BIO

Mick Murphy was quintessential Norwood.  He was born at the Bath Hotel on The Parade on 22 October 1878 - just 45 days after Norwood clinched its first premiership in its debut year.

Mick, son of the publican of the same name, was a nipper when 'Topsy' Waldron captained the Norwood team and 'Bunny' Daly was performing his wonders as a rover.  Mick's desire in life was to play for Norwood. He got his wish, playing from 1898 to 1903 with the likes of Jim Halliday, Jim Gallagher, 'Hock' Horsell, 'Crusher' Barnes, Geordie Webb, Jim Gosse, Dean Dawson and the Plunkett brothers, Mick and Bill.

A solid player who generally took charge of the goals, Mick reached the pinnacle of his career as a member of the team which pipped Port Adelaide by four points in the gut-wrenching 1901 grand final, ending a seven-year premiership drought. He was named the club's best backman in 1902.

An only son, Mick married Meiria, sixth daughter of Thomas Cutting of Marryatville, at St Ignatius Church, Norwood, on 23 November 1914.
He was employed by the SA Railways for more than 30 years, at one stage on the Port Adelaide line and later as the stationmaster at Finniss, Callington, Littlehampton and Plympton. He had been stationmaster at Mallalla for three years when he died there on 21 October 1932.

He was survived by his widow, sons Michael, Thomas and Brian, and daughters Louise, Patricia, Margaret and Veronica.

P Robins Jan 2018