500 Not Out
It wouldn't be ridiculous to suggest that a statue be erected of Joelle Murray when she hangs up the boots. The icon of one of Scotland's most successful sides, the scourge of so many great attackers.
In the early 2000s a rumour went through Hibernian that they had a prospect that would go down in the history books. In 2004 she pulled on the Hibernian green for the first time, in 2024 the 500th. She is one of the club’s greatest ever.
This is Joelle Murray…
Joelle Murray was born to be a Hibernian legend, a childhood Hibs fan she joined the club at only 12-years-old after trialling with the under-17s and it is tough to think of a club that has made a better decision in the history of football. Two SWPL titles, seven SWPL cups, seven Scottish cups. Few players can boast the record of Hibernian’s captain, and it all began in Chirnside, almost 50 miles East of the club she loved.
Unfortunately (as is the case whenever we look back at the careers of players we love), finding specific information about the history of women’s football can be like trying to point to Drumnadrochit on a spinning globe in heavy sleet. There are some gaps, but, one thing is for sure. When Joelle Murray broke into arguably the greatest Hibernian team of all time, she stayed there.
In 2005/06 Hibernian added a fifth trophy to their cabinet, as they secured the league title. Murray winning player of the match in the final game (as seen below). They were starting to become a powerhouse in Scottish football as they lifted that title. The likes of Kim Little, Pauline Hamill, Laura Kennedy, Debbie McWhinnie, etc… donning the green and white. It was a team of stars, Joelle Murray very much one of them.
Murray would add medals in 2006/07 with a consecutive league title and a Scottish Cup, as well as a runners-up medal in the SWPL Cup. As 2007/08 came around Hibernian were a dominant side. Glasgow City were strong competitors, Celtic had taken over from Arsenal North and were looking to make their mark, Queen’s Park and Kilmarnock were both strong. But, a trip to Ikea for a new trophy cabinet was looking likely for the capital club.
The league season hadn’t quite gone to plan but they had won the SWPL Cup and found themselves in the Scottish Cup final. Murray deployed on the right against Celtic, and would make her impact on the game early into extra time. We’ll let the video do the talking for us, Murray with her famous #17 on her back hitting a half volley past the Celtic keeper to open the scoring at McDiarmid Park. A special moment for the 21-year-old.
Joelle Murray lifted her third Scottish Cup in just four years of senior football, adding to the two league titles and two SWPL Cups she had already won. An unbelievable start to her career.
Perennial league champions Glasgow City interrupted Hibernian’s cup dominance in the early 2010s, but with Joelle Murray leading the side the podium was never that far away.
When Chris Roberts was appointed in 2014, Hibernian had stated their ambition to add to their trophy cabinet after two seasons without a title. 2014 and 2015 ended trophyless, runners up in the SWPL Cup final to Glasgow City elation in consecutive years. 2015 saw a Scottish Cup final but only a silver medal, another near miss thanks to a Clare Shine hattrick. The gap now four seasons. Heading into 2016 it was easy to think that it just wasn’t going to happen for the Hibees.
June 2016 they would face Glasgow City, again, in the SWPL Cup final. Three final losses in a row against their rivals, it was time for a redemption story. Joelle Murray leading the side out as captain at Ainslie Park, Hibernian’s golden generation against City’s established stars. Scotland’s most capped player ever, Gemma Fay, kept it at 0-0 in the opening stages with Arnot and Ewens causing all sorts of problems. A flick on from a corner fell to Julie Fleeting, composed as always she scores. 1-0 City.
Inspired by the words of their captain in the aftermath Hibernian would fight back, a tap in following a penalty save bringing the game level. In the second half Joelle Murray would keep it that way, the ball falling to Fiona Brown on the edge of the box. The ball flew past Jenna Fife, destined for the far corner. You can almost hear the Hibernian staff and fans thoughts as the ball soared, it was happening again, Glasgow City are going to lift a trophy over us for a fourth time in a row. Meanwhile, Joelle Murray was following the flight of the ball. Perfectly anticipating the point at which it would meet the line. A collective sigh of relief. That split second decision changing the course of events, fuelling the belief in the Hibs squad. Belief that would see Arnot chase a loose ball in midfield to rob Cuthbert, fire in a driven cross, and wheel away in celebration as the ball hit the net. Hibernian 2, Glasgow City 1. Joelle Murray was lifting her tenth Hibernian trophy, and a new run was started.
Five months later Hibernian were victorious over City on penalties in the Scottish Cup, Joelle Murray scoring before a save from Fife secured the double. Coasting past Celtic in the 2017 SWPL Cup handed Murray a third trophy lift in twelve months, another added in the winter with a comfortable win over Glasgow City. A result that sent a shockwave through the country. This wasn’t the last minute or penalty win of previous finals. City had been taken apart, they looked vulnerable for the first time. Joelle Murray, and centre back partner Siobhan Hunter, hadn’t given the opposition forwards an inch. A fourth trophy, and a statement after missing out on the league title so narrowly.
2018 came and Hibernian would score 17 to lift the SWPL and Scottish Cups, the regularly scheduled cup drama against City coming in the semi-finals of both competitions. An Abi Harrison hat trick would see them off in the SWPL Cup, Hibernian comfortably dispatching Celtic in the final. In winter Kirsten Reilly had Hibs 1-0 up in a much closer affair, City getting closer and closer to levelling things as the final whistle approached.
In the 81st minute a corner was swung in by Lisa Robertson, looping over everyone huddled in the middle and before you could even mutter the words “too deep” in frustration to your pal in the stands, Murray arrived. In true Joelle Murray style, what can only be described as a slide tackle forced the ball beyond the keeper. That moment setting Hibs on the path to yet another final. This time it was Motherwell who would fall but the story had already been written with the captain’s strike.
Her international career is a story of it’s own… flashback to 2007. Three years on from her Hibernian debut, and two years after helping the under-19s to the UEFA Championships for the first time. 21-year-old Joelle Murray was watching on from the bench at McDiarmid Park. Impressive performances at youth level, dominant in the early days of the SWPL, Anna Signeul had called up the young defender for a chance with the senior team for the first time.
A Julie Fleeting hat trick had Scotland comfortable against the visiting Belgians. Signeul signalled to the bench for Murray to go through her warm up, it was time. The Scotland navy pulled over her head for the first time. An 87th minute substitution for Hibernian teammate Julie Ferguson, the prologue concluded. The story of her senior international career ready to be written.
It would be five more substitute appearances before she made her full debut. Northern Ireland had come to Forthbank for a friendly as Anna Signeul’s side looked to recover from EUROs playoff disappointment and prepare for World Cup qualifying to begin. Playing in midfield (we think) she would make the game a special one, achieving a feat she would not replicate in her future 43 caps. Joelle Murray scored for Scotland. We have looked far and wide, dug through archives, and even emailed historians and museums to try and find footage of this goal. Or even just a match report. It appears to have been lost to time.
We like to imagine the ball soaring through the air from a corner, Murray meeting it perfectly with a powerful header on the penalty spot. Or, her bombing forward and smashing one into the top corner. However it happened, it remains the midfielder-turned-defender’s only Scotland goal. A special moment. Scotland goalscorer Joelle Murray.
Fast forward six years, Scotland have missed out on major tournament qualification by the skin of their teeth on three occasions. A point away from the 2011 World Cup, an extra time Vero Boquete goal away from EURO 2013, losing in the playoffs against Netherlands for the 2015 World Cup. Heartbreak after heartbreak for Anna Signeul’s side as they hunted that first major tournament. EURO 2017 qualifying begins away in Slovenia, in a heartbeat Scotland have 18 points from seven games. We can finish no lower than second. Portugal beat Finland, Scotland are guaranteed to be one of the six best runners up. It had finally happened. Everyone in the squad plays their part at major tournaments, despite not getting on the pitch Murray was a member of Scotland’s first major tournament. 12 years after leading the under-19s to the same feat.
Two yeas later she was to make history again, playing her part as a veteran in Scotland’s first ever World Cup squad. Her experience and leadership earning her a spot on the plane to France as Shelley Kerr’s Scotland competed on the world stage for the first time. Her final involvement at international level, some way to bow out.
Off the pitch Joelle Murray has made her voice loud to demand standards continue to improve for women’s football in Scotland. She has been a member of the academy set up at the club since 2017, passing on her wisdom and skills to the next generation of players.
When she made her debut, her club were only five years old. Now 25 she has been ever present for 80% of the club’s history. It’s crazy when you really think about it, the club have been shaped with her influence. An influence that has shaped breaking attendance records more than once, the introduction of full-time contracts, and crucially, has seen Hibernian integrated to part of the wider men’s club.
When Hibernian celebrate their legends there will be one name that stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Lawrie Reilly, David Gray, Eddie Turnbull... Joelle Murray. She hasn’t just played for her club, she has played for them. 500 appearances with no signs of stopping soon, from the public park days of hand-me-down kits to seeing in the era of professionalism. Her career has been so much more than the tough tackles and big headers, she has taken her space as one of the SWPL’s finest and demanded better for those that come next.
A Hibernian legend, an icon of the sport.