Tranmere's Murphy among elite League Two veterans | OneFootball

Long-serving Tranmere goalkeeper Joe Murphy has joined an exclusive group of League Two veterans - and the fact that three of Rovers' starting XI against Salford last weekend weren't even born when the Irishman made his professional debut highlights his hefty career span.

Murphy was between the sticks for the Merseysiders in their 3-1 reverse at the Ammies' Peninsula Stadium on Saturday when he became one of only four players to appear in League Two after their 44th birthday (since the EFL rebrand in 2004).

Although Murphy has some way to go to match Kevin Poole's record of 46 years, 9 months and 17 days old (set back in May 2010 when Poole kept a clean sheet for Burton in a 3-0 win over Grimsby), it is an impressive statistic.

From Tranmere's starters against Salford at the weekend, Lee O'Connor, Charlie Whitaker and Billy Blacker were not yet of this Earth when Murphy made his bow for Tranmere in a League Cup tie against Oxford in October 1999 - and the experienced stopper is still going strong.

The veteran notably played in the League Cup final for Tranmere in his debut season, when the then Championship side lost to Premier League Leicester, and he went on to represent a long list of EFL clubs during an illustrious career, notably winning League One with Scunthorpe in 2006/07.

Capped twice by the Republic of Ireland, Murphy returned to Prenton Park in 2020, and he signed a new contract in May to remain as a player and goalkeeping coach.

In line to start against struggling Newport in League Two this Saturday, Murphy will now look to share his considerable experience with Andy Crosby's Rovers and help them climb the table - Tranmere currently 14th in the fourth tier, having played a game less than the majority of the division.