Murphy lifts monthly award

Winkie Murphy couldn’t have had a much better start to life after Linfield.
Glenavon director Julie Harvey presents William Murphy with his Player of the Monath award, sponsored by Nigel OHara Diamond Jewellers, Portadown.Glenavon director Julie Harvey presents William Murphy with his Player of the Monath award, sponsored by Nigel OHara Diamond Jewellers, Portadown.
Glenavon director Julie Harvey presents William Murphy with his Player of the Monath award, sponsored by Nigel OHara Diamond Jewellers, Portadown.

The centre-back signed for Glenavon in the summer, having left the Belfast side after 16 years at the club.

And he’s kicked off his Mourneview Park career in some style, picking up Glenavon’s ‘Player of the Month’ award for August.

Murphy even scored twice in the month, against Ballymena and Dungannon, and has delighted new boss Gary Hamilton.

“William has been excellent,” said Hamilton. “I got questioned a lot when I brought him in. There weren’t too many positives being discussed by a lot of people but you don’t play 40 games for Linfield one season and then not be able to play for side who were in the bottom six the year after.

“He’s played really well, scored a few goals and the way he talks and the respect he commands in the changing room is brilliant for us.”

Hamilton claimed that the mindset of his experienced new recruits are doing much to influence the whole squad.

He said: “When we signed William we thought even if we get 20 games out of him he would be worth signing because of what other people would learn from him.

“It’s the same with David Rainey. I said to David at half-time on Saturday that I didn’t think he was giving me enough. Those players can take the criticism and hopefully that will rub off on the younger guys.

“They see that you’re not saying it to pick on them but to help them. They expect to be told when they’re not doing enough.

“Those are the type of things those guys have brought. We have some quality young players coming through at the minute and hopefully they will learn from these guys and pick up things like taking criticism in the right way.”