Colin Murphy Profile

Colin Murphy is one of the most associated names in the history of Lincoln City Football Club. As a manager, he might not have won much silverware but his ability almost propelled Lincoln City into one of the most successful clubs of the time. Alas, the ambition of the Lincoln City FC's board failed to match Murphy's and the chance to possibly play in the top flight of English football was lost.

Murphy, who is a cult hero at Sincil Bank, had the potential to turn Lincoln City into a stable (old) second division club and beyond. The Imps twice came within a whisker of promotion to the second division during the early 1980's and with additional finance, the history of the club would have been very different.

Murphy failed to make the grade as a professional footballer and spent his playing career mainly at London based non-league clubs. His managerial career began as a coach but he was placed in the spotlight when he briefly took charge of Derby County in November 1976. At the time, Derby were trying to recapture the great days enjoyed under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. This was a hard act to follow, and Murphy lasted just ten months in the job.

Undeterred by his bitter Derby County experience, he returned to management in 1978 when he became the new manager of Lincoln City FC. In doing so, he inherited one of the worst Lincoln City sides of all time, when he took over as Lincoln City's manager from Willie Bell. With money in short supply, Murphy scouted the non-league and reserve scene to recruit players who would later become Lincoln City legends themselves; players such as Trevor Peake, John Fashanu, Gordon Hobson and Steve Thompson. Many of those players later played at the highest level while John Fashanu even went on to represent England at International level.

In 1981, Murphy took Lincoln from Division Four by finishing as runners-up to title winners Southend United. The following season, The Imps missed promotion in the final game of the season by drawing 1-1 at Fulham - the point was sufficient for Fulham to pip Lincoln.

The 1982/83 season began as a success as Lincoln not only continued their cup exploits, including a two legged League Cup triumph over Leicester City who featured Alan Smith and Gary Lineker, but they took the Third Division by storm. They led the division for four months and even had games in hand. It seemed that nothing would prevent Lincoln from winning justified promotion - that was until boardroom strife intervened.

Unpaid wages forced the players to consider strike action against the club, with the matter only resolved when Peake was sold to Coventry City midway through the season. Murphy requested some of the cash to bring in John Thomas to reaffirm Lincoln's promotion bid; the board, led by Gilbert Blades refused. Supporters unsurprisingly favoured Murphy over Blades but inexcusably, Blades received death threats. Hence in March 1983, the entire board resigned. The turmoil cost Lincoln and very quickly they had fallen to sixth place as the 1982/83 season ended in disappointment.

Murphy and Lincoln never came close to promotion again and following the horrific Bradford City fire in May 1985, Murphy left Lincoln.

Two years later, Lincoln were relegated to the Conference. Ironically, it was Murphy who masterminded Stockport's amazing escape at Lincoln's expense. Lincoln were a club in trouble once more, so the directors turned to Murphy to help the club re-emerge as a Football League side. Despite Barnet matching Lincoln all the way, The Imps would win promotion via a final day victory against Wycombe Wanderers. Murphy had completed his mission and Lincoln returned to the Football League. He stayed a further two years, guiding the club twice into tenth position, before he left by "mutual consent".

Murphy has since returned to the Sincil Bank dugout but for opposing teams. Perhaps the most famous aspect of Murphy's time as Lincoln City FC manager was his infamous programme notes. Words cannot describe his programme notes - in fact, if Murphy could not think of a word, then he would just make a new one up!