MARTIN MURPHY (1938 – 17 January 2026)

MARTIN MURPHY was a stalwart Oldham fullback who served the club well for 16 seasons, chalking up 462 appearances (a post-Second World War club record) with 52 tries.

Leigh-born, he played for both Lancashire (twice) and England, scoring a match-winning try in the 11-9 European Championship win over France in Perpignan in January 1975.

Murphy, who has died aged 77, made the scoresheet alongside Leeds centre Les Dyl and Salford winger Keith Fielding while England went on to take the title.

Among 22 players in Oldham’s Hall of Fame, he also had a short spell with Australian side Newtown Jets in 1974 and, after leaving Watersheddings after the 1981-82 season, went on to play for Rochdale Hornets (17 games in 1982-83), Oldham-based amateur side Waterhead and Mansfield Marksman (four outings in 1985-86).

Murphy – who worked as a window cleaner, with Oldham’s current Boundary Park base part of his regular round – signed for the Roughyeds in December 1966, when Gerry Helme was the coach, and soon made his debut in the 14-5 home win over his hometown team Leigh.

It was a tough baptism, because he sustained a mouth injury which needed stitches, but he returned to finish the match, reflecting his impressive resolve, and soon carved out a reputation as an effective and efficient tackler.

Murphy featured in the Lancashire Cup final of 1968-69, which St Helens won 30-2 at Central Park, Wigan. Oldham had beaten Rochdale, Workington Town and Salford en route.

Then there were three semi-final defeats, 10-8 at Leigh in the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy in 1972-73, when he scored a fine long-range try, 11-2 at home to Warrington in the Lancashire Cup in 1980-81 and 22-6 by Hull FC at Headingley, Leeds in the John Player Trophy in 1981-82.

Murphy, skipper in 1976-77, three times contributed to the club winning promotion from the Second Division – in 1974-74, 1979-80 and 1981-82, when Frank Myler’s side took the divisional title with 30 wins from 32 matches.

His Lancashire appearances were from the bench in the 28-5 win over Cumberland at Craven Park, Barrow in November 1970 and as starting fullback in the 26-16 win over the same opposition at Wilderspool, Warrington in September 1972.

Murphy leaves his wife Anne and daughter Martina.