Birmingham Post - Sports Columnists - Pat Murphy

Highs make it all worthwhile

Birmingham Post — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:27:00 GMT

Pat Murphy reflects on nearly five years as a Post columnist.

Barry’s spin machine could get the worst from Rafa’s rotation

Birmingham Post — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:53:00 GMT

If Gareth Barry gets his move to Liverpool, he’ll soon have an opportunity for gratitude to his new manager’s fondness for a rotation policy.

Cricket gets some proper leadership at last

Birmingham Post — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:44:00 GMT

'Cricket civilises people. I want everyone in Zimbabwe to play cricket. I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen’. Robert Mugabe, 1983.‘The tragic failure of leadership’. Nelson Mandela on the political situation in Zimbabwe, July 2008.

Kiwis have short memories when it comes to dodgy run outs

Birmingham Post — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:23:00 GMT

England one-day captain Paul Collingwood will have to live with his decision not to recall New Zealand’s Grant Elliott in the one-day international at the Oval last Wednesday.

Unpleasant racism stain disfiguring Spanish face

Birmingham Post — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:20:00 GMT

Euro 2008 was immensely satisfying for all sorts of reasons – not least the absence of England’s footballers, their air of self-delusion and their preposterous WAGS.

Blind eye to dubious activities of rugger's lads must stop, what...

Birmingham Post — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT

It’s always been a source of annoyance in this quarter that at the bar of public opinion professional footballers are viewed as pampered oiks, awash with testerone and money, while rugby union players are judged good eggs with perfect manners underpinning their manliness.

Baggies seek Peace and stability

Birmingham Post — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Loyal readers will recall my scepticism last year about Jeremy Peace’s long-term commitment as chairman of West Bromwich Albion

Reality check for the ECB as the Twenty20 dollar comes knocking

Birmingham Post — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:44:00 GMT

It’s reassuring to see that the head honcho of English cricket has experienced a reality check over what the Indian Premier League has to offer.

Indian summer could spell disaster for England's Ashes hopes

Birmingham Post — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT

England cricket coach Peter Moores will be desperately hoping his players come through the Indian Premier League unscathed next year.

Shed no tears for Chelsea

Birmingham Post — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:24:00 GMT

John Terry encapsulates Chelsea's disrespect for authority that permeates the club.

The best and worst of the season

Birmingham Post — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:59:00 GMT

With the 2007-8 football season all but put to bed, it's time for the annual Pat Murphy Awards.

Birmingham City board must take blame for disarray

Birmingham Post — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:42:00 GMT

Five Live's Pat Murphy points the finger at the Birmingham City boardroom for Blues' relegation.

West Brom can silence the Premiership doubters

Birmingham Post — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Take no notice of the jeremiahs who believe that West Bromwich Albion will come straight back down again, having scooped the title in the grand manner.

Second tier football is first-class

Birmingham Post — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The Second Division has been tremendously entertaining this season and the crowds have been duly appreciative, with nine clubs averaging over 20,000 per game.

Villa kop it from Berger's parting shot

Birmingham Post — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT

When you're the manager desperately hoping you're not going to lose your best player, you don't need one of his teammates telling him to go as soon as possible.

Questions Sir Alex Ferguson has ducked

Birmingham Post — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

It's surely time that Sir Alex Ferguson qualified for an Arts Council grant for services to the entertainment industry. He still gets us slapping our thighs and belly-laughing, even when he suffers the cruelest quirks of fate.

A massive week for Aston Villa

Birmingham Post — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Some weeks are more important than others for a football club.

Birmingham City's reasons to be cheerful

Birmingham Post — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Birmingham City supporters don't need any extra incentive for the trip to Aston Villa this Sunday, but they really could do with at least a point.

Indian money ends cricket 'burn-out' whinges

Birmingham Post — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Now that the brave new world of Twenty20 cricket Indian-style is promising lucrative nest-eggs for certain lucky cricketers, I notice that the issue of 'burn out' among them is no longer such a hot topic of conversation.

McDonagh proves there's still some grace left in harsh world

Birmingham Post — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Yes, Stiliyan Petrov's goal was outstanding for Villa at Derby. And the travelling support was excellent. But I particularly enjoyed a little gesture at the final whistle.