Zander Murray
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 November 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –2016 | Pumpherston | ||
| 2016–2018 | Broxburn Athletic | ||
| 2018–2019 | Pumpherston | ||
| 2019–2023 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | (106) | |
| 2023 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 15 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Zander Murray (born 2 November 1991) is a retired Scottish footballer who played as a forward for Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic FC, Motherwell FC & Airdrieonians as a youth.
Career
His youth football career began at Motherwell FC before moving to Airdrieonians FC.
Murray played for Pumpherston. In 2016, he signed for Broxburn Athletic. In 2018, he returned to Pumpherston. In 2019, he signed for Gala Fairydean Rovers. He scored more than 100 goals for the club, including a club record 25 goals in the 2021–22 campaign in a best-ever league finish, while also reaching the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup final.[1]
In early 2023, he signed for Bonnyrigg Rose of Scottish League Two, making his debut for the club during a 2–1 loss to Annan Athletic.[2][3]
Zander became the first Scottish openly gay player in the SPFL. [4]
He has been an advocate in tackling homophobia within Football and in Wider Society. Receiving numerous accolades and awards in doing so. [5] [6] [7]
His ambassador work in football has featured in two documentaries, "Out on the Pitch" with BBC & "Rylan: Homophobia, Football and me".
[8]
[9]
Personal life
Murray came out as gay in 2022, becoming the first Scottish footballer to do so.[10] He has worked as a career advisor.[11]
References
- ^ "Murray comes 'home' to Gala Fairydean Rovers". bordertelegraph.com. 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Robbie Horn encouraged by Zander Murray's debut". The Scotsman. 5 February 2023.
- ^ Z. Murray, Soccerway
- ^ https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12785874/zander-murray-signs-for-bonnyrigg-rose-to-become-only-openly-gay-player-in-spfl
- ^ https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23216985.scot-year-sporting-heroes-human-rights-campaigners/
- ^ https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/zander-murray-tracy-brown-man-utd-and-gender-goals-among-winners-at-fabulous-fvh-awards/
- ^ https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/28/lgbtq-activists-2023/
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001k5hl
- ^ https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24101638.zander-murray-appear-rylan-homophobia-documentary/
- ^ "Zander Murray: What we can learn from Scotland's rarest footballer". heraldscotland.com. 29 December 2023.
- ^ Grant, Michael. "Zander Murray: 'I'm a wee boy from Glasgow. I didn't realise the power of being visible as a gay player'". thetimes.co.uk (Archived).
- 1991 births
- Living people
- Scottish men's footballers
- Footballers from Glasgow
- Men's association football forwards
- Scottish LGBT footballers
- Scottish gay sportsmen
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- Lowland Football League players
- Scottish Junior Football Association players
- Pumpherston F.C. players
- Gala Fairydean Rovers F.C. players
- Bonnyrigg Rose F.C. players
- Broxburn Athletic F.C. players
- Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C. players