David Murray (footballer, born 1882) explained

David Murray
Fullname:David Bruce Murray
Birth Date:4 December 1882
Birth Place:Cathcart, Scotland
Death Place:Loos-en-Gohelle, France
Height:[1]
Position:Full-back
Years1:1902–1903
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1903–1904
Clubs2:Everton
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:1904–1905
Clubs3:Liverpool
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:1905–1909
Clubs4:Leeds City
Caps4:83
Goals4:7
Years5:1909–1910
Clubs5:Mexborough Town
Years6:1910–1911
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:1911–1913
Clubs7:Mexborough Town
Years8:1913–1915
Clubs8:Frickley Colliery

David Bruce Murray (4 December 1882 – 10 December 1915) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full-back in the Football League for Leeds City, Liverpool and Everton.[2] He also played non-League football for Mexborough Town and Frickley Colliery. He played for Liverpool as the club won successive Second Division and First Division titles in 1904–05 and 1905–06. He went on to serve in the Army during World War I and was killed in the Battle of Loos.

Career

Murray began his career in Scotland before joining Everton for the 1903–04 season, making two First Division appearances.[3] He then switched clubs to Liverpool and made 12 appearances for the "Reds" in the 1904–05 season to help the club to win promotion as champions of the Second Division. He played just three games in the 1905–06 season as Liverpool won the First Division title. He joined Leeds City for a £130 fee in December 1905, with the Liverpool Daily Post predicting that he "should be a capital acquisition to Leeds".[4] He scored two goals in 25 games in the second half of the 1905–06 season, and was named as captain for the 1906–07 campaign. He scored three goals in 36 appearances during the 1907–08 season but lost his first-team place in the 1908–09 season. He went on to play amateur football for Mexborough Town in the Midland League and Frickley Colliery in the Sheffield Association League.

Personal life

Murray worked as a miner in Mexborough.[5] In early September 1914, three weeks after the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted as a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He took part in the battles of Hill 70 and Loos and was killed during the latter on 10 December 1915.[6] [7] Murray is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton1903–04First Division20000020
Liverpool1904–05Second Division1200000120
1905–06First Division30000030
Total1500000150
Leeds City1905–06Second Division2322000252
1906–07Second Division2322100253
1907–08Second Division3422100363
1908–09Second Division30000030
Total8376200899

Honours

Liverpool

1904–05

1905–06

Notes and References

  1. News: Hanssen . Kjell . 8 December 1905 . Murray heads for Leeds . The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . 21 September 2016.
  2. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 978-1905891610 . Nottingham . 214.
  3. Web site: Liverpool career stats for David Murray - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! . 21 September 2016 . lfchistory.net.
  4. News: Hanssen . Kjell . 8 December 1905 . Murray leaves Liverpool . Liverpool Daily Post . 21 September 2016.
  5. Web site: The Fallen of Everton Football Club & Everton de Viña del Mar, Chile . 24 August 2020 . 3.
  6. Web site: David Bruce Murray Service Record Football and the First World War . 15 January 2016 . Football and the First World War.
  7. News: 21 December 1915 . Murray killed in action . Newcastle Journal . 24 August 2020 . lfchistory.net.