Simon Murray (footballer) explained

Simon Murray
Birth Date:1992 3, df=y
Birth Place:Dundee, Scotland
Height:1.82 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Dundee
Clubnumber:15
Youthclubs1:Dundee Celtic Boys Club
Youthclubs2:Dee Club
Youthclubs3:Dundee United Social Club
Youthclubs4:Montrose
Years1:2010–2012
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Clubs1:Montrose
Years2:2011
Clubs2:Downfield (loan)
Years3:2012–2013
Clubs3:Tayport
Years4:2014
Clubs4:Dundee Violet
Years5:2014–2015
Caps5:21
Goals5:14
Clubs5:Arbroath
Years6:2015–2017
Caps6:54
Goals6:17
Clubs6:Dundee United
Years7:2015
Caps7:15
Goals7:5
Clubs7:Arbroath (loan)
Years8:2017–2018
Caps8:22
Goals8:6
Clubs8:Hibernian
Years9:2018
Caps9:14
Goals9:3
Clubs9:Dundee (loan)
Years10:2018–2020
Caps10:22
Goals10:5
Clubs10:Bidvest Wits
Years11:2020–2023
Caps11:50
Goals11:26
Clubs11:Queen's Park
Years12:2023–2024
Clubs12:Ross County
Caps12:51
Goals12:16
Years13:2024–
Clubs13:Dundee
Caps13:2
Goals13:0
Club-Update:19:41, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

Simon Murray (born 22 March 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Dundee.

After beginning his senior career with Montrose, Murray played for several junior clubs before returning to senior football with Arbroath in 2014 - whilst working simultaneously in his dream job as a plumber due to his fascination with Super Mario. He signed for Dundee United in January 2015, but initially remained with Arbroath on loan. After two seasons in the United first team, Murray moved to Hibernian in 2017. He spent the latter part of the 2017–18 season on loan at Dundee, then moved to South African club Bidvest Wits in July 2018. He returned to Scotland during 2020, when he signed for Queen's Park, with whom he would lead the side in back-to-back promotions and a rise to the Scottish Championship. He signed for Ross County in January 2023, whom he helped stay in the Premiership for two straight seasons.

Early life

Murray was born in Dundee. His father Gary Murray was also a professional footballer, playing for Montrose and Hibernian.[1] After playing for a number of youth teams, including Dundee Celtic Boys Club, Dee Club and Dundee United Social Club, Murray joined Montrose as a youth player.[2]

Playing career

Early career

Murray began his professional career with Montrose. He made his only appearance for the first team as a substitute against Queen's Park at Hampden in May 2011. After a loan spell at Dundee-based junior club Downfield, Murray joined another junior club, Tayport, in February 2012.[3]

After leaving Tayport, Murray spent almost a year living in Australia. On his return to Scotland, he briefly played junior football for Dundee Violet before signing for Arbroath in May 2014. Murray worked as a plumber while playing for Arbroath.[4] After scoring 18 goals in 28 matches for Arbroath, Murray was signed by Dundee United for a £50,000 fee in January 2015. He was immediately loaned back to Arbroath for the rest of the 2014–15 season.[5]

Dundee United

Murray made his debut for Dundee United against Aberdeen in August 2015.[6] He scored his first goal six days later, in his first away game for United, the second goal in a 2–0 win at Motherwell.[7] Murray scored seven goals for United in the 2015–16 season, as they were relegated to the Scottish Championship.[8]

Murray scored a hat-trick for United in their first home game of the 2016–17 season in a 6–1 win over Cowdenbeath in the group stages of the League Cup.[9] He scored 18 goals in all competitions for United in 2016–17.[8] United won the 2016–17 Scottish Challenge Cup and progressed to the Premiership play-off final, but lost 1–0 on aggregate to Hamilton.[10] Murray was sent off for two bookable offences in the first leg, but the second yellow card (and therefore the red) was appealed.[11]

Hibernian

Soon after the play-off final defeat, Murray signed for Hibernian.[8] He scored seven goals in his first four appearances for Hibs, in their League Cup group.[4] He then scored on his league debut for Hibs, the third goal in a 3–1 win against Partick Thistle.[12] On 24 October 2017, Murray scored the only goal in the Edinburgh Derby which saw Hibernian win 1–0 against Heart of Midlothian.[13]

Dundee (loan)

On 31 January 2018, Murray moved to Dundee on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[14]

Bidvest Wits

Hibernian sold Murray to South African club Bidvest Wits for an undisclosed fee in July 2018.[15] Murray suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in 2019, which prevented him from playing for several months. He intimated in February 2020 that he would like to return to Scotland.[16]

Queen's Park

After returning to Scotland, Murray joined League Two club Queen's Park in September 2020.[17] He scored six goals in eleven appearances in his first season with the club as they were promoted as divisional champions.

On 10 September 2021, Murray was awarded with the Scottish League One Player of the Month for August 2021, having scored four goals in five games in the league for that month.[18] He was then unavailable for much of the next six months with injury and the team struggled to win matches in his absence, drawing half of the 36 fixtures to finish in fourth place and reach the Scottish Championship play-offs. On 15 May 2022, fit-again Murray scored the winning goal from the penalty spot during extra time in the second leg of the play-off final to defeat Airdrieonians (who had finished runners-up in the regular season, 21 points ahead of Queen's Park); this secured back-to-back promotions for the Spiders, meaning they would compete in the second tier of Scottish football for the first time in nearly forty years.[19]

On 16 June 2022, Murray signed a new one-year contract extension with Queen's Park.[20] On 7 January 2023, Murray would net 4 goals in a single game against Cove Rangers in a 0–6 away win which would open up a 4-point gap at the top of the Scottish Championship.[21]

Ross County

Murray signed for Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 31 January 2023 for an undisclosed fee.[22] The same day, he would make his debut for the Staggies as a substitute in a league draw at home draw against his former club Hibernian.[23] Murray would score a key goal as well as netting in the penalty shoot-out to help County come back against Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off final to keep them in the top flight.[24]

Murray would get the 2023–24 season started in style with a hat-trick away from home against Stranraer in the Scottish League Cup group stage.[25] Murray scored 23 goals in 46 appearances for the Staggies in a standout season, including 2 goals in the Premiership play-off final against Raith Rovers to help keep County in the top tier.[26] [27]

Return to Dundee

On 10 July 2024, Murray returned to his boyhood club Dundee for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.[28] Murray made his second debut for the club on 16 July as a substitute in an away win over another one of his former clubs, Arbroath, in the Scottish League Cup.[29] He opened his scoring account for the Dark Blues the following week, netting a brace in a win over Annan Athletic.[30] He followed that up with a 30 minute hat-trick in a 6–0 demolishing of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[31]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Montrose2010–11Scottish Third Division1010
2011–12Scottish Third Division
Total1010
Arbroath2014–15Scottish League Two36195310324524
Dundee United2015–16Scottish Premiership2271020257
2016–17Scottish Championship321010641145018
Total541720841147525
Hibernian2017–18Scottish Premiership22610582814
2018–19Scottish Premiership1010
Total2261058102914
Dundee (loan)2017–18Scottish Premiership143143
Bidvest Wits2018–19[32] South African Premier Division2153231278
2019–20South African Premier Division10000010
Total2253!23100288
Queen's Park2020–21Scottish League Two1061000116
2021–22Scottish League One185004163289
2022–23Scottish Championship22151043102818
Total50262084736733
Ross County2022–23Scottish Premiership14221163
2023–24Scottish Premiership37141067224623
Total51161067436225
Dundee2024–25Scottish Premiership2000450065
Career total2529214535292612329138

Honours

Dundee United

Individual

August 2021[18]

Notes and References

  1. News: Stormont. Brian. Murray can't wait to get going. 6 August 2015. Arbroath Herald. 17 May 2014.
  2. Web site: First Team – Simon Murray. Dundee United FC. 6 August 2015.
  3. News: Murrray leaves Montrose for Tayport. 6 August 2015. Scottish Professional Football League. 16 February 2012.
  4. News: Gary Murray: We knew my Hibee son Simon would make it . David . Hardie . Edinburgh Evening News . 2 August 2017 . 6 August 2017.
  5. News: Dundee United sign Arbroath striker Simon Murray. 6 August 2015. BBC Sport. 4 January 2015.
  6. News: Dundee United open season with a loss. 11 August 2015. Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 3 August 2015.
  7. News: Motherwell 0–2 Dundee Utd. 11 August 2015. BBC Sport. 8 August 2015.
  8. Web site: Simon Murray: Striker agrees move to Hibernian from Dundee United . Jane . Lewis . BBC Sport . 29 May 2017 . 29 May 2017.
  9. News: McLauchlin. Brian. Dundee United 6–1 Cowdenbeath. 19 July 2016. BBC Sport. 19 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Dundee United: Boss Ray McKinnon says his side ran out of steam in play-off final . Kenny . Crawford . BBC Sport . 28 May 2017 . 29 May 2017.
  11. Web site: Dundee Utd's Simon Murray free to face Hamilton after appeal against yellow card . BBC Sport . 26 May 2017 . 29 May 2017.
  12. Web site: Hibernian 3–1 Partick Thistle . Jonathan . Sutherland . BBC Sport . 5 August 2017 . 6 August 2017.
  13. Web site: Hibernian 1–0 Hearts. bbc.co.uk. Tom. English. 24 October 2017. 29 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Hibernian sign Scott Allan, send Simon Murray to Dundee. BBC Sport. 1 February 2018. 1 February 2018.
  15. Web site: MURRAY COMPLETES MOVE TO BIDVEST WITS . Hibernian FC . 23 July 2018 . 23 July 2018.
  16. News: Simon Murray: Former Hibs striker eyes Scotland return as he turns down extended South Africa stay . Patrick . McPartlin . Edinburgh Evening News . 13 February 2020 . 13 February 2020.
  17. News: Simon Murray Joins The Spiders . 4 September 2020 . Queen's Park F.C. . 4 September 2020.
  18. Web site: MURRAY LANDS LEAGUE 1 AWARD. spfl.co.uk. 10 September 2021. 11 September 2021.
  19. Web site: Airdrieonians 1–2 Queen's Park. bbc.co.uk. Clive. Lindsay. 15 May 2022. 25 June 2022.
  20. Web site: SIMON BACK FOR ANOTHER SEASON. queensparkfc.co.uk. 16 June 2022. 25 June 2022.
  21. News: Queen's Park thrash Cove to go four points clear . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-01-07.
  22. Web site: Ross County transfers: Simon Murray joins from Queen's Park . BBC Sport . 31 January 2023 . 31 January 2023.
  23. News: County come from behind to draw with Hibs . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-02-01.
  24. News: Ross County stay up after epic play-off comeback . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-06-04.
  25. News: Stranraer v Ross County . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-07-15.
  26. News: Media . P. A. . 2024-05-26 . Ross County breeze past Raith Rovers to seal Scottish Premiership survival . 2024-05-26 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  27. Web site: 2024-05-26 . Ross County ease past Raith Rovers to ensure Premiership survival . 2024-05-26 . The Herald . en.
  28. Web site: 2024-07-10 . Murray’s home . 2024-07-10 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  29. Web site: Arbroath vs Dundee: League Cup . 2024-07-16 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  30. Web site: Dundee vs Annan Athletic: League Cup . 2024-07-23 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  31. Web site: Premier Sports Cup Results SPFL . 2024-07-27 . spfl.co.uk.
  32. Web site: Scotland - S. Murray - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. us.soccerway.com. 2019-05-23.
  33. Web site: Dundee United 2–1 St Mirren. BBC Sport. Young. Chick. 25 March 2017. 1 March 2021.