Veteran goalkeeper Joe Murphy is set to play in his first FA Cup start in five years as Tranmere host high-flying Stockport County on Saturday.
The 44-year-old hasn’t played in the competition since 2020, when he stepped out for Shrewsbury, but with injury to number one Luke McGee, Murphy has been a regular for Andy Crosby’s side this season.
With age comes wisdom, and the goalkeeper feels as though he still can perform at the very top level.
He told Mersey Sport Live: “I feel as good now as I did when I was 18. I’m more experienced so it’s easier to manage a game.
“I love playing, I want to do well for this club. I’ve always tried to keep myself fit and be ready.
“I’m 44 years old, I still believe and want to play at a higher level, that’s just the way you have to be as a player.”
There will be some familiar faces in the away dugout for Tranmere fans , as former Rovers stars Dave Challinor and Clint Hill return to Prenton Park having played in front of Murphy from the late 90’s into the early 2000’s.
Although they’ll be locking horns on Saturday, Murphy has a lot of respect for his ex-teammates.
He said: “They’re two good players and two great careers. They were massive for me and looked after me on the pitch. Two good guys, but as players they were excellent.
“But at the end of the day they’re trying to win, we’re trying to win. So that goes out the window.”
Stockport are currently top of League One. They sit 40 places ahead of Tranmere and are unbeaten in their last seven.
However, the Merseyside outfit have only lost once in as many games, and are no strangers to a ‘cupset’, having staged some of the greatest shocks in the competition’s history.
Having been a part of the famous team that beat Everton and Southampton in the same cup run, Murphy knows exactly what it will take to defeat a team in a league above.
He said: “It’s going to be difficult we know they’re a good side, so we’re going to have to be on the top of our game. We need really good concentration.
“It’s the same old cliché but we just have to be good on the day. Hopefully our duels and one-to-ones come out better than theirs.”
While Murphy has experienced a few of Tranmere’s great cup runs, the fans have been there to witness every single one, and he believes the Super Whites faithful will be crucial at Prenton Park.
He said: “It’s going to be huge for us, I’m sure our fans will be loud and fill the Kop behind the goal. Everyone loves a good cup game.
“In the past we had a good couple of years, some good giant killings. It’s a special tournament that every kid dreams about playing in and you don’t get many opportunities to play in it. I’m looking forward to it.”
