388 Glenn Murray

Position : Forward

Played : 2006-07 ( initially  on  loan  from  Carlisle )  to  2007-08 

Appearances : 54

Goals : 25

The final irony of Parkin’s tenure is that his last two signings were both excellent players that he then misused. With Keith Barker firing blanks, Glenn was brought in in mid-October in time to make his debut in the horror-show at Lincoln. His career began at Workington in 2002. After scoring 36 times in 57 appearances he had a spell in America with Wilmington Hammerheads in 2004 before returning to Cumbria with Barrow and scoring 9 goals in 9 games. This got him a move to Carlisle in the Conference and he moved up into League football with them in 2005. Glenn took time to adjust to the higher standard and scored just 5 in 46 League appearances. At the start of 2006-07 he went on loan to Stockport where he scored 3 in 11 games.


Glenn hit the bar after a great turn and shot on his debut but was then overshadowed by the comedy of errors at the back. He was subsequently in and out of the side with Parkin constantly switching his striker selection between Glenn, Barker, Dagnall and Sako. That Parkin was unable to pick out which was the best partnership from that particular pool tells you everything you need to know about why he was sacked. Glenn scored just once for Parkin, away at Barnet and I remember when Glenn came on in his last game in charge at Hartlepool, someone shouted “Another failure !” At the time he had a point but Keith Hill had seen some potential and made signing Glenn one of his first priorities.

Glenn repaid that faith immediately and was in tremendous form for the rest of the season. Although not being particularly strongly-built Glenn was a good target man and strong in the air but he was also fast and skilful on the ground too. His performance in the 7-2 win at Stockport was phenomenal ( the first goal where he turned his man then just skipped round challenges until he was in a position to shoot was worthy of Bergkamp) and his former boss Jim Gannon ruefully said he’d been “unplayable”. He rounded the season off with 6 goals in the last 6 games to take his tally to 15 for the season.

Glenn was now hot property and the following season, seemed a little unsettled by the transfer speculation. He didn’t score in the League until the end of September and at one point was publicly criticised by Keith Hill for his inconsistent performances . He got back in the groove in December with goals in 5 successive matches which made a January move inevitable. He signed off with another glorious goal to make the score 4-3 at Chesterfield then he was off to Brighton for £300,000 plus sell-on clauses. Keith Hill angrily protested that it “wasn’t a football decision” and it probably cost us automatic promotion but financial realities had spoken.

Glenn has done well at Brighton holding his place in a side which has just won the League One championship and he currently has 53 goals in 118 appearances for them.