Sean Murray (footballer, born 1993)

Sean Murray

Murray training with Watford in 2014
Personal information
Full name Sean Michael Murray[1]
Date of birth (1993-10-11) 11 October 1993
Place of birth Abbots Langley, England[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Swindon
Number 22
Youth career
2002–2010 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2016 Watford 85 (14)
2015 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 7 (0)
2016– Swindon Town 9 (1)
National team‡
2009–2010 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 10 (1)
2012–2014 Republic of Ireland U21 11 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 October 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 October 2013

Sean Michael Murray (born 11 October 1993) is a professional association footballer who plays as a midfielder for Swindon. Murray was born in the town of Watford and progressed through the club's academy. Murray has represented the Republic of Ireland national team at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.[3][4]

Club career

Watford

Born in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, Murray joined Watford's youth system in 2002, aged nine,[5] he went to Queens' School, Hertfordshire, but left and went to Harefield Academy in 2007 as part of the initial intake where Watford youth players are developed. Despite interest from Manchester City, Murray signed his first professional contract with Watford in July 2010, although due to Football Association regulations, it did not take effect until his 17th birthday.[6] Murray made his debut for the Hornets as a substitute in a Football League Championship game against QPR at Vicarage Road on 30 April 2011. Watford were defeated 2–0, a result that secured the Championship title for QPR.[7] He made his first start the following week, away to already-relegated Preston North End.[8] Manager Malky Mackay left Watford at the end of the season. Under his successor, Sean Dyche, Murray's only first-team involvement in the first half of the 2011–12 season was as a 90th-minute substitute against Nottingham Forest.[9]

Sean Murray playing for Watford in 2012

Murray was a surprise inclusion in Watford's starting eleven in their FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur on 27 January 2012.[10] He came close to scoring, hitting the post in the second half, but Watford were eventually defeated 1–0.[11] Murray retained his place in the team, and scored his first professional goal three weeks later, with a deflected free kick in a 3–2 victory for Watford against Leicester City.[9][12] Murray continued to play regularly for the rest of the season; his good form, scoring four goals in seven games, led to him winning the Football League's Young Player of the Month Award for March.[5] His popularity with supporters earned him his own song, with the words "That boy Sean Murray, he's one of our own".[13] Murray won Watford's Young Player of the Season Award at the End of Season Awards Dinner after his great form since his introduction to the first-team.[14]

Wigan Athletic (loan)

On 5 August 2015, Murray moved on loan to League One side Wigan Athletic on an initial one-month loan deal, later extended to January 2016.[15] He scored his first goal for Wigan in a 4–0 win over Blackpool in the Football League Trophy.

Murray's loan with Wigan was cut short on 16 December 2015, and the midfielder returned to Watford.[16]

International career

Although born in England, Murray qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his Irish grandparents.[17] He declared for and represented the latter country at under-17 level, and played for Ireland at the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.[13] In the summer of 2012, Murray was called up to both the Republic of Ireland's under-19 and under-21 squads.

Club statistics

Statistics correct as of 16 December 2015.[9]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Watford 2010–11 200000—20
2011–12 1871000—197
2012–13 151001000161
2013–14 3432132—396
2014–15 601020—90
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2015–16 7000001181
Career total 82114162119315

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 25. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 548. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ↑ "Under 17 player profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Smith, Frank (10 February 2011). "Watford scholar Adam Thompson makes full Northern Ireland debut and Marvin Sordell scores for England Under-20s". Watford Observer. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  5. 1 2 Osborne, Chris (16 April 2012). "Watford's Sean Murray wins Football League young player award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Matthews, Anthony (28 July 2010). "Watford fend off Manchester City bid to keep highly-rated youngster". Watford Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  7. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (30 April 2011). "Watford 0–2 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "Preston 3 – 1 Watford". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "Sean Murray". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Ridge, Joe (17 March 2012). "Talent scout: Sean Murray". Mail Online. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Rostance, Tom (27 January 2012). "Watford 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Watford 3–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  13. 1 2 Smith, Frank (13 March 2012). "Watford starlet Sean Murray believes he wouldn't be playing as well if it wasn't for team-mates". This is Local London. Newsquest. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "2011/12 Awards: Young Player of the Season". Watford Football Club. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Wigan Athletic: Kevin McNaughton & Watford's Sean Murray join". 5 August 2015 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ↑ "Sean Murray back at Watford after Wigan loan deal cut short".
  17. ↑ "Irish U19 squad profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012.
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