After almost 25 years serving as chairman – half his time involved with Armagh City FC as a whole – Aidan Murphy has decided to stand down.
The Club described it as “the end of an era” on social media on Wednesday evening as they made the decision public.
Aidan served as City chairman for a total of 24 years, over two spells between 1983 and 2001 and from 2018 to the present and has had links with the club going back more than 50 years.
During his first spell as chairman, he oversaw the move from The Holm in Milford to Holm Park in Armagh. This involved negotiating a lease on a green field site, the building of a new pitch, constructing of a clubhouse, building a 300-seat grandstand and the installation of floodlighting.
With the move to Armagh also came the name change from Milford Everton. He also saw City’s elevation to senior football for the first time in 1999 when they entered the Irish League First Division.
His first term as chairman also saw the founding of its highly successful Youth Section and the club forming its first ever Ladies team.
Since returning to chair the club in 2019 and with the appointment of Shea Campbell as manager the club’s first team has been on an upward trajectory and returned to senior football after having been away for seven years at the start of this season.
In addition to his involvement with Armagh City Football Club, Aidan has also represented the club continuously on Irish Football League / Irish FA / NI Football League committees for 50 years between 1975 and 2025.
During this time he also served two spells on the Irish FA Board from 2005-2008 and from 2011-2017 and two spells on the NI Football League Board from 2013-2014 and from 2018-2022. He also served terms as chair of the IFA Referees Committee, the IFA Championship Committee, IFA Intermediate Committee and the NIFL Premier Intermediate League Committee.
In advising the club of his decision Aidan stated: “As you will be aware I have been considering my position as chairman for some time now and this has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. There will never be a good time for me to stand down and I have always put the club first however I believe the time is right to have a new face at the helm who can continue to drive the club forward.”
Aidan added: “The role has taken up a huge amount of my time and emotion. I have loved it; it has been a huge privilege and an honour, and I do hope I have made a difference but only because I have enjoyed tremendous support from my fellow committee members over many years.
“I would particularly wish to thank all our sponsors over the years for their long-term support of the club.
Lastly, I would like to thank all the great players who have represented the club, the managers who have all delivered unwavering success and helped make the journey enjoyable most of the time and the volunteers which no club can function without.
“I believe the football club is in a really good place in many aspects. The positive impact the club has had on the city, providing a facility and structure for over 400 local children through our youth teams to enjoy football coaching in a safe and healthy environment along with promoting the city in a positive light through our success on the field at numerous age groups that has attracted nationwide publicity.
“This was evidenced in recent years by our Under 18s winning the Harry Cavan Youth Cup and when Eoin Toal the first ever product of our youth system gained a full international cap for Northern Ireland.
“I have been a fan of the club since my mid-teens that of course will not change and I would still hope to attend most games. I will always be available if anyone at the club ever needs me and am only a phone call away should any guidance be required.”
A club spokesman said that “Aidan Murphy’s contribution to Armagh City Football Club cannot be overstated. Without him we probably wouldn’t be a NI Football League club, and it is a huge testament to him that we have achieved so much over the past 40+ years.
“The club has grown significantly under his leadership. He has seen many changes both on and off the pitch during his tenure and no one can ever question his passion and enthusiasm for the club which has never waned over all his years at the club.
“He will be impossible to replace but on behalf of the Management Committee and everyone else at the club we wish him nothing but the best for the future.”
