Cork confirms 'Cockney Rebel' return
Credit:
As revealed on ExtraTime yesterday evening, Danny Murphy has returned to former club Cork City after being released yesterday by Shamrock Rovers.
Having won the Premier Division as a squad player with Rovers last season, it was decided yesterday that the London-born fans favourite would return to Leeside for a third spell on what is believed to be a two-year deal.
Murphy had first joined the club in 2004 from Margate in the English lower leagues, and after winning a league title at Turner’s Cross in 2005, he moved to Scotland in 2006.
After spells with Motherwell and Dunfermline, Murphy returned to Cork for a second spell which culminated in a Setanta Sports Cup win in 2008.
He was forced to leave Cork for financial reasons however, and chose to sign with Michael O’Neill’s side at the beginning of 2010.
“I’m delighted to be back. I think anyone who knows me knows that I love this club and that I always wanted to come back. Circumstances meant I had to leave the club, but that’s in the past now and I’m just thrilled to be back,” Murphy said after the deal was officially confirmed earlier today.
“Obviously I know Tommy well having worked with him last year and he’s an excellent coach, and I’m looking forward to working with him again. I have spoken to him and to the other people at the club and I have been very impressed. Everyone at the club wants to get Cork City Football Club back into the Premier Division, and that ambition was a big factor in me wanting to come back.”
Having added Billy Woods as a coach yesterday, it marks yet another big signing for Tommy Dunne and the City boss was “delighted that Danny has returned to the club.” Murphy becomes the 14th player to sign for the 2011 season, and Dunne believes the left-back position, which the ‘Cockney Rebel’ will now become a permanent fixture, is an area of the pitch that needed strengthening.
“The left side of defence is an area where we had to chop and change throughout last season, so I am pleased that we have been able to bring a player of Danny’s quality. I don’t need to go into detail on the relationship Danny has with the supporters, but I know that the club means a lot to him and I believe that if it had not been for the well-documented issues at the club, he would never have left in the first place.
“Danny is an experienced, determined player who will add to the squad we are assembling, both in terms of his quality and also his personality and will to win. I know that Danny shares the ambition of everyone at Cork City to get this club back to where it belongs; that said there are some good teams in this division and it will not be easy.
“The fact that this club is able to attract a player of his calibre highlights the good work that has been done here over the past year, and is also a signal of our intention to compete for the First Division title this coming season.”
Having won the Premier Division as a squad player with Rovers last season, it was decided yesterday that the London-born fans favourite would return to Leeside for a third spell on what is believed to be a two-year deal.
Murphy had first joined the club in 2004 from Margate in the English lower leagues, and after winning a league title at Turner’s Cross in 2005, he moved to Scotland in 2006.
After spells with Motherwell and Dunfermline, Murphy returned to Cork for a second spell which culminated in a Setanta Sports Cup win in 2008.
He was forced to leave Cork for financial reasons however, and chose to sign with Michael O’Neill’s side at the beginning of 2010.
“I’m delighted to be back. I think anyone who knows me knows that I love this club and that I always wanted to come back. Circumstances meant I had to leave the club, but that’s in the past now and I’m just thrilled to be back,” Murphy said after the deal was officially confirmed earlier today.
“Obviously I know Tommy well having worked with him last year and he’s an excellent coach, and I’m looking forward to working with him again. I have spoken to him and to the other people at the club and I have been very impressed. Everyone at the club wants to get Cork City Football Club back into the Premier Division, and that ambition was a big factor in me wanting to come back.”
Having added Billy Woods as a coach yesterday, it marks yet another big signing for Tommy Dunne and the City boss was “delighted that Danny has returned to the club.” Murphy becomes the 14th player to sign for the 2011 season, and Dunne believes the left-back position, which the ‘Cockney Rebel’ will now become a permanent fixture, is an area of the pitch that needed strengthening.
“The left side of defence is an area where we had to chop and change throughout last season, so I am pleased that we have been able to bring a player of Danny’s quality. I don’t need to go into detail on the relationship Danny has with the supporters, but I know that the club means a lot to him and I believe that if it had not been for the well-documented issues at the club, he would never have left in the first place.
“Danny is an experienced, determined player who will add to the squad we are assembling, both in terms of his quality and also his personality and will to win. I know that Danny shares the ambition of everyone at Cork City to get this club back to where it belongs; that said there are some good teams in this division and it will not be easy.
“The fact that this club is able to attract a player of his calibre highlights the good work that has been done here over the past year, and is also a signal of our intention to compete for the First Division title this coming season.”
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile