Just finished Barry Murphy's Legend book

..anyone read it and got any observations on it?

 

I have. Barry is a very nice man.

 

And a true legend of our club

 

He puts the mercenaries we hire now in the shade. And as nice a bloke as you could ever wish to meet.

 

Yep, received it as a Xmas present last year. It was a bit of a departure for me. I'm not really interested in sports book or autobiographies, but I quite enjoyed it.

Barry came across as a decent bloke, who took his professional career very seriously. I did think, beforehand, that the Iley/Clarke period would be the best part, but I found the chapters about Barry's early career and his post-footballing days to be just as interesting. Things have certainly changed. I can't imagine many ex-pros ending up fixing the roof at Penistone Sports Centre after playing as many games as Barry did.

An easy read, if you know what I mean, it didn't take me long to get through it. All in all, I'm glad I read it. A few more photos wouldn't have gone amiss, but that's a minor quibble.

What did you think of it?

 

Astounding the number of games he played, Given how long it took to establish himself in the side.
Decent read.
His career before Barnsley was very fascinating as well.

 

The big thing that stuck out for me was how long it took his first team career to take off. Kudos for him trying so hard and sticking with it.

Decent read although clunky. Bit of a disappointment to read someone's life story without naming who it was that buggered up his and Clarkey's tenure at Leeds. That was Barry's shot at the big time.

Murphy reckoned Clarke was influenced by person unnamed and that's what sank them, and Murphy reckons if "I'm a Winner" had stuck to his footballing guns and not been otherwise derailed, then they'd have been alright. Successful even.

Why have a book that still keeps secrets 40 years on? Come on Baz. You should be naming who it was that Sniffer got fooled by.

By the way, the fact that everyone knew him as "Spud" gets one paragraph in the book. Mr Murphy obviously didn't like the nickname - it gets no further mention. I found that a bit odd. Soz Spud - that's what we all knew you as.

Yeah, an easy read.

 

I've known Barry a long time for obvious reasons.

I always loved the bloke because of his relationship with my Dad.

When my Dad passed and I spoke to him on the day, I realised how much he loved him. He then went onto Radio Sheffield and also did the memorial I put together.

Not only a legend of Oakwell (Grove Street ) but a legend as a person.

Youve reminded me to text him tomorrow to see how he is.

 

Yep - he's in no doubt that your dad would have been in the top league without his injury.

 

I enjoyed it. Comes across as a very humble man & gives credit where it`s due to others throughout his career.

 

I read it last Christmas. It gave a good insight into was life was like for a pro plying his trade in the lower divisions in the 1960s and 70s. In many ways not much different from the average working man of that era and very precarious.

I was disappointed by the presentation as it seemed to be no more than a series of interviews transcribed with little or no tidying up by the ghost writer. A little more attention would have eliminated some of the errors and occasional contradictions.

It appeared to be put together in a hurry.

 

Jeez,,,, who wants to read a book about an ex players foot??

 

For anyone wanting to see some cracking photos (plus much more) of Barry Murphy and other club legends, click on the links below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/barnsleycollector/albums/72157703736936974

https://www.flickr.com/photos/barnsleycollector/albums/72157694547223830

https://www.flickr.com/photos/barnsleycollector/albums/72157698455087980

As well as wonderful photos there are copies of Barry's own scrapbooks and many personal items including copies of contracts etc - all well worth a good look

 

Those are priceless. Thanks for sharing