As we bid farewell to one part of our history we thought it would be good to catch up with a man who commanded our record transfer fee. Back in 1993 a young man called Matt Murphy was starting to draw scouts to Corby every time he played. Eventually this resulted in a £20,000 move down the A43 to Oxford where he was to remain for the next eight years.

Now 39, Matt still lives in the Northampton area and was delighted to talk about his time here when we caught up with him last week:

“I was with Northampton when I was at school but wasn’t taken on as a YTS so had played a lot locally as a kid and was playing for Irthlingborough Diamonds, before they merged with Rushden to become Rushden and Diamonds.My dad was helping out at Corby. It’s quite a footballing family;my brother Phil played for Rugby and Brackley and we played at Daventry together towards the end of our careers.My dad was keen to take me across to Corby and I jumped at the chance.”

“It has always been a good club and at the time they were getting crowds of 200-250. There were some very good players there like Steve Collins, Bryn Gunn and Tony Calvert and we had players with a number of Football League appearances under their belt.

“Most notably we had Mark Lawrenson playing for us.He had ended his career with Liverpool because of injury but was able to play for us, usually at left back. It was fantastic to be a youngster playing alongside someone like Lawro. I remember he would be demanding the ball even with about four players around him! But you could give it to him, he would work space then drop the ball on a sixpence for someone.”

Matt started scoring regularly, playing either up front or as an attacking midfielder:

“I was a bit of a floater really. I ended up playing most of my league games in midfield but played up front at Corby as well. Dougie Keast was great for me because he would sit in that midfield all day and keep encouraging me to get forward. I was young and fit and could get box-to-box all 90 minutes.That was my role in the side really, to try and get forward.”

Matt is philosophical about his big money move and the career that followed.

He explained:“I think in football there is a lot of luck in being at the right place at the right time and that was what happened at Corby.Because Mark Lawrenson was there people were taking notice, and because we had a very strong side we were winning games and getting to the famous FA Cup qualifying game we played against Kettering. That was a huge game for the club at the time. People started to sit up and look seriously at us and I was doing well within that team. I think I got five goals in the last game I played but it was all about the team really.

“I knew clubs were looking but I was still working in the Nationwide Building Society at the time.Then Mark Lawrenson got the manager’s job at Oxford United and I went over to Oxford with the manager, Owen Roberts and a couple of board members. The fee was £20,000 and everything was agreed. Then at the last minute Lil Fuccillo came in and tried to take me to Peterborough. That was flattering to know two clubs were interested but I wanted to stick to my word and joined Oxford.

“I signed on February 19th and it was a bit of a step up. In fact when I went in to the Nationwide to say I was leaving to join a professional club I thought they might make me serve my notice.

Fortunately my manager there had played to a decent standard and could see what a great opportunity it was.

“I went to the Manor Ground and they did the right thing and got me used to professional football before throwing me in to the side.When I did get my chance it was in the last two games of the season and I made my debut away at Newcastle. I can still remember looking around St James’ Park and thinking how far I had come. It wasn’t until later that what I had done really hit me.

“I stayed at Oxford for eight years and like to think I gave them good service. I scored 38 times, mostly from midfield, and believe I am still in their top ten scorers of all time, which is nice to know.Mind you they have James Constable who has edged ahead of me and records are there to be broken.”

Speaking of records Matt’s career has now taken an interesting turn…

“Tony Calvert is still my best mate after all these years and he had a business in old soul and funk records.We have now gone in to business together reissuing old records.We deal with big companies in America sometimes and are doing OK. We have a website at www.funkytowngrooves.com if anyone wants to see what we are up to.

“I will always look back on Corby as a very happy time in my career. I am still friends with a lot of my old team-mates and still live fairly local.Once the new stadium gets going I am sure that there are plenty of good games and good memories to come for the fans. I will definitely be along to see how the club is doing next season.”