblers in an FAI Cup match against Shamrock Rovers in August 2002, three weeks after he had turned 17.[4] Murphy suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during his time with the club, recovering from the injury to play 77 times over five years, scoring nine goals.[4][7] Murphy signed for Cork City on a two-year contract in February 2007.[4] He played regularly in the first team during the latter stages of the 2007 season, making 32 appearances.[8] Financial issues forced Cork City into examinership in Murphy's second season with the club and he left the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2008 season.[4]

Stevenage

Murphy was offered a one-week trial with English Conference Premier club Stevenage in December 2008,[4] which proved successful, signing for the club on a short-term contract on 16 December 2008.[9] Murphy made his Stevenage debut in a 3–0 victory against Lewes at Broadhall Way.[10][11] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win against Kettering Town, scoring from close-range to restore parity in the match.[11][12] He made 20 appearances for the club during the 2008–09 season, during which he was sent off twice in matches against Kidderminster Harriers and Cambridge United;[11] the latter was rescinded.[13] This meant that Murphy was able to play in the club's 2–0 FA Trophy final victory against York City at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009,[11][14] a competition in which he started six games.[15] He played 24 times during the 2009–10 season as Stevenage won promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.[15][16]

Murphy played his first game of the 2010–11 season on 9 August 2010, starting in Stevenage's 2–1 defeat to Portsmouth in the League Cup, scoring Stevenage's goal with a shot from outside the area that was deflected in.[17][18] He was substituted at half-time after suffering a dislocated shoulder, and was ruled out of first-team action for a month.[19] Murphy broke his leg whilst playing for Stevenage's reserve team against Colchester United reserves in September 2010.[19] He underwent surgery on the injury and the club stated he would likely miss the remainder of the season.[19] Murphy returned to the first team in the club's 1–0 away victory at Wycombe Wanderers on 12 March 2011, playing the first half of the match.[18][20] He played nine games during the 2010–11 season, scoring once.[18] This included three appearances in the 2010–11 League Two play-offs following Stevenage's sixth-placed finish.[18][21] Following a 3–0 aggregate victory over Accrington Stanley,[22][23] Stevenage earned promotion to League One after a 1–0 victory against Torquay United at Old Trafford on 28 May 2011, with Murphy coming on as a 57th-minute substitute in the match.[18][24]

After making no first-team appearances during the first half of Stevenage's 2011–12 season due to a "succession of little injuries",[25] Murphy joined League Two club Aldershot Town on a one-month loan agreement on 10 February 2012.[26] He made his debut four days later in Aldershot's 1–0 home victory against Hereford United, Aldershot's first home win since December 2011.[25][27] He made two further appearances during the loan, and returned to Stevenage in March 2012.[25] Murphy struggled with hamstring, groin and ankle injuries and was not involved in the latter stages of Stevenage's season, making no appearances for the team during the season.[4][25] He was released by Stevenage when his contract expired in May 2012.[28] Murphy made 53 appearances in all competitions during his three years with the club.[15]

Port Vale

Murphy signed for League Two club Port Vale on a free transfer on 2 July 2012, signing a one-year contract.[29] He made his debut from the substitutes' bench on 25 August 2012, replacing Chris Shuker 74 minutes into a 3–1 victory over Morecambe at the Globe Arena.[30][31] Murphy struggled with hamstring problems whilst the team moved up to second in the league table in his absence.[32] He eventually made his full debut on 20 October 2012, in a 4–1 home victory against Wycombe Wanderers.[30][33] On making his return to fitness, he speculated that "if there was a hell for footballers that's what you'd do, sit in the stand watching games injured."[34] Murphy made only his third appearance of the season against Rochdale on 6 November 2012, but having entered the game as a substitute he was forced off injured after only a few minutes due to a recurrence of his calf injury.[30][35] He left the club by mutual consent on 8 January 2013.[36]

Return to Non-League

Having initially planned on returning to Ireland, Murphy received a contract offer from Conference Premier club Macclesfield Town.[37] He accepted the offer on 31 January 2013, signing a contract lasting until the end of the 2012–13 season.[38] Two weeks into his time at Macclesfield, he tore his calf muscle in training and on 13 February 2013, having made no appearances for the club, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[37]

He returned to Ireland and trained with former club Cork City. Murphy wanted to resume his playing career in England and spoke to Graham Westley, his former manager at Stevenage, who agreed for him to spend pre-season at the club ahead of the 2013–14 season. He arranged with Westley to "play some games for another club, to regain my confidence and then return to Stevenage".[37] He subsequently signed for Woking of the Conference Premier on 24 September 2013.[39] He made his Woking debut the same day his signing was announced, playing the first 68 minutes in a 4–0 home defeat to Luton Town at Kingfield Stadium.[40][41] Murphy made three appearances for Woking before injury curtailed his time at the club.[37][40]

Return to Ireland

Murphy returned to Cork City on a free transfer on 16 November 2013.[42] He made his first appearance back at Cork on 10 March 2014, starting in a 4–0 home victory over Limerick in the League of Ireland Cup.[3][43] Murphy made five appearances for the club during a season disrupted by injuries as Cork finished the 2014 season in second place in the League of Ireland Premier Division.[3][37][44] He dislocated his shoulder in a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City in July 2014 and notified Cork City manager John Caulfield of his decision to retire from playing after the match.[4][3]

Having recovered from the shoulder injury, Murphy was offered the chance to come out of retirement and rejoin Cobh Ramblers of the League of Ireland First Division in February 2015,[4] which he accepted,[45] making one appearance towards the latter stages of the 2015 season.[3] Murphy remained at Cobh Ramblers for just over two years, making eight first-team appearances during his second spell with the club.[5][3][4] He also played once for Avondale United of the Munster Senior League in April 2017,[3] appearing in a 2–0 League of Ireland Cup defeat against his former employers, Cobh Ramblers, on 4 April 2017.[46] Murphy retired from playing and made the transition into coaching.[37][47]

Coaching career

During his playing career, Murphy combined his playing role alongside acting as a community and academy coach at Stevenage in 2011.[5][4] He also served as a community coach at Port Vale. He earned his UEFA B Licence in 2017 and was issued his UEFA A Licence in 2019. Murphy was appointed as first-team coach at Cobh Ramblers in January 2015, a position he held until October 2016.[5] He was appointed as manager of the Cobh Ramblers under-19 team in February 2021.[47] He was named as interim manager of the Cobh Ramblers first team until the end of the season on 23 July 2021, following the exit of previous manager Stuart Ashton.[48] He was given the role on a permanent basis on 16 September 2021, signing a contract until the end of the 2023 season.[49] It was announced on 18 June 2022 that Cobh had "amicably agreed to part ways" with Murphy.[50]

Style of play

Murphy was deployed as a midfielder throughout his career.[3] His role in midfield was predominantly as a defensive midfielder, where he was tasked with breaking up opposition play. Murphy described himself as "never the best player", and what he lacked in the technical aspects of the game, he "compensated for" with his work ethic. Described as "an energetic, combative midfielder" and "tough-tackling", Murphy stated that his physical style of play contributed to the number of injuries he sustained during his playing career.[4][51]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cobh Ramblers LOI First Division 262000000262
LOI First Division 232000000232
LOI First Division 5000000050
LOI First Division 215000020235
Total 759000020779
Cork City LOI Premier Division 7100002091
LOI Premier Division 221000011232
Total 292000031323
Stevenage Conference Premier 141000060201
Conference Premier 200100030240
2010–11[61] League Two 5000113091
2011–12[62] League One 0000000000
Total 3911011120532
Aldershot Town (loan) 2011–12[62] League Two 3000000030
Port Vale 2012–13[63] League Two 3000000030
Macclesfield Town 2012–13[63] Conference Premier 0000000000
Woking 2013–14[64] Conference Premier 3000000030
Cork City LOI Premier Division 4000100050
Cobh Ramblers LOI First Division 1000000010
LOI First Division 7000000070
LOI First Division 0000000000
Total 8000000080
Avondale United Munster Senior League 0000100010
Career totals 16412103117118514
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy, play-offs and FAI Cup.

Honours

Stevenage

References

  1. ↑ "Darren Murphy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Darren Murphy – ESPN". ESPN Soccernet. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Soccerway – Darren Murphy". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dollery, Paul (22 October 2016). "From winning trophies at Wembley and Old Trafford to League of Ireland coaching at 31". The 42. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Linkedin – Darren Murphy". Linkedin. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Darren Murphy – Stevenage F.C." Stevenage F.C. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers seasonal archives". Irish football online. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Cork City seasonal archives". Irish football online. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Stevenage sign midfielder Murphy". BBC Sport. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Stevenage 3–0 Lewes". BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Stevenage 2–1 Kettering". BBC Sport. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "Murphy cleared to play in second leg". The Comet. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Stevenage 2–0 York". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 "BoroGuide – Match Data – Darren Murphy". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Stevenage 1–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 Roberts, Damion (10 September 2010). "Injured Murphy likely to miss rest of season". The Comet. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Wycombe 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  21. ↑ "League Two – 2010–11 – League Table". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Stevenage 2–0 Accrington". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  23. ↑ "Accrington 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  24. 1 2 "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Darren Murphy joins Aldershot on loan". Stevenage F.C. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  27. ↑ "Aldershot 1–0 Hereford". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  28. ↑ "Seven depart as Boro build". Stevenage F.C. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Triple swoop for Adams". Port Vale F.C. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  30. 1 2 3 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  31. ↑ "Morecambe 1–3 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  32. ↑ "Murphy set to claim midfield start". The Sentinel. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  33. ↑ "Port Vale 4–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  34. ↑ "Port Vale: Darren Murphy wants to move on from injury 'hell'". BBC Sport. 22 October 2012. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  35. ↑ Smith, Peter (7 November 2012). "Valiants forced to settle for a point against Rochdale". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  36. ↑ "Port Vale: Injury-hit Gareth Owen and Darren Murphy allowed to exit". BBC Sport. 8 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucey, Dan (20 July 2019). "It was a godsend for me as a young fella, to have three Irish internationals around to learn from – Darren Murphy". Extra-time. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "Darren Murphy: Macclesfield Town sign ex-Port Vale midfielder". BBC Sport. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  39. ↑ "Former 'Double' Winner Joins Woking". Pitchero. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  40. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  41. ↑ "Woking 0–4 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  42. ↑ Kelly, Ryan. "Cork City complete Darren Murphy signing". Goal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "Cork City 4–0 Limerick". Soccerway. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  44. ↑ "Soccerway – LOI Premier Division 2014". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  45. ↑ "Cobh announce further transfer dealings". Cobh Ramblers F.C. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  46. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers 2–0 Avondale United". Soccerway. 4 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  47. 1 2 O'Shea, John (12 February 2021). "Staying in education and playing League of Ireland underage is a solid path for young Cork soccer players". Echo Live. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  48. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers appoint Darren Murphy as new manager". Echo Live. 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  49. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers appoint Murphy as permanent manager · The42". 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  50. ↑ "Club Statement". Cobh Ramblers F.C. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  51. ↑ "BoroGuide – Biography – Darren Murphy". BoroGuide. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. ↑ "Season Guide – 2008/9". Boroguide. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. ↑ "Season Guide – 2009/10". Boroguide. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  63. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  65. 1 2 3 4 5 Darren Murphy at Soccerway
  66. ↑ "Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  67. ↑ "Kidderminster 0–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
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