A runner in his youth, Murphy became an amateur footballer when the outbreak of the First World War caused his running club to disband.
Born in St Helens, Lancashire, Murphy's speed gave him local renown in his youth, when he became known among pigeon keepers for the haste with which he reported the arrivals of birds.
[3] When competitive football returned after the end of the war, Murphy turned professional,[4] making his league debut against Bolton Wanderers on 13 September 1919, and a further 37 appearances that season.
his performances resulted in interest from the Irish Football Association, who prompted by Murphy's Irish-sounding surname wrote to enquire about his birthplace.
In the 1926–27 season, in which he linked up well with Sam Taylor and Stan Woodhouse on the left, Murphy only missed one league match, scoring four goals.