Sean Murray (footballer, born 1993)
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sean Michael Murray[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Watford | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2010 | Watford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010– | Watford | 18 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2009–2010 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2011– | Republic of Ireland U19 | 10 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 April 2012 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 April 2012 (UTC) | |||
Sean Michael Murray (born 11 October 1993) is an Irish association footballer. He plays as a midfielder for Watford in the Football League Championship, having been 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 and under-19 levels.[2][3]
Club career
Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, Murray joined Watford's academy at the age of nine.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] He made his first start the following week, away to already-relegated Preston North End.[7] 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.[8]
Murray was a surprise inclusion in Watford's starting eleven in their FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur on 27 January 2012.[9] He came close to scoring, hitting the post in the second half, but Watford were eventually defeated 1–0.[10] 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.[8][11] 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.[4] His popularity with supporters earned him his own song, with the words "That boy Sean Murray, he's one of our own".[12]
International career
Although born in England, Murray qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his Irish grandparents.[13] 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.[12]
Club statistics
Statistics correct as of 18 April 2012.[8]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Watford | 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Watford | 2011–12 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| Career totals | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | |
References
- ^ "Search 1761 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ "Under 17 player profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Osborne, Chris (16 April 2012). "Watford's Sean Murray wins Football League young player award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Matthews, Anthony (28 July 2010). "Watford fend off Manchester City bid to keep highly-rated youngster". Watford Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (30 April 2011). "Watford 0–2 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ "Preston 3 – 1 Watford". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "Sean Murray". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ Ridge, Joe (17 March 2012). "Talent scout: Sean Murray". Mail Online. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Rostance, Tom (27 January 2012). "Watford 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Watford 3–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Irish U19 squad profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012.
External links
- Sean Murray at Soccerbase
- Sean Murray profile at watfordfc.com
- Sean Murray – UEFA competition record (archive)