Four sides will face off this weekend to win a trophy named in honour of one of St Patrick’s FP’s most influential figures.
St Pat’s, St Mungo’s, St Joseph’s, and Inverclyde Amateurs will play over two days to lift the John McMurrich Trophy, named after the Dumbarton club’s greatest ever manager.
John guided St Pat’s to two Scottish Cup wins, seven Scottish Amateur League titles and five League Cups during his 25 years in charge, establishing the club as one of the strongest in the amateur game.
However, tragedy struck when John, who lived in Bonhill, passed away suddenly after a heart attack in 2017 at the age of just 63.
Keen to keep his memory alive, St Pat’s boss John O’Brien and coach Tommy Graham revived the trophy – with both having played under McMurrich.
Tommy told the Lennox: “Before John came down to our club we were just another amateur football team. We had no real standing in the game or anything like that.
“By the time he had finished with us then everyone in amateur football in Scotland knew who St Pat’s were.
“We were very successful.
“In the season just gone, we won the West of Scotland Cup final which is probably the hardest trophy other than the Scottish Cup to win.
“We also got to the Scottish Cup final last year and won the Central League, which is a hard league to win.
“None of that would’ve been possible without John McMurrich.
“When he passed away it was a shock for us. He was still young and kept himself fit.
“He was probably the most important guy in the history of St Pat’s, and we’ve been going since the 1950s.
“He’s sorely missed.”
McMurrich was born in Dumbarton and played for Balloch Juveniles, Vale of Leven Juniors and Glasgow Perthshire, before sustaining a career-ending knee injury.
This injury put paid to him playing at senior level, which keen observers of the game said he was certain to have enjoyed.
However, he proved every bit as talented as a coach as he was a player, turning St Pat’s into a major force in the amateur scene.
His proudest moment came when Saints won the Scottish Cup – first at Hampden in 1990 and then at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park in 1999.
Tommy continued: “I only got back involved with the club last year, there’s been a trophy since John passed away. But it had fallen by the wayside a wee bit.
“When John O’Brien got involved with the team he knew about the trophy so suggested we get a wee tournament going as part of our pre-season.
“It’s a good way of honouring John.
“We have St Mungo’s, St Joseph’s, ourselves and Inverclyde as another of the Saints pulled out.
“We still regularly talk about John and his teams and we felt it was a good way to keep his memory going.”
The games get underway at Mountblow in Clydebank on Saturday, with the two winning sides and two losing sides playing again at Alexandria’s Argyll Park on Sunday.
Presenting the trophy will be John’s widow Mary, alongside his two daughters Karen and Louise.
And Tommy added that family was a key aspect of St Pat’s ethos.
“We’ve invited John’s wife, Mary, and his two daughters, Karen and Louise. They are going to do the presentation.
“We wanted to keep them involved. We used to hold dances and player of the year nights, and they would always be along with John.
“It was important for us to keep them involved.
“We’ve got so many families who have been involved with the club for generations.
“I played with some of the guys’ dads and it does make you feel quite old.
“We’re a big family really.
“When I joined in 1989 I didn’t know many of the players.
“The guys I played with became some of my best friends.
“It creates a family atmosphere and there are plenty of boys there you still regularly see.”
