Bob Murray's career began with his local team, Inverurie Locos, where he was learning a trade on the railways.

County manager, Andy Beattie, had a brother who lived in Kintore, near Kemnay, and who scouted in and around the Aberdeen area.

It was on his recommendation that Murray was tempted by a two-year contract, the 19-year-old signing for County on November 24 1951.

Bob Murray continued to play football as he completed his National Service, based in Market Drayton.

Tall and slim, Murray was an intelligent half-back but, whilst making the majority of appearances in this position, he was more than capable of deputising at full-back and, occasionally, as an inside-forward.

He quickly built up an excellent understanding with Billy McCulloch and Gordon Wilmott and later with Frank Clempson, Ken Hodder and Trevor Porteous in a side which could never attain the consistency to challenge for promotion.

In addition to possessing a tough character, he was committed to keeping fit, both qualities helping him to achieve the remarkable distinction of appearing in 226 consecutive League and Cup games between August 28 1954 and February 14 1959.

When his professional career finally ended in May 1963, Bob Murray had not missed an FA Cup tie in 11 seasons and had made 495 League and Cup appearances whilst scoring 32 goals.

His record number of League appearances (465) remained until Andy Thorpe passed it in 1991.

Murray moved into non-League football with Bangor City and then Ashton United and worked with an upholstering firm before returning to British Aerospace where he had completed his apprenticeship when first arriving from Scotland in 1951.

As at Edgeley Park, Bob Murray provided similar loyalty to British Aerospace, working there for 27 years before he retired in 1993.