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Signed in early December 1966, Martin Murphy made his debut against his home town club of Leigh just a few weeks later. When the slightly built full-back took the field on that chilly December Saturday afternoon, I am sure none of the 2,866 spectators present gave him much chance of lasting the game out, never mind the whole season. As it happened, “Murph” didn‘t play the whole game, having to retire after taking a crunching tackle from opposite number Colin Tyrer which left him needing stitches in his mouth. But typical of his courage he came back to finish the match.

That game was typical of the resolve of Murphy, who went on to finish that season and embark on a career that would span three decades of great service to the “Roughyeds”.

He went on to become the leading post war appearance maker for the club and played in every position in the back division. It is, of course, as a full back that Martin will be best remembered, especially for copy-book defence, taking down the heftiest forwards, tricky half backs or speedy threequarters with the same total thoroughness and efficiency. Surely one of the fastest full backs ever to wear the Oldham colours, he won the BBC try of the season award for a long range effort against Leigh in the Floodlit trophy semi final in 1972.

Capped by Lancashire, he also made one appearance for England, scoring a last gasp try to clinch a 11-9 victory against the French in Perpignan on January 19th 1975.

Probably the last of the great clubmen of Oldham RLFC, Martin had the honour to captain the team in the centenary season of 1976-77.