Hugh Murray (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Hugh 'Shuggie' Murray is a Scottish professional footballer
who is currently playing for Scottish Premier League
side St Mirren
. He came through the youth ranks at St. Mirren and celebrated his testimonial year in 2007.
towards the end of the 1996-97 season
. The following season, he soon became an established member of the side. At the end of that season, Saints were flirting with relegation to Scottish Second Division (which would be a financial disaster for the club). The club travelled to face fellow strugglers Stirling Albion
and Murray netted a goal in the top corner to win the match.
In the 1999-00 season, Murray played a major part in the Scottish First Division Title triumph. One outstanding occasion was in the 8-0 drubbing of Clydebank
, who were soon liquidated. Murray ran towards the edge of the 18-yard box to control the ball with his head. He not only did this, but managed to juggle the ball on his head past the defense, then stroke the ball past the keeper.
After a close season spell away from Love Street in 2001, Murray decided to return to Saints once again for the start of the next season and in the 2005-06 season
his decision was vindicated when he became the first ever St. Mirren player to get three winners medals in national competitions when he added the Scottish Challenge Cup and another First Division
title medal to his medal from 2000.
In the 2007-08 season
, Murray was made St Mirren's club captain
following the departure of Kevin McGowne
. Unfortunately though, some below par performances saw him drift from the team somewhat, though he did still start 30 games over the season. Murray lost the captain's armband to John Potter for the 2008-09 season
. During the season, Murray has played in a defensive midfield role, with performances earning him some acclaim, showing he may well have more to offer at St. Mirren.
Murray was inducted into the St Mirren Hall of Fame in 2006 at the age of just 27 and in season 2007-08 he made his 300th start against Falkirk in a 1-0 win at the Falkirk Stadium
. On 24 October 2009, he scored his first 2 goals in over 2 years against Motherwell F.C.
.
He holds the record of most league appearances for a St Mirren player, currently at 459 appearances.
but did play three times at U21 level
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who is currently playing for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side St Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. He came through the youth ranks at St. Mirren and celebrated his testimonial year in 2007.
Club career
Murray broke into the St. Mirren side under Tony FitzpatrickTony Fitzpatrick (footballer)
Anthony "Tony" Fitzpatrick is a Scottish former football player and manager. He made a record 351 league appearances for St. Mirren in two spells, playing for Bristol City in the two intervening seasons. His record has since been beaten by Hugh Murray.Fitzpatrick was made captain of St...
towards the end of the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in Scottish football
The 1996–97 season was the 100th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen a playoff system introduced between the 2nd bottom club in the Premier Division and the 2nd top club in Division One.-Scottish Premier Division:...
. The following season, he soon became an established member of the side. At the end of that season, Saints were flirting with relegation to Scottish Second Division (which would be a financial disaster for the club). The club travelled to face fellow strugglers Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
and Murray netted a goal in the top corner to win the match.
In the 1999-00 season, Murray played a major part in the Scottish First Division Title triumph. One outstanding occasion was in the 8-0 drubbing of Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
, who were soon liquidated. Murray ran towards the edge of the 18-yard box to control the ball with his head. He not only did this, but managed to juggle the ball on his head past the defense, then stroke the ball past the keeper.
After a close season spell away from Love Street in 2001, Murray decided to return to Saints once again for the start of the next season and in the 2005-06 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
his decision was vindicated when he became the first ever St. Mirren player to get three winners medals in national competitions when he added the Scottish Challenge Cup and another First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
title medal to his medal from 2000.
In the 2007-08 season
2007-08 in Scottish football
The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
, Murray was made St Mirren's club captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
following the departure of Kevin McGowne
Kevin McGowne
Kevin McGowne is a Scottish former professional footballer.Nicknamed "Big Kev", McGowne is a defender who began his career at St. Mirren in 1991...
. Unfortunately though, some below par performances saw him drift from the team somewhat, though he did still start 30 games over the season. Murray lost the captain's armband to John Potter for the 2008-09 season
2008-09 in Scottish football
The 2008–09 season was the 112th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Hamilton Academical competed in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first season in the top-flight since the 1988–89 season, after being promoted as First Division champions the...
. During the season, Murray has played in a defensive midfield role, with performances earning him some acclaim, showing he may well have more to offer at St. Mirren.
Murray was inducted into the St Mirren Hall of Fame in 2006 at the age of just 27 and in season 2007-08 he made his 300th start against Falkirk in a 1-0 win at the Falkirk Stadium
Falkirk Stadium
The Falkirk Stadium is a football stadium in Falkirk in central Scotland, which plays host to the home matches of Falkirk F.C. although the stadium itself sits partly within the boundaries of the neighbouring town of Grangemouth...
. On 24 October 2009, he scored his first 2 goals in over 2 years against Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
He holds the record of most league appearances for a St Mirren player, currently at 459 appearances.
International career
Murray has never been capped by the Scotland national teamScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
but did play three times at U21 level
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
.
Career statistics
Correct as of 215 April 2011| Club | |League | |League Cup | |Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| St Mirren | 1997–98 1997-98 in Scottish football The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland. Celtic halted Rangers in their bid for a record 10-in-a-row.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:... |
28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| 1998–99 1998-99 in Scottish football The 1998–99 season was the 102nd season of Scottish league football.-Summary:The 1998–99 SPL season was one that ended in success for Rangers. Dutchman Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Walter Smith at Rangers and made major changes, bringing in many players.Rangers were... |
29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 1999–00 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 5 | |
| 2000–01 2000-01 in Scottish football The 2000–01 season was the 104th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2000–01 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic, 15 points clear of Rangers who finished second. Both teams earned a place in the UEFA Champions League. Hibernian and Kilmarnock... |
23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| 2001–02 2001-02 in Scottish football The 2001–02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:Celtic, domestic treble winners a year earlier, retain their Premier League title.... |
32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 2002-03 in Scottish football The 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and... |
15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2003–04 2003-04 in Scottish football The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA... |
30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2004–05 2004-05 in Scottish football The 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman... |
31 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 2005-06 in Scottish football The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill... |
29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 2006-07 in Scottish football The 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and... |
31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 2007-08 in Scottish football The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic... |
29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 2008-09 in Scottish football The 2008–09 season was the 112th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Hamilton Academical competed in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first season in the top-flight since the 1988–89 season, after being promoted as First Division champions the... |
30 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 2 | |
| 2010–11 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Total | 395 | 15 | 30 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 457 | 17 | |
| Career total | 395 | 15 | 30 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 457 | 17 | |
Honours
St Mirren
Scottish First DivisionScottish Football League First DivisionThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
: 2
-
- 2000, 20062005-06 in Scottish footballThe 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
- Scottish Challenge Cup: 1
- 20052005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final-References:...
- 2000, 2006