Irish coach Brian Murphy is celebrating his third successful season on the trot after helping guide Ngaruawahia United to promotion in the NRFL Division Two in New Zealand.

It has been a rollercoaster year for Brian after his last success in NRFL Division Two, leading Onehunga Mangere United to the title as Head Coach and Director of Football, led to him winning a plum role as Head Coach of Magpies Crusaders in Australia’s Queensland Premier League.

Sadly, that adventure ended abruptly when he walked away amidst allegations that a Crusaders player had been involved in betting on the team’s matches.

Brian – also Director of Football when Papamoa were crowned Waibop Premiership champions in 2020 – returned to New Zealand to re-evaluate his next steps.

He was delighted to be quickly offered a role as First Team Coach at Ngaruawahia and for the third year in a row he has had success in his adopted homeland.

Brian stressed: ”I wouldn’t be able to do this if I didn’t have people who believe in me and give me the opportunity.

”For this I’ll forever be in their debt. The key message for me is to surround yourself with good people.”

In January of 2022, Brian had the bravery to open his heart on some of his darkest days in coaching in a Football Careers interview that proved both hugely enlightening and thought provoking for our members.

Now he is a good place and his latest coaching success was augmented in the week that followed when he was accepted onto the MSc course in Advance Performance Football Coaching at the University of South Wales.