A new television documentary celebrating the life of Rhondda football hero Jimmy Murphy has sparked renewed interest in his outstanding achievements in the world of sport.
Starring Dr Who actor David Tennant, who played the Manchester United trainer, the film tells the story of the fateful Munich air disaster that killed several of the team’s young players, known as the Busby Babes.
Jimmy Murphy, the Pentre born footballer who played for West Bromwich Albion and Wales in the 1930s before being appointed assistant manager at Manchester by Matt Busby, became the famous club scout who trained the young players such as Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton.
Since the BBC film, “United”, was shown on television, thousands of internet users have logged onto Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Heritage Trail website which pays tribute to Jimmy Murphy. He was one of the 30 recipients of a Blue Plaque throughout the County Borough.
The celebrity-unveiling of his plaque at his home in Treharne Street, Ton Pentre, welcomed the likes of 1966 World Cup Winner Nobby Styles, David Saddler, the former Manchester United Player and now Chairman of the Club’s Former Player’s Association. Amongst the Welsh International Footballing contingency were Mel Charles, Terry Medwin, Colin Baker, Ken Jones and Mel Hopkins.
Jimmy Murphy’s Blue Plaque is now part of the Council’s heritage trail which has been launched due to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to tell the fascinating story of the history of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The website, which can be found at www.heritagetrailsrct.co.uk allows users the opportunity to find out more about their local history and also download a range of interesting walks and driving trails around the county borough.
Enthusiasts can use the website as a method of indulging even further in their favourite pastime of local history or even ancestry research projects by downloading a series of three walks around Pontypridd, Aberdare or Llantrisant.
The information is also available in a brochure format which can be obtained from local libraries, museums or tourism information points.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Recreation Cllr Robert Bevan said: “This first-class website, created alongside the walking and driving trails, is the culmination of the hugely successful Blue Plaque Heritage Trail project that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has been implementing with great success during the past three years.
”Jimmy Murphy was one of Rhondda’s proud sons and our celebrity unveiling of his Blue Plaque attracted huge crowds and plenty of media coverage at the time.
”The release of the latest film, has once again turned the spotlight on his life and in doing so has attracted even more interest in our successful Blue Plaque scheme and the subsequent Heritage Trail website.”
For almost three years Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Libraries & Museums Service worked closely with various voluntary organisations and individuals to determine 30 sites in the county borough unrecognised for their historical background with the placing of a Blue Plaque
Due to £49,200 of Heritage Lottery funding, the project identified icons, events and buildings, culminating in the placing of blue plaques to commemorate their history and achievements.
Jimmy Murphy had missed United’s fateful trip to Red Star Belgrade to guide Wales successfully at the 1958 FIFA World Cup Finals, when they reached the quarter-finals. They lost 1-0 to Brazil to a goal by the young Pele. While waiting to go on the pitch he was told of the Munich air crash which claimed the lives of so many young men that he had personally mentored.
When Busby lay in the Rechts de Isar Hospital in Munich after the crash, he urged Murphy to keep the flag flying at Old Trafford. Despite the shock and sadness that engulfed United the dedicated right hand man nursed them back into action.
