Stevie Murray might be the SFL’s smallest player at five foot three inches tall however, he stood tall in the SPL for six seasons, helped Dumbarton win a Third Division Championship and he is now looking to use the freedom of Ochilview to shoot down his old mates.
The first step that 27-year-old Murray took to wearing the maroon of the Warriors involved wearing green and white hoops, before a trial game in black and white stripes gave him the chance to wear blue and white stripes in the SPL.
Murray explained how his career started, “I was a schoolboy signing at Celtic from the age of 14 to 16 however, they gave me the chance to join Newcastle United and I was on trial for a six week period. During that time, we played a game against Kilmarnock and Bobby Williamson, who was the Manager there, asked me to join them if nothing happened with either Celtic or Newcastle.
“That is how things worked out and I joined Killie making my debut for them on the 1st December, 2001. I went on against Dundee United in a game that Kilmarnock won 2-0. I set up one of the goals and it was a great day for me.”
Williamson was to depart Rugby Park fairly soon afterwards for the Manager’s job at Hibernian with Murray saying, “Bobby left in February 2002 but I stayed on for a few years. I ended up playing over 100 games for Kilmarnock and I scored three times. Like in my debut, I have always enjoyed setting goals up more than scoring them.”
Murray was on the fringes of the action at Kilmarnock under Jim Jefferies in season 2006/2007 and he took the chance of a loan move to get playing again.
He explained, “I went out to Queen of the South on loan in January 2007 under Ian McCall to help them stay in the First Division. That was achieved and I would like to think I played a part and when Ian moved on to Partick Thistle in the summer, I left Kilmarnock to join him at Firhill.”
The early days of Murray’s career in Maryhill went according to plan with McCall’s then new recruit saying, “Things started really well at Thistle and I was playing in all the opening games. The shape of the team was then changed and that did away with the necessity of a winger and I drifted out of the things. I was a substitute a lot towards the end of my time there, so I decided to move on.”
Murray joked, “In saying that, I am probably not a winger these days as I have been pushed further back the pitch the older I get!”
Murray then made the decision to drop down two divisions to join a Dumbarton side that had just finished the season in second last place in the Third Division. He was attracted to the Strathclyde Homes Stadium club by the vision created by the Sons.
“I joined Dumbarton based on the pitch the club gave me in the summer of 2008,” said Murray before adding, “They painted a very ambitious picture of the club and I was delighted to join.
“We achieved the first aim of the plan there by winning the Third Division title at Annan in 2009 and then kept that going by securing our place in the Second Division last season.”
After a season of stabilisation, Murray thought he would be remaining a Son. However, that is not how things turned out with the wide-man having to look out for another side to join.
He said, “Eyebrows were raised at the end of last season as a lot of players were not offered contracts. From a personal point of view, it was disappointing as I wanted to be part of a Dumbarton team that moved onto the next level of competing at the top of the Second Division.
“I had enough confidence in my ability that I could do a job but I was not offered anything so I had to find a new club.”
Murray was hurt by the ending of his time at Strathclyde Homes Stadium and one of the reasons is because of the team spirit that was built following the tragic death of club captain Gordon Lennon just weeks after lifting the Third Division title.
“Gordon’s death was a massive shock to our system but it brought the team closer together,” explained Murray. He added, “It was a real tragedy but I am sure it helped us stay in the Second Division.
“His family came to watch us in every game and we were determined not to let them down. They still go to the games and I saw them when I was there with Stenhousemuir last month.”
Murray was not alone in looking for a new pitch to play on saying, “It was really frustrating not to be offered a new deal but there was a lot of players in the same boat. Mick Dunlop, who was the fans Player of the Year, and Ross Clark, who is now with me at Stenhousemuir, were also not offered anything and a lot of other guys left as well.
“Chris Smith, Dennis Wyness, David Winters and Jan Vojacek all moved on so it was certainly a transition at Dumbarton.”
A new employer was quickly found with Murray moving to Larbert as he explains, “Within two weeks, I was sorted as John Coughlin took me to Stenhousemuir. I had heard a few whispers that John liked me as a player and I was pleased to learn that was the case and I was happy to sign on at Ochilview.”
There was another reason Murray was pleased to sign and it is a false one as he commented, “The artificial surface suits my game and not a lot of players say that. You have to be sharp and be able to play a lot of football on the surface and I like that.”
Murray’s new club made the headlines back in August as they defeated First Division Dundee heavily in The ALBA Challenge Cup Second Round and things were looking bright. However, it has been a bit of an up and down season since.
Murray said, “The season got off to a flyer with the 4-1 win over Dundee. That was a brilliant night, made even better as I got the Man of the Match Award.
“We started like a train and that caught Dundee cold as I think they thought they would be able to stroll through the game.
“We were two up and cruising early on and then they came back into things. They had a couple of chances however, Chris McCluskey was excellent in our goal. It was great to be part of that game although we have not hit the same heights since.
“Inconsistency in our play is really annoying and I have seen us play poorly and pick up points and also play well and not get anything. We need to get a high level of performance and keep at that level.”
One game against East Fife saw inconsistency within the 90 minutes as the Warriors were one down early in the second half only for Murray to grab a point as he gave an inspired performance that Manager Coughlin described as ‘The Stevie Murray Show.’
Coughlin felt that praise was due and Murray has not been allowed to forget his Manager’s pat on the head by his team-mates.
He said, “We clawed ourselves back into that game and then the boss made that comment. You can imagine what the boys in the dressing room have been saying since then. Every training session someone asks how ‘The Stevie Murray Show’ was and that kind of thing.
“To be fair to the Manager he loves football and likes skilful players. Andy Stirling is the same and we both just want the ball all the time whether it is at right back or right wing. I get that freedom which makes playing here an enjoyable experience.”
Dumbarton are Stenhousemuir’s opponent’s this weekend and it will be a strange experience for Murray if the game goes the same way as the first encounter that Dumbarton won 1-0.
Murray explained, “I met a couple of Dumbarton fans before the game down there and they were great. They told me it was good to get a chance to say cheerio and thanked me for what I had done at Dumbarton and that was nice.
“Once I got on the park, it was different and the fans were shouting all sorts. It was strange getting abused as I had not turned Dumbarton down or anything such like. Football fans are like that and it is water off a ducks back to me.”
Small in size but big in heart, Murray said, “When I was at Kilmarnock, I once had the entire Govan Stand at Ibrox shouting ‘Frodo’ at me because of my size. Once that happens to you, there is not much else to be said.
“There are more important things in life to worry about than jokes about my height.”
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