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Despite being just 25-years-old when he signed for Chelsea in the summer
of 1985, Jerry Murphy's star was already on the wane somewhat having
originally burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old member of Terry
Venables' Crystal Palace side who were briefly labelled the 'Team of the
Eighties'. If his free-transfer capture from the Selhurst Park club did
little to excite the Chelsea supporters, that was due in part to the
fact that he was being signed to replace the outstanding Mickey Thomas,
who new manager John Hollins was looking to sell despite his good form
on the pitch and popularity off it. The contrast in the two players was
marked; where Thomas was a bustling, all-action player, Murphy had a
more languid, thoughtful style. He possessed what is commonly known as a
'cultured left-foot' and was more than capable of delivering
perfectly-measured, defence-splitting passes but was let down by a
distinct lack of pace, and all too often, not helped by a frustrating
run of injuries, he flattered to deceive in a Chelsea shirt. He made his
debut in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the
1985/86 season and kept his place in the side for the next six games,
before an injury suffered at Luton (the photo above was taken during that game)
led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
An impressive performance on
his return at Liverpool at the end of November was followed a week later
by his first goal for the club - in a 1-1 draw at Coventry - but a
sending-off at Birmingham just before Christmas led to a suspension and
further frustration. Jerry scored twice more - including an important
strike in a drawn match with title rivals Everton - as the Blues made a
concerted championship challenge in the New Year, but he was injured
again prior to the Full Members Cup final and missed out on the
opportunity of a Wembley appearance. A dismal run of just two victories
from the final eleven games put paid to Chelsea's title hopes but Murphy
did have some satisfaction from seeing his exquisite pass help set up a
last-minute winner for Kerry Dixon at Manchester United. Jerry's
fitness woes continued into the next campaign when, after playing in the
first six games of the season, culminating in a fine showing at White
Hart Lane as Chelsea beat Tottenham 3-1, he was again injured. This time
he struggled to get back into the side even when fit, and as Chelsea
flirted with relegation, Murphy made just five more appearances, the
only highlight being an incredible goalline stop to deny Bryan Robson of
Manchester United. The signings of left-siders John Coady and Clive
Wilson further restricted Jerry's opportunities and two appearances in
early-winter 1987, the last of which came in a defeat at Anfield, proved
to be the Irish international's final swansong. Chelsea were relegated
at the end of that season and Murphy - aged just 28 - dropped out of
league football altogether after being released by the club that summer.
(Kelvin Barker)
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