His name has been etched into the scoresheet 16 times already this season, but Sam Murray is showing no signs of slowing down for Guernsey FC.
The only player to have scored more than one hat-trick in a season for GFC since Ross Allen had set himself a target of 20 goals at the start of the campaign, and is now already edging close to that target in the run up to Christmas.
‘At the end of last season I set myself a target of 20 goals for the new season so not too many left to go, but I’ll hope to get 20 as well as I think Mark McGrath is on 52 goals for all his GFC career, and I’m hoping to beat that this season too,’ said Murray, speaking before he scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s win against Crawley Down Gatwick.
The Green Lions have never been too far from the play-off places in the Southern Combination Premier Division, with positive results in the last four games – three of which Murray scored in.
‘Personally, I think I’ve done well, obviously scoring goals, but I think as a team as well. We’ve been building from start of pre-season to now, we’ve been training three times a week, so mentally it’s been hard and physically, but we’re getting there slowly,’ he said.
‘As you can see in the league table, we’ve been climbing up and staying in and around the play-off places.
‘The boys work really hard, on and off the pitch, and obviously without them I wouldn’t be scoring as many goals as I am now.’
Now on 47 goals for the Green Lions, Murray has established himself as a key player for the club and after last Saturday’s 6-2 win against Crawley Down Gatwick, in which he scored his second hat-trick of the season, GFC manager Tony Vance was full of praise for his No 9.
‘Muzza has been fantastic and does so well for us. We are very fortunate in that we have another No 9 who deserves a go in Faz [Will Fazakerley], but that is 16 goals already for Muzza now this season and on that form he deserves to be starting,’ he said.
‘In the last few years he has led the line and been feeding off scraps but still scoring.
‘This year he is getting a lot more chances because of the difference in level and the way we are playing, but he is making it count.’
Murray joined up with GFC for the 2022-23 campaign and scored 11 times in his debut campaign, becoming the first player in a decade to hit double figures in his debut season.
Before he started training with the Green Lions at the age of 28, Murray spent many years playing in the Priaulx League for Sylvans and North. He admitted that it had been a big step up for him.
‘The transition, it is totally different, I mean, mentally, physically, demanding, you have to be there. Going from Priaulx into the GFC league, playing against bigger players, stronger players, quicker, it takes a toll on your body,’ said Murray.
‘I’ve always been one of the bigger players and obviously coming into this, I’m not one of the bigger ones any more, so it took a while to get into it. But I’m glad I made that jump into that transition. I’ve come to GFC, finally.’
In the last few seasons there has been a bit of change, not least to Victoria Park as the home of Guernsey football, which Murray said has benefitted the team.
‘Now with Victoria Park open, I think the facilities are outstanding, as you can see. Coaching, the pitch, just what you need – a nice, flat surface,’ he said.
‘I actually think it’s more of a professional background now.’
Guernsey FC host Seaford Town tomorrow in their last home game of 2025, 2pm kick off.
