{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{Use British English|date=April 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Sean Murdoch | fullname = Sean Murdoch | height = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Goalkeeper | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2003 | youthyears2 = 2003–2005 | youthclubs1 = Heart of Midlothian | youthclubs2 = Dunfermline Athletic | years1 = 2005–2008 | years2 = 2005–2006 | years3 = 2006 | years4 = 2007 | years5 = 2008–2011 | years6 = 2011–2012 | years7 = 2012–2014 | years8 = 2015 | years9 = 2015–2019 | clubs1 = Dunfermline Athletic | clubs2 = → Forfar Athletic (loan) | clubs3 = → Forfar Athletic (loan) | clubs4 = → Hamilton Academical (loan) | clubs5 = Hamilton Academical | clubs6 = Accrington Stanley | clubs7 = Hibernian | clubs8 = Rochester Rhinos | clubs9 = Dunfermline Athletic | caps1 = 5 | goals1 = 0 | caps2 = 40 | goals2 = 0 | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 0 | caps4 = 21 | goals4 = 0 | caps5 = 36 | goals5 = 0 | caps6 = 43 | goals6 = 0 | caps7 = 2 <!--LEAGUE MATCHES ONLY. DO NOT INCLUDE CUP GAMES/FRIENDLIES--> | goals7 = 0 | caps8 = 19 <!--LEAGUE MATCHES ONLY. DO NOT INCLUDE CUP GAMES/FRIENDLIES--> | goals8 = 0 | caps9 = 182 <!--LEAGUE MATCHES ONLY. DO NOT INCLUDE CUP GAMES/FRIENDLIES--> | goals9 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2003 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U18 | nationalcaps1 = 11 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2006 | nationalteam2 = Scotland U19 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | totalcaps = 305 | totalgoals = 0 }} '''Sean Murdoch''' (born 31 July 1986) is a Scottish former professional football goalkeeper. Murdoch, who began and ended his career with Dunfermline Athletic, also played for Forfar Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Accrington Stanley, Hibernian and Rochester Rhinos. Now a Cat 1 Match Official with the SFA (Scottish Football Association).
==Career== ===Early career=== Born in Edinburgh, Murdoch grew up in the Wester Hailes area of the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/new-hibernian-goalkeeper-sean-murdoch-determined-to-take-no-1-jersey-1-2567926|title=New Hibernian goalkeeper Sean Murdoch determined to take No 1 jersey |first=David |last=Hardie |work=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=11 October 2012 |accessdate=11 October 2012}}</ref> He played for youth teams of Hearts, but he moved across the Firth of Forth to play for Dunfermline in 2003.<ref name="dafc">{{cite web|url=http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20071004/sean-murdoch_2251023_931780 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419225009/http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20071004/sean-murdoch_2251023_931780 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2013 |title=Sean Murdoch |work=dafc.co.uk |publisher=Dunfermline Athletic FC |accessdate=7 October 2012 }}</ref> Murdoch progressed through the Dunfermline youth and reserve teams, earning international recognition.<ref name = "dafc"/> He moved on loan for the 2005–06 season to Forfar Athletic in order to get some first team experience.<ref name = "dafc"/> Murdoch signed a new 3-year contract with Dunfermline in July 2006, but was expected to move out loan again.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/5192530.stm |title=Woods signs deal with Dunfermline |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2006 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> He returned to Forfar on loan during the first half of the 2006–07 season.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=BBC Sport | date=31 July 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5137222.stm |access-date=7 October 2012 |title=Transfers – July 2006}}</ref> In the second half of the 2006–07 season, he moved on loan to First Division team Hamilton Academical.<ref name = "accies"/>
Murdoch made his first team debut for Dunfermline in a 2007–08 UEFA Cup tie against Swedish club BK Häcken.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6941971.stm |title=Dunfermline 1–1 BK Hacken |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2007 |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> Murdoch was at fault for the goal scored by Hacken, but made some good saves later in the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/6948504.stm |title=Kenny backing keeper after error |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2007 |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> He was second choice behind Paul Gallacher for most of the 2007–08 season and left to join Hamilton for a nominal fee of £15,000.<ref name="accies">{{cite news|work=Hamilton Advertiser |publisher=Scottish & Universal Newspapers |url=http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-accies/hamilton-fc-news/2008/05/08/goalkeeper-murdoch-grabs-new-opportunity-at-accies-51525-20879156/ |title=Goalkeeper Murdoch grabs new opportunity at Accies |first=Andy |last=McGilvray |date=8 May 2008 |accessdate=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123110113/http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-accies/hamilton-fc-news/2008/05/08/goalkeeper-murdoch-grabs-new-opportunity-at-accies-51525-20879156/ |archive-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>
===Hamilton Academical=== On 6 May 2008, Murdoch signed for SPL side Hamilton, whom he had been on loan at earlier in his career.<ref name = "accies"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=561&Itemid=2|title=Bryn Halliwell departs Sean Murdoch signs|accessdate=6 May 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hamilton_academical/7387345.stm|title= Hamilton move for keeper Murdoch|access-date=7 May 2008 | publisher=BBC Sport | date=7 May 2008}}</ref> He extended his contract with Hamilton in May 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hamilton_academical/8168668.stm |title=Murdoch extends Hamilton contract | publisher=BBC Sport | date=25 July 2009 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> Murdoch was with the club for three years, but found it difficult to displace first choice goalkeeper Tomas Cerny. He left Hamilton in 2011,<ref name = "accrington"/> after the club had been relegated from the SPL.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hamilton axe eight stars as reality of relegation sets in|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/hamilton-axe-eight-stars-as-reality-1102935|work=Daily Record|date=14 May 2011|accessdate=1 March 2015}}</ref>
===Accrington Stanley=== Murdoch signed for Football League Two club Accrington Stanley on a one-year deal in July 2011.<ref name = "accrington">{{cite web |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=6 October 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14329146 |title=Accrington Stanley sign Kern Miller and Sean Murdoch}}</ref> He made his debut on 6 August 2011, in the opening game playing against Northampton Town, where he kept a clean sheet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northampton 0 – 0 Accrington Stanley|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14351883|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 August 2011|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref> Murdoch went on to become the first choice goalkeeper in the club's first twelve matches to the start of the season. However, Murodch lost his first choice role with the arrival of Lee Nicholls and the returning of Ian Dunbavin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stanleyreview.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/murdoch-leaves.html |title=Murdoch leaves |publisher=Google Blogspot |accessdate=1 March 2015 |date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301220822/http://stanleyreview.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/murdoch-leaves.html |archive-date=1 March 2015 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> After eight months at the club, Murdoch walked away from his contract in March 2012, due to a lack of payment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stanley show Murdoch the door|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11750/7596227/stanley-show-murdoch-the-door|publisher=Sky Sports|date=14 March 2012|accessdate=1 March 2015}}</ref>
===Hibernian=== He signed for SPL club Hibernian in October 2012 on a short-term contract, providing cover for Ben Williams and allowing young goalkeeper Calum Antell to move out on loan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20121006/new-goalkeeper-signs_2262950_2940769 |title=New Goalkeeper Signs |work=hibernianfc.co.uk |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=6 October 2012 |accessdate=6 October 2012 |archive-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505141658/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20121006/new-goalkeeper-signs_2262950_2940769 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2012 |access-date=7 October 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19857140 |title=Hibernian sign goalkeeper Sean Murdoch on short-term deal}}</ref> In January 2013, his contract with Hibernian was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20130116/transfer-window-update_2262950_3043045 |title=Transfer Window Update |work=hibernianfc.co.uk |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=16 January 2013 |accessdate=16 January 2013}}</ref> Murdoch made his only first team appearance of the 2012–13 season in a 3–1 win at Kilmarnock on 15 May. He agreed a new contract with Hibs during the close season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/thomson-returns-to-hibs-for-pre-season.21480969 |title=Thomson returns to Hibs for pre-season |work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=1 July 2013 |accessdate=1 July 2013}}</ref> Murdoch was released by Hibs at the end of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20140526/out-of-contract-players_2262950_3858888 |title=Out of Contract Players |publisher=Hibernian FC |work=Hibernianfc.co.uk |date=26 May 2014 |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref>
===Later career=== After a short spell with USL side Rochester Rhinos, Murdoch returned to his former club Dunfermline Athletic in July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=The return of two for Pars |url=http://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=The_return_of_two_former_Pars&ID=8588 |work=dafc.co.uk |date=17 July 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2015 }}</ref> Murdoch was named the Scottish League One player of the month for October 2015, after keeping four clean sheets in the league for that month.<ref name="October PotM">{{cite web |title=Murdoch is League 1 Player of Month |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/murdoch-voted-league-1-player-of-month/ |publisher=spfl.co.uk |date=5 November 2015 |accessdate=5 November 2015 |archive-date=21 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121151141/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/murdoch-voted-league-1-player-of-month/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to this, he was instrumental in setting a new club record for clean sheets, after not conceding a goal in 612 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dunfermline goalkeeper Sean Murdoch sets new club record for clean sheets |url=http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/11/19/dunfermline-goalkeeper-sean-murdock-sets-new-club-record-for-clean-sheets/ |first=Darren |last=Johnstone |publisher=Capital City Press |date=19 November 2015|accessdate=7 April 2016}}</ref> A successful season with the club saw the Pars win the Scottish League One, with Murdoch signing a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the Fife side until summer 2018. Murdoch signed a further one-year extension on 20 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/thepars/15358985.Murdoch_extends_Pars_stay/ |title=Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper Sean Murdoch signs contract extension to keep him at East End Park until 2019 |first=Ross |last=Hart |work=Dunfermline Press |publisher=Newsquest |date=20 June 2017 |accessdate=9 February 2019}}</ref>
Murdoch was first choice keeper for the Pars for most of 2016 through to the end of 2017, however, an injury to his pubic area saw him miss the rest of the 2017–18 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/16995355.seans-problem-solving/ |title=Sean's problem solving! |work=Dunfermline Press |publisher=Newsquest |date=20 October 2018 |accessdate=9 February 2019}}</ref> with his last performance coming against Brechin City on 23 December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42376114 |title=Dunfermline 2 – 1 Brechib City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 December 2017 |accessdate=9 February 2019}}</ref> Murdoch announced in April 2019 that he would retire from playing football at the end of the 2018–19 season, and that he intended to become a referee.<ref name = "ref">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48087433 |title=Sean Murdoch: Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper to retire become referee |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2019 |accessdate=28 April 2019}}</ref> He had long shown an interest in becoming a referee,<ref>{{cite news|title=Refs are being harshly treated but I still want to do their job when I quit playing, says Hamilton keeper Sean Murdoch|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/refs-are-being-harshly-treated-but-i-still-1076721|work=Daily Record|date=24 November 2010|accessdate=1 March 2015}}</ref> and had already achieved a qualification at the time of his retirement.<ref name = "ref"/>
==Personal life== In December 2014, Murdoch went viral when he proposed to his girlfriend in New York's Times Square and needed help with a credit "of dancers from New York's Broadway Dance Centre".<ref>{{cite news|title=Best marriage proposal ever? Watch dancing footie ace's flashmob routine in New York's Times Square|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/best-marriage-proposal-ever-watch-4848220|work=Daily Mirror|date=21 December 2014|accessdate=1 March 2015}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|1 January 2018}}<ref>{{soccerbase|id=34937}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup<ref group = "note">Includes FA Cup</ref> !colspan="2"|League Cup<ref group = "note">Includes Football League Cup and Scottish League Cup</ref> !colspan="2"|Other<ref group = "note">Includes all other competitions.</ref> !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Dunfermline Athletic |2005–06<ref name="2005–06">{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2005|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Scottish Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |2006–07<ref name="2006–07">{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2006|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |2007–08<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2007|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |Scottish First Division |5||0||0||0||0||0||3||0||8||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!3!!0!!8!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|Forfar Athletic (loan) |2005–06<ref name="2005–06"/> |rowspan="2"|Scottish Second Division |13||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |2006–07<ref name="2006–07"/> |17||0||0||0||1||0||2||0||20||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !30!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!33!!0 |- |Hamilton Academical (loan) |2006–07<ref name="2006–07"/> |Scottish First Division |11||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||11||0 |- |rowspan="4"|Hamilton Academical |2008–09<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2008|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|Scottish Premier League ||4||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||5||0 |- |2009–10<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2009|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> ||6||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0 |- |2010–11<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2010|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !11!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!12!!0 |- |Accrington Stanley |2011–12<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2011|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |Football League Two |13||0||1||0||1||0||0||0||15||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Hibernian |2012–13<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2012|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Scottish Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |2013–14<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2013|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!2!!0 |- |Rochester Rhinos |2015 |United Soccer League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Dunfermline Athletic |2015–16<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2015|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |Scottish League One |34||0||3||0||3||0||3||0||43||0 |- |2016–17<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2016|accessdate=22 May 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|Scottish Championship |30||0||4||0||0||0||2||0||36||0 |- |2017–18<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2017|accessdate=17 June 2017}}</ref> |18||0||1||0||5||0||3||0||27||0 |- |2018–19<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=34937|season=2018|accessdate=4 May 2019}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !82!!0!!8!!0!!8!!0!!8!!0!!106!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !152!!0!!9!!0!!11!!0!!13!!0!!185!!0 |}
==Honours== ===Club=== ;Dunfermline Athletic *Scottish League One: 2015–16<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35849745 |title=Dunfermline 3 – 1 Brechin City |first=Brian |last=McLaughlin |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2016 |accessdate=28 December 2016}}</ref>
===Individual=== *Scottish League One Player of the Month: October 2015<ref name="October PotM"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murdoch, Sean}} Category:1986 births Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Forfar Athletic F.C. players Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players Category:Living people Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:English Football League players Category:Hibernian F.C. players Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players Category:Rochester Rhinos players Category:Footballers from Edinburgh Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Scottish football referees Category:Scottish Professional Football League referees Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen