Obituary: Gerry Murphy

Once described in a match programme as “another member of the Bristol brotherhood of diminutive but doughty scrum halves,” he made his first team debut in Bristol’s first post-war season and was almost certainly the last surviving player from that season at the time of his death.

Gerald Edwin Murphy was educated at St Brendan’s College at the time when the school was situated in Berkeley Square. He played rugby throughout his years there, from the age of eleven upwards. When official rugby started up again in September 1945 following the war years, Bristol called their 2^nd XV Bristol A for one season only, and Gerry made his Bristol A debut in the second match of the season in an away fixture with Newport United. A week later he made his first team debut at Gloucester. He played four more first team games during the season, scoring his what was to prove his only first team try in the last match of the season at Coventry. There was also an unofficial fixture against Bristol Combination in April 1946, and Gerry played in this, with his brother Peter, also a scrum half, featuring for the opposition.

Gerry went to study at Bristol University in 1946 and for a while he was rarely seen in a Bristol shirt, preferring to turn out for the University. He represented English Universities during his time as a student, and in 1947 he was a member of the Bristol University side which won the UAU Championship, defeating Durham University 14-4 at Cheltenham in the final. A few weeks before the final, he was in the University XV which secured a rare victory over Bristol United.

After he finished his time at the University, Gerry returned to teach at St Brendan’s, where he was to spend his entire career. He played a further ten first team matches for Bristol in the 1948-49 season and was awarded his Bristol United cap. In November 1948 he featured in a United game at Wasps when the United full back was future test cricketer Tom Graveney. In 1949-50 Gerry was captain of St Brendan’s Old Boys, though he did play one game for Bristol during the season. A Western Daily Press article from the period described him as five foot four inches tall and weighing eight stone and ten pounds. The same article paid tribute to his clever football brain and his explosive energy, before concluding: “The audacious manner in which he steals through a defence amazes his opponents and spectators alike.”

Gerry Murphy played three further games for Bristol in the 1951-52 season, making his final appearance at Easter against Leicester. In total he made 19 first team appearances with a further 16 for Bristol United or Bristol A. He maintained his interest in the club and was a longstanding member of the Bristol Rugby Former Players. His sons, Damian and Fin, were both scrum halves, with the former playing 108 games for Bath and captaining the club. All at Bristol Bears send their condolences to Gerry’s family at this sad time. His funeral will take place at St Teresa’s Church, Gloucester Rd North, on Tuesday January 10^th at 11:15, and all are welcome to attend.