The Scott Murray Interview
He needs no introduction, but he's going to get one anyway, or the interview will look a bit odd. After a turbulent eight months at Reading, which saw him go from first team regular under Alan Pardew, to bit-part player under Steve Coppell, Scott Murray is now back at his spiritual home, Ashton Gate.
We spoke to Scott, in the run up to his home ‘debut' against QPR, about his move from Reading, how it feels to be back and whether he's after Luke Wilkshire's No.7 shirt!
Q. Firstly, welcome back!
A. Thank you. It's great to be back.
Q. Obviously, we're delighted to have you back at City, but was it a difficult decision to leave Reading?
A. It was to start with, but as soon as it was made clear by the manager that he was buying another player in my position, there was only one place I was going to come to.
At the start, I'd have been happy to stay and fight for my place, but as soon as he (Steve Coppell) told me that, I couldn't get back to Bristol City quickly enough.
Q. Was there a time at Reading where you realised you wanted to come back to Bristol City or were you happy playing there?
A. When I first signed, Alan Pardew was the manager and I played every game under him, but when a new manager comes in, he has his own ideas and I didn't seem to be a part of his plans. I think most people know that I was down to watch City whenever I could, so as soon as I got the phone call from Reading to say they'd agreed a fee for me and were looking to bring someone else in, I couldn't wait to get back here.
Q. The general feeling from Reading fans is that they never saw the best of you. Why do you think that was?
A. I don't really know what it was. I was away from my mates and it was hard for me to settle in. We just seemed to spend our time sitting in the house watching the television and we never seemed to have much of a life down there. My wife didn't know anyone in the area and nor did I. When we're back in Bristol, we have all our friends round us and that makes life much nicer and more enjoyable for both of us.
Q. Before you transferred to Reading, you said that it was the lure of playing at a higher level and the financial security the move would bring, that made you decide to leave. Has this experience made you realise there is more to life than that?
A. Obviously, with Reading being just an hour away, it seemed like an ideal move, but I was still away from my friends, which made it difficult. But yes, it's definitely made me realise there is more to life. Don't get me wrong, I got on very well with all the lads down there and I really enjoyed my eight months at the club. But, as I said before, we were spending our time just sitting at home, away from the people we care about and that's no life for anybody.
Q. Did you feel like you never really made that break from City, even though you were playing for Reading?
A. No, not at all. I was obviously watching for City's results and I was down in Bristol whenever I could, seeing my mates and all those sort of things, so I never really made a break from the club, no.
Q. Will you be wanting your No. 7 shirt back next season and, if so, how do you and Luke propose to decide who gets it? We were thinking either scissors/paper/stone (best of three) or arm-wrestling.
A. No, I don't want it back. I'm not that superstitious anyway, so if Luke wants to keep it, that's fine by me. I usually play arm-wrestling with the missus to see who makes the tea in our house, so it's me who makes all the tea in the house. But no, I won't be doing that with Luke for the shirt.
Q. The main difference for you coming back, is that the level of expectation on you will be enormous. Is that something you relish or not?
A. Yes, I know there's going to be just a little bit of pressure on me, but I can't pay any attention to that. I'll just go out there and run about like a headless chicken and see what happens, like I always do.
Q. The Incider have produced some ‘Scotty's Back' t-shirts, which are now on sale in the club shop. Have you seen them?
A. Yes, I saw them on the forum. I'm a regular visitor to the Fans' Forum, I look at it every other day at least. I don't do any replies or anything like that, I just like going on and reading what people have to say. It's very interesting. As a player, you have to take the bad with the good, and if you have a few bad games, the fans have every right to criticise you. I'd be exactly the same if I was a supporter, I'd have players I didn't think were doing their bit and all the rest of it.
You get used to criticism as a footballer and you just have to take it with a pinch of salt and get on with it. No matter how well you're doing, there will always be one person who wants to knock you down, but you just have to accept that's all part of it.
Q. The game against QPR will almost be like a debut for you. Are you looking forward to running out in front of the Ashton Gate crowds again?
A. Yes, I can't wait. I was down here for the Rushden game and there was a far better atmosphere with the East End open. I haven't played many games where there have been home fans in the East End, so that's something I'm really looking forward to, as the noise was brilliant.
I'm sure I'll start to feel a bit nervous in training tomorrow (Friday) and when I'm driving up for the game on Saturday morning, but I can't wait, to be honest.
Q. All that remains is for us to thank you for your time and wish you the best of luck for Saturday and the rest of the season.
A. Thank you very much. We'll be trying our best, as always. Cheers.
