Sean Murray

Background

Murray was born in the town of Watford and progressed through the club"s academy.

Career

He plays as a midfielder for Watford. Murray has represented the Republic of Ireland national team at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. Watford

Born in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, Murray joined Watford"s youth system in 2002, aged nine, he went to Queens" School, Hertfordshire, but left and went to Harefield Academy in 2007 as part of the initial intake where Watford youth players are developed.

Despite interest from Manchester City, Murray signed his first professional contract with Watford in July 2010, although due to Football Association regulations, it did not take effect until his 17th birthday.

Murray made his debut for the Hornets as a substitute in a Football League Championship game against QPR at Vicarage Road on 30 April 2011. Watford were defeated 2–0, a result that secured the Championship title for QPR. He made his first start the following week, away to already-relegated Preston North End.

Manager Malky Mackay left Watford at the end of the season. Under his successor, Sean Dyche, Murray"s only first-team involvement in the first half of the 2011-2012 season was as a 90th-minute substitute against Nottingham Forest.

He came close to scoring, hitting the post in the second half, but Watford were eventually defeated 1–0.

Murray retained his place in the team, and scored his first professional goal three weeks later, with a deflected free kick in a 3–2 victory for Watford against Leicester City. Murray continued to play regularly for the rest of the season. His good form, scoring four goals in seven games, led to him winning the Football League"s Young Player of the Month Award for March.

His popularity with supporters earned him his own song, with the words "That boy Sean Murray, he"s one of our own".

= Wigan Athletic (loan) On 5 August 2015, Murray moved on loan to League One side Wigan Athletic on an initial one-month loan deal, later extended to January 2016. Murray"s loan with Wigan was cut short on 16 December 2015, and the midfielder returned to Watford.

He declared for and represented the latter country at under-17 level, and played for Ireland at the 2011 Union of European Football Associations European Under-19 Football Championship. In the summer of 2012, Murray was called up to both the Republic of Ireland"s under-19 and under-21 squads.

Achievements

• Murray was a surprise inclusion in Watford"s starting eleven in their FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur on 27 January 2012. Murray won Watford"s Young Player of the Season Award at the End of Season Awards Dinner after his great form since his introduction to the first-team He scored his first goal for Wigan in a 4–0 win over Blackpool in the Football League Trophy.