CCFC Old Boys News: Joe Murphy Becomes Tranmere’s GK Coach

Posted by · Leave a Comment 

Joe Murphy (Tranmere Rovers)

We were pleased to see that former Sky Blue ‘keeper Joe Murphy who has been with Tranmere Rovers since the beginning of the 2020-21 season has signed a new contract with the club with an extended role, that of goalkeeping coach! The shot-stopper made a ‘Rovers return’ in August 2020 after previously spending four seasons with the club from 1998-2002.  Last season apparently Joe kept nine clean sheets in 17 appearances, conceding just ten goals helping to steer Tranmere to the best defensive record in the EFL! Towards the end of his 24 year playing career, Joe has also recently set up a goalkeeping academy on The Wirral. 

Sky Blue Joe Murphy in 2012

After signing his new contract Joe told the Rovers’ website: “I’m delighted. I love being back here and I just want to repay the Club who have done so much for me. I’ve always wanted to be a coach and I’ve always analysed goalkeepers so I feel this is a natural progression for me. I’m still registered as a player and still want to play as much as I can and push whoever is going to be here. I think everything we’ve got here is driven towards success so I’m looking forward to working with the manager and the staff to hopefully have a successful season”

Born in Dublin (and with a couple of RoI Full Caps to his name) Joe started out at Tranmere in 1998 and in four seasons there made 75 appearances before moving on to Premier League West Bromwich Albion in 2002. Only making seven first team appearances at the Baggies he spent most of his three seasons as an understudy and spent the 2004-05 season on loan (27 appearances) at Walsall plus another sixteen there on loan in 2005-06 whilst a Sunderland player (no first team games on offer). For the next five seasons (2006-11) at Scunthorpe United Joe became first choice ‘keeper and had pulled on the Scunny shirt 227 times before joining the Sky Blues then a Championship side!

Kevin Heffernan presents Joe with CCFC Irish Supporters Club PoS award 2014

On 30th June 2011, joined Coventry City on a free for a three-year deal. He made his debut in a home game against Leicester City on the 7th August 2011 but sadly the season saw the Sky Blues relegated to League One. He remained first choice goalie throughout his CCFC career and was always seen as an effective shotstopper even when the club was struggling. He won several supporters’ accolades whilst with CCFC (see pic right).

At the end of his contract, with City still in League One, after 156 outings, Joe moved on to Hudderfield Town in summer 2014. There, over three seasons Joe got only fourteen first team games with the Terriers plus some loan outings at Chesterfield (an emergency loan) and Bury. The Lancashire side obviously liked the look of him and signed Joe permanantly for an additional two seasons in 2017. By the time he left Gigg Lane for Shrewsbury Town in summer 2019 Joe had clocked up 86 games for the Shakers.

After a season (2019-20) with the Shrews and a dozen games Joe moved to Merseyside with current club Tranmere Rovers where, to date, he has made 41 appearances between the sticks for a career total to date of 666 matches!

We wish Joe well in his enhanced role with the Rovers. Held in good respect by the Sky Blue family Joe would be a welcome adition to the Association ranks should he choose to join us!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

Share Post

Comments

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...


*
= 3 + 9