Stewart Murdoch (born 9 May 1990) is a Scottish professional footballer playing as a midfielder or defender who is a free agent. Murdoch came through the youth academy at Falkirk, and over a six-year period played 88 games in all competitions for The Bairns, in which the majority of these came in the Scottish First Division. He also spent time on loan in the Scottish Second Division playing for Berwick Rangers in season 2007–08 and for East Fife in seasons 2009–10 and 2010–11.
Murdoch played for Fleetwood Town in English Football League One and English Football League Two from 2013 until 2015. He also spent time on loan in the English League Two playing for Northampton Town in season 2014–15. Murdoch then played for Ross County in the Scottish Premiership in season 2015–16, before moving to Dundee United. In season 2018–19, Murdoch returned on loan to East Fife before signing a permanent deal the following season.
Club career Falkirk Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Murdoch joined Falkirk when he was six years old and came through the youth academy. Murdoch remained there until 2007, when he signed his first professional contract and was included in the club's first team photo for the 2007–08 season. On 31 January 2009, Murdoch appeared in Falkirk’s first team as an unused substitute, in a 1–0 win against Aberdeen.
Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Murdoch signed a one-year contract with the club. Murdoch made his Falkirk first team debut on 8 November 2009, in a 3–3 home draw against Celtic, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for Ryan Flynn. He made two further substitute appearances before going out on loan.
Loan spells from Falkirk In January 2008, Murdoch joined Berwick Rangers on a month-long loan. He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 4–0 loss to Ayr United on 2 January 2008. Murdoch made four appearances scoring no goals during this loan period.
In February 2010, Murdoch joined East Fife on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made his first team debut for the club, in a 1–1 draw away at Stenhousemuir on 27 February 2010. On 16 March 2010, Murdoch scored his only goal for East Fife, in a 3–1 victory over Arbroath. He went on to make fourteen appearances in all competitions at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Murdoch was sent on loan to East Fife again at the start of the 2010–11 season. He made his second debut for the club, in a 4–3 win against Brechin City in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. Murdoch was featured in every matches for East Fife until he was suspended on two occasions, including a red card for a second bookable offence against Dumbarton on 30 October 2010. By the time Murdoch left East Fife in January 2011, he played ten times and scored no goals in all competitions.
Return to Falkirk Murdoch returned to Falkirk and made his first start for them in a 1–0 away defeat against Partick Thistle in a Scottish Cup fourth round replay on 18 January 2011. After the match, he said: "I was pleased with my performance. I told the manager before the game that I'd been waiting a long time for this chance to start, and I was going to take it. He was pleased with that and I hope I can keep my place now." Since returning from a loan spell at the club, he became a first team regular, playing in the midfield position. Murdoch scored his first goal for the club in the home 2–0 victory against Cowdenbeath on 26 February 2011. For his performance, he signed a two–year contract with Falkirk, keeping him until 2013. Murdoch set up a goal on 19 April 2011 and 23 April 2011 against Partick Thistle and Stirling Albion respectively. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he made fourteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2011–12 season, Murdoch set up a goal for Farid El Alagui to score the opening goal of the game, in a 2–1 win against Partick Thistle on 13 August 2011. In a match against Livingston on 10 September 2011, however, he was shown the first red card of his career in a 1–1 draw. After the match, the club decided not to appeal his sending off and was suspended for two matches. On 24 September 2011, Murdoch returned to the starting line–up from suspension, in a 3–2 loss against Greenock Morton. Since returning from suspension, he regained his place in the first team, playing in the midfield position. On 25 October 2011, Murdoch scored the winning penalty in a 5–4 shootout victory after a 2–2 draw in the quarterfinals of the League Cup away at Dundee United to help Falkirk advanced to the next round. In a match against Queen of the South on 19 December 2011, however, he suffered a knee injury and was substituted in the 39th minute. After missing two matches, Murdoch returned from injury, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 win against East Fife in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on 7 January 2012. In a match against Greenock Morton on 20 March 2012, he suffered a foot injury and was substituted at half-time, as the club loss 2–0. After the match, Murdoch was out for the rest of the 2011–12 season. Due to his injury, Manager Steven Pressley said Murdoch's injury is "disappointing" with his season over and said that he has been a terrific influence on the squad. Nevertheless, Murdoch was then part of the Falkirk squad that won the 2011–12 Scottish Challenge Cup, as the club won 1–0 against Hamilton on 1 April 2012. At the end of the 2011–12 season, he made thirty–six appearances in all competitions. During the season, Pressley praised Murdoch for his good displays and nicknamed him "Lazarus".
At the start of the 2012–13 season, Murdoch continued to remain in Falkirk’s first team, playing in the midfield position. On 2 September 2012, he was then chosen to be the club’s penalty taker, scoring the opener in the 2–1 defeat to Livingston. Three weeks later on 22 September 2012, Murdoch scored his second goal of the season, scoring from a penalty spot, in the 1–1 draw with Airdrie United. On 15 December 2012, he scored his third goal of the season, from a penalty, in a 2–0 win against Cowdenbeath. Murdoch scored on 26 January 2013 and 2 February 2013 against Airdrie United and Forfar Athletic respectively. On 5 March 2013, he scored a 90th-minute header to secure Falkirk a 1–1 league draw against Raith Rovers. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Murdoch made forty appearances and scoring six times in all competitions. For his performances, he was awarded the Falkirk Herald Starshot prize.
Following this, Murdoch was offered a new deal by Falkirk, but he turned down the chance to stay in Scotland, moving instead to English outfit Fleetwood Town.
Fleetwood Town On 14 June 2013, Fleetwood Town confirmed the signing of Murdoch on a two-year deal. Upon joining the club, he said his aim was to win a first team place.
Murdoch made his Fleetwood Town’s debut, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Steven Schumacher, in a 3–1 against Dagenham & Redbridge in the opening game of the season. Since joining the club, he became a first team regular, playing in the midfield position. Murdoch also faced competitions in the midfield position along the way. Towards the end of the 2013–14 season, he continued to alternate between the starting line–up and substitute bench. This also includes when on 26 May 2014, Murdoch came on as an 86th-minute substitute for Iain Hume in the League Two playoffs final, defeating Burton Albion 1–0 at Wembley Stadium that saw Fleetwood Town promoted to League One in his first season with the club.In his first season at Fleetwood, Murdoch made forty-seven appearances for the club in all competitions.
Murdoch's second season at Fleetwood Town was not as good as his first season with his first team opportunities limited mostly to appearances on the substitutes bench. Following his loan spell at Northampton Town came to an end, he returned to the first team at the club and continued to find his playing time, coming from the substitute bench. Murdoch made his first appearance for Fleetwood Town since returning from his loan spell with Northampton Town on 10 February 2015, in a 1–0 win over Barnsley He later made nine more appearances for the club, making five starts along the way. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Murdoch made thirteen appearances in all competitions. On 6 May 2015, he was released by Fleetwood Town and made 61 appearances in all competitions and scoring no goals upon departing the club.
Northampton Town (loan) Murdoch joined Northampton Town on loan on 30 October 2014, with the loan due to end on 3 January 2015.
He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 victory over AFC Wimbledon on 1 November 2014. On 22 November 2014, Murdoch then set up a goal for Marc Richards to score the only goal of the game against Stevenage to end Northampton Town’s winless streak. On 13 December 2014, he scored his first goal in English football and his only goal in 8 appearances for Northampton in a 3–2 defeat against Plymouth Argyle. By January, Murdoch's loan spell with Northampton came to an end and he returned to his parent club.
Ross County On 17 June 2015, Ross County confirmed the signing of Murdoch on a two-year deal, marking his return to Scotland. Upon joining the club, he said about his determination to prove himself in Scotland’s top-flight football.
He made his Ross County debut, starting a match and played 56 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–0 defeat against Celtic on 1 August 2015,. After being dropped from the starting eleven for the next three matches, Murdoch returned to the first team, coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute, in a 4–0 win against Kilmarnock on 22 August 2015. In the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup against Falkirk, he set up two goals against his former club, in a 2–0 win to help Ross County advance to the next round. Following his return to the first team, Murdoch alternated between the starting line–up and substitute bench at the club. On 12 December 2015, he scored his first Ross County goal, in a 3–1 win against Hamilton Academical on 12 December 2015.
By December, however, Murdoch found his playing time, coming from the substitute bench. Murdoch won the Scottish League Cup with Ross County who defeated Hibernian in the final 2–1 on 13 March 2016, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Ian McShane. On 24 April 2016, he scored his second Ross County goal scoring the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Celtic. At the end of the 2015–16 season, he made 34 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions.
Murdoch was released by Ross County on 13 June 2016.
Dundee United On 14 June 2016, Murdoch signed for Scottish Championship club Dundee United on an initial one-year deal. It came after the Tangerines were interested in signing him.