As a schoolboy, Bill “Spud” Murphy had the speed and endurance not only to excel at cross-country but to be in demand by pigeon-fanciers for conveying, on foot to the officials, the birds’ time of arrival. When Peasley Cross Harriers, his athletic club in St Helens, were disbanded at that start of the First World War, Bill took up football, coming through the junior ranks, including a spell at Liverpool, to join Manchester City towards the end of the War, turning pro in time for the resumption of competitive football in 1919. He became a First Division regular on City’s left wing until 1925, but seldom featured in their relegation season of 1925-26. After which, he moved to Second Division Southampton, where he was soon impressing the Echo as being

“cute, quick and clever”.

From the start of the 1926-27 season until the beginning of March 1928, Spud seldom missed a League game and played throughout the run to the 1927 FA Cup semi-final. Indeed, his performances were so striking that the Irish FA enquired as to whether he might be among the Irish-born Murphys. But then it all went wrong. From now on, he would be Stan Cribb’s stand-in, making only seven more appearances through to the end of 1928-29. And so he was transferred to Oldham, with Reg Watson moving in the opposite direction. That didn’t help Bill’s cause. After featuring only twice for Oldham in the Second Division, he made but three appearances in two seasons with Third North Tranmere, before winding down his career, non-league. In 1939 he was a general labourer in a Warehouse Bottle works in St Helens.