Darren Murphy

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Darren Murphy
Darren Murphy 1.png
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 (age 40) [2]
Place of birth Cork, Ireland [2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2001–2003 Cobh Ramblers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2007 Cobh Ramblers 75 (9)
2007–2008 Cork City 29 (2)
2008–2012 Stevenage 37 (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)
Total162(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 professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Contents

Murphy began his playing career with Cobh Ramblers, progressing through the youth system and making his first-team debut in 2003. He signed for Cork City in February 2007, spending two seasons with the club before joining Conference Premier club Stevenage in December 2008. He helped Stevenage win the FA Trophy in his debut season and was part of the squad that achieved back-to-back promotions to League One, leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract in May 2012.

He joined Port Vale on a free transfer two months later and subsequently signed for Macclesfield Town in January 2013, but returned to Ireland shortly after due to a torn calf muscle. Injuries continued to affect the latter stages of his playing career, limiting his appearances with Woking, Cork City, and Cobh Ramblers, alongside a single appearance for Avondale United in April 2017. Murphy transitioned into coaching at Cobh Ramblers, serving as first-team coach, under-19 manager, interim manager, and finally first-team manager from September 2021 until June 2022.

Early life

Born in Cork, Ireland, [2] he is a native of Carrignavar. [3] Murphy combined playing football with serving his electrical apprenticeship in Cork from 2003 to 2006. [4]

Playing career

Murphy started his career at Cobh Ramblers, progressing through the club's youth system before making his senior debut in an FAI Cup match against Shamrock Rovers in August 2002, three weeks after turning 17. [3] [5] During his time with the club, he overcame a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament to make 77 appearances and score nine goals over five years with the club. [3] [6] In February 2007, he signed for Cork City on a two-year contract and featured regularly during the latter stages of the 2007 season, making 32 appearances. [3] [7] Financial issues forced Cork City into examinership in Murphy's second season with the club, and he departed when his contract expired at the end of the 2008 season. [3]

Stevenage

Murphy joined Conference Premier club Stevenage on a short-term contract following a successful trial in December 2008. [3] [8] He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Lewes at Broadhall Way [9] [10] and scored his first goal in a 2–1 win against Kettering Town. [10] [11] Murphy made 20 appearances during the 2008–09 season, receiving red cards against Kidderminster Harriers and Cambridge United, [10] the latter was rescinded. [12] This enabled him to feature in the club's 2–0 FA Trophy final victory against York City at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, [10] [13] a competition in which he started six matches. [14] The following season, he played 24 times as Stevenage secured promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history after winning the Conference Premier title. [14] [15]

Murphy began the 2010–11 season by scoring in a 2–1 League Cup defeat to Portsmouth on 9 August 2010, but was substituted at half-time after dislocating his shoulder, ruling him out for a month. [16] [17] [18] In September 2010, he suffered a broken leg playing for Stevenage's reserve team against Colchester United, requiring surgery and initially expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season. [18] He returned on 12 March 2011, playing the first half of a 1–0 away victory over Wycombe Wanderers. [17] [19] Murphy made nine appearances in all competitions that season, scoring once, [17] including three in the League Two play-offs. [17] [20] Following a 3–0 aggregate semi-final win over Accrington Stanley, [21] [22] Stevenage earned promotion to League One with a 1–0 victory against Torquay United in the final at Old Trafford on 28 May 2011, with Murphy coming on as a 57th-minute substitute. [17] [23]

After missing the first half of the 2011–12 season due to a series of injuries, [24] Murphy joined League Two club Aldershot Town on a one-month loan on 10 February 2012. [25] He debuted four days later in a 1–0 home win against Hereford United, Aldershot's first home victory since December 2011, [24] [26] and made two further appearances before returning to Stevenage in March 2012. [24] Persistent hamstring, groin, and ankle injuries prevented him from featuring in the remainder of Stevenage's season. [3] [24] He was released upon the expiry of his contract in May 2012. [27] Murphy made 53 appearances in all competitions during his three years with the club. [14]

Port Vale

Murphy signed a one-year contract with League Two club Port Vale on a free transfer on 2 July 2012. [28] He made his debut from the substitutes' bench on 25 August 2012, replacing Chris Shuker in the 74th minute of a 3–1 victory over Morecambe at the Globe Arena. [29] [30] Murphy struggled with hamstring problems whilst the team moved up to second in the league table in his absence. [31] He eventually made his first start on 20 October 2012, in a 4–1 home victory against Wycombe Wanderers. [29] [32] Upon his return to fitness, he remarked that "if there was a hell for footballers that's what you'd do, sit in the stand watching games injured." [33] Murphy made only his third appearance of the season against Rochdale on 6 November 2012, but after entering the game as a substitute, he was forced off injured after only a few minutes due to a recurrence of his calf injury. [29] [34] He left the club by mutual consent on 8 January 2013. [35]

Return to Non-League

Having initially planned to return to Ireland, Murphy received a contract offer from Conference Premier club Macclesfield Town. [36] He accepted the offer on 31 January 2013, signing a deal lasting until the end of the 2012–13 season. [37] Two weeks into his time at the club, 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. [36]

He returned to Ireland and trained with former club Cork City. Murphy hoped to resume his playing career in England and spoke to Graham Westley, his former manager at Stevenage, who agreed to let him 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". [36] He subsequently signed for Woking of the Conference Premier on 24 September 2013. [38] 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. [39] [40] Murphy made three appearances for Woking before injury curtailed his time at the club. [36] [39]

Return to Ireland

Murphy returned to Cork City on a free transfer on 16 November 2013. [41] He made his first appearance back at the club on 10 March 2014, starting in a 4–0 home victory over Limerick in the League of Ireland Cup. [2] [42] Murphy made five appearances during a season disrupted by injuries, as Cork finished the 2014 season in second place in the League of Ireland Premier Division. [2] [36] [43] He suffered a dislocated shoulder in a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City in July 2014 and informed Cork City manager John Caulfield of his decision to retire from playing following the match. [3] [2]

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, [3] which he accepted, [44] making one appearance late in the 2015 season. [2] Murphy remained at Cobh Ramblers for just over two years, making eight first-team appearances during his second spell with the club. [4] [2] [3] He also played once for Avondale United of the Munster Senior League in April 2017, [2] appearing in a 2–0 League of Ireland Cup defeat to his former employers, Cobh Ramblers, on 4 April 2017. [45] Murphy retired from playing and made the transition into coaching. [36] [46]

Coaching career

During his playing career, Murphy combined his playing role with a position as a community and academy coach at Stevenage in 2011. [4] [3] He also worked as a community coach at Port Vale. He earned his UEFA B Licence in 2017 and was issued his UEFA A Licence in 2019. [4]

Cobh Ramblers

Murphy was appointed as first-team coach at Cobh Ramblers in January 2015, a position he held until October 2016. [4] He was appointed as manager of the club's under-19 team in February 2021. [46] He was named interim manager of the Cobh Ramblers first team until the end of the season on 23 July 2021, following the departure of previous manager Stuart Ashton. [47] He was given the role on a permanent basis on 16 September 2021, signing a contract until the end of the 2023 season. [48] It was announced on 18 June 2022 that Cobh had "amicably agreed to part ways" with Murphy. [49]

Style of play

Murphy was deployed as a midfielder throughout his career. [2] His midfield role was primarily that of 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. [3] [50]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cobh Ramblers LOI First Division 262000000262
LOI First Division232000000232
LOI First Division5000000050
LOI First Division215200000235
Total759200000779
Cork City LOI Premier Division 7120000091
LOI Premier Division221110000232
Total292310000323
Stevenage 2008–09 [56] [57] Conference Premier 12100—8 [c] 0201
2009–10 [57] [58] Conference Premier20010—3 [d] 0240
2010–11 [57] [59] League Two 5000113 [e] 091
2011–12 [57] [60] League One 0000000000
Total3711011140532
Aldershot Town (loan) 2011–12 [60] League Two3000000030
Port Vale 2012–13 [61] League Two3000000030
Macclesfield Town 2012–13 [61] Conference Premier0000—0000
Woking 2013–14 [62] Conference Premier3000—0030
Cork City LOI Premier Division4000100050
Cobh Ramblers LOI First Division1000000010
LOI First Division7000000070
LOI First Division0000000000
Total8000000080
Avondale United Munster Senior League 0000100010
Career totals16212613114018514
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup, FAI Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Football League Cup, League of Ireland Cup
  3. ↑ Six appearances in FA Trophy; two appearances in 2009 Conference Premier play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy
  5. ↑ Appearances in 2011 League Two play-offs

Honours

Stevenage

References

  1. ↑ "Darren Murphy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Soccerway – Darren Murphy". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Linkedin – Darren Murphy". Linkedin. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Darren Murphy – Stevenage F.C." Stevenage F.C. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers seasonal archives". Irish football online. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cork City seasonal archives". Irish football online. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Stevenage sign midfielder Murphy". BBC Sport. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Stevenage 3–0 Lewes". BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Stevenage 2–1 Kettering". BBC Sport. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Murphy cleared to play in second leg". The Comet. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Stevenage 2–0 York". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 "BoroGuide – Match Data – Darren Murphy". BoroGuide. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Stevenage 1–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  18. 1 2 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.
  19. ↑ "Wycombe 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "League Two – 2010–11 – League Table". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Stevenage 2–0 Accrington". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  22. ↑ "Accrington 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  23. 1 2 Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Darren Murphy joins Aldershot on loan". Stevenage F.C. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  26. ↑ "Aldershot 1–0 Hereford". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  27. ↑ "Seven depart as Boro build". Stevenage F.C. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Triple swoop for Adams". Port Vale F.C. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  29. 1 2 3 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  30. ↑ "Morecambe 1–3 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  31. ↑ "Murphy set to claim midfield start". The Sentinel. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  32. ↑ "Port Vale 4–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  33. ↑ "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.
  34. ↑ 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.
  35. ↑ "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.
  36. 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.
  37. ↑ "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.
  38. ↑ "Former 'Double' Winner Joins Woking". Pitchero. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  39. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  40. ↑ "Woking 0–4 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  41. ↑ Kelly, Ryan. "Cork City complete Darren Murphy signing". Goal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  42. ↑ "Cork City 4–0 Limerick". Soccerway. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  43. ↑ "Soccerway – LOI Premier Division 2014". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  44. ↑ "Cobh announce further transfer dealings". Cobh Ramblers F.C. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  45. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers 2–0 Avondale United". Soccerway. 4 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  46. 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.
  47. ↑ "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.
  48. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers appoint Murphy as permanent manager · The42". 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  49. ↑ "Club Statement". Cobh Ramblers F.C. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  50. ↑ "BoroGuide – Biography – Darren Murphy". BoroGuide. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. 1 2 3 4 "Darren Murphy – Midfield – Player Profile". BoroGuide. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  61. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Darren Murphy in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  63. ↑ "Kidderminster 0–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  64. ↑ "Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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