Graeme Murty

Infobox Football biography
playername = Graeme Murty


fullname = Graeme Stuart Murty
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|11|13|df=yes
cityofbirth = Middlesbrough
countryofbirth = England
height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
position = Right back
currentclub = Reading
clubnumber = 2
contractend = July 2009
youthyears = 1991–1993
youthclubs = York City
years = 1993–1998
1998–
clubs = York City
Reading
caps(goals) = 122 (7)
306 (2)
nationalyears = 2004–
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 (0)
pcupdate = 18:35, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Graeme Stuart Murty (born 13 November 1974 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire) is a professional footballer. His position is right back, and he plays professionally for Reading where he is also club captain. He co-hosts the Andrew Peach Show on BBC Radio Berkshire every Monday morning from 8am.

Club career

Murty joined York City's youth training scheme in 1991, following trials with Aston Villa, Leeds United and Stockport County.cite news | title=A profile of former Minsterman Graeme Murty | url=http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?p=2&sid=973&stid=245421 | publisher=Minstermen | date=2000-06-25 | accessdate=2007-10-07] He turned professional in March 1993 and was placed into the first-team in his first professional season. On 20 September 1995, he played in their 3–0 victory against Manchester United in the League Cup at Old Trafford. He scored in York's surprise League Cup victory against Everton, which kept his profile up.

He joined Reading in the summer of 1998 for a fee of £700,000, but his first few seasons were hampered by injury. However, once clear of injury, he quickly became an integral part of the team, and when Phil Parkinson left the club to become manager of Colchester United, Murty was appointed club captain. On 30 April 2006, Murty scored only his second goal, from a penalty, in 280 league and cup appearances when Reading played Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2005–06 season.cite news | date=2006-04-30 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4933632.stm | title=Reading 2-1 QPR | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-03-06] It ensured that Reading reached 106 points, a record for the second tier of English football.

On 1 December 2006, Murty signed a two year extension to his contract with Reading, keeping him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2009,cite news | date=2006-12-01 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~936372,00.html | title=Murty signs new contract to extend stay | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2006-12-01] which will mean that he will have completed ten years at the club. On 31 March 2008, it was announced that, despite a previous announcement to the contrary,cite news | date=2006-11-23 | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/23/sfnrea23.xml | title=Murty denied testimonial | work=The Daily Telegraph | accessdate=2006-12-01] Murty had been awarded a testimonial in recognition of his services to the club, with a proportion of the proceeds going to the Swings and Smiles charity, of which he is a patron. [cite news | date=2008-03-31 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1277289,00.html | title=Murty granted a testimonial | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-03-31]

In a vote to compile the Royals' best-ever eleven, Murty was voted the best right back with 56.4% of the vote. [cite news | date=2005-08-22 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~702820,00.html | title=Revealed - The Royals' best-ever XI as voted for by fans on this site | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2006-10-02] Murty also won the BBC South Sports Personality of the Year award, at a ceremony in Southampton on 3 December 2006 where John Madejski and Steve Coppell were also honoured. [cite news | date=2005-11-02 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/11/02/sports_personality_feature.shtml | title=BBC South Sports Awards - the results! | publisher=BBC Berkshire | accessdate=2006-12-22]

International career

Murty was born in England, however he qualifies to play for Scotland through his family. He has been capped four times by Scotland, with his first coming against Wales in 2004. He was in the Scotland team for the Kirin Cup in Japan in May 2006, and earned his second cap in their 5-1 win against Bulgaria on 11 May 2006. He won his third cap in Scotland's second (and final) game of the tournament against Japan, a 0-0 draw that secured the Kirin Cup for Scotland. [cite news | date=2006-05-13 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4765811.stm | title=Japan 0-0 Scotland | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2006-05-25]

He was a surprise starter for Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifying match away to Georgia on 17 October 2007, which Scotland lost 2-0. [cite news | date=2007-10-17 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7032632.stm | title=Georgia 2-0 Scotland | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-10-17]

On 30 January 2008, Murty was one of nine defenders called up by new Scotland boss George Burley for his first get-together, a training camp between 3 February and 5 February 2008 at Loch Lomond. [cite news | date=2008-01-30 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1228922,00.html | title=Murty in Burley's first squad | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-30]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~9316,00.html Graeme Murty profile] at readingfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|5738|Graeme Murty
* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=9107209889352762540 Video] of Murty's goal against QPR on 30 April 2006

Persondata
NAME=Murty, Graeme Stuart
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=13 November 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH=Middlesbrough
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=