Members News: Former Sky Blues Irish I.F. Is 69 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Donal!!

Donal Murphy

The Association sends Birthday Greetings to its member, former Sky Blue No.10 Donal Murphy.

Born in Dublin on 23rd February 1955 Donal is celebrating his 69th birthday today and joined the Association in 2009. An Ireland Schools and Youth International, Donal came up through the apprenticeship system at Highfield Road turning professional in August 1972.

He was part of the team that won the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup for City in 1972. Homesick, he had a brief loan spell back in his homeland with Shamrock Rovers from October 1973 before returning to CCFC in March 1975 and making his debut at inside left in a 1-1 draw at the Boleyn ground against West Ham United on the 8th November 1975

Donal in Sky Blue action

Donal was largely used as a squad player ready to fill in for fellow CCFPA members Ian Wallace or Alan Green when they could not play.

In all Donal wore the Sky Blue shirt in 43 League and seven F.A.Cup games netting ten times in the League and once each in the F.A.Cup and League Cups before moving to Torquay United on a free in May 1978 (though he also had a loan spell at Millwall in October 1977). At the seaside club he made nearly a century of appearances and scored 22 goals. His subsequent career involved a £65k transfer to Plymouth Argyle in June 1980 (54 appearances – 11 goals), a loan back at Torquay United‘s Plainmoor in December 1981 (three apps.), and a spell at Blackburn Rovers (three apps.) from February 1982.

Donal finished his career back in Ireland with the likes of Drogheda United (loan) October 1982, Bohemians (loan) March 1983, Drogheda (again) in close season 1983 and finally University College Dublin in close season 1984. He received an FAI Cup Runners up medal in 1984!

We hope you have a wonderful birthday today Donal and would love to see you back in Coventry for a CCFPA event whenever you can make it and conditions allow!