When he signed from Sunderland in the summer of 2006 club manager Brian Laws enthused that, in Joe Murphy, the Iron had signed a goalkeeper of the highest quality - and looking at his performances for the Club since joining it is hard to dispute that fact.

The shotstopper has put in a series of excellent displays since signing for United, becoming a favourite on the terraces.

Joe began his career at Tranmere Rovers and his boss there, former Liverpool great John Aldridge, tipped him to go to the very top. Murphy first came into the team as a Republic or Ireland U-21 international and was the latest Rovers' goalkeeping prodigy after Steve Simonsen, who went on to join Everton. Murphy turned in some impressive performances after Simonsen's departure and won the role of John Achterberg's understudy at the start of 1999/2000 season.

He enjoyed a fantastic debut at Prenton Park, saving a penalty in a 2-0 Worthington Cup win over Oxford on 12th October 1999 and won the goalkeeper's jersey as a result, winning rave reviews and starring as his side made their way through the rounds to the Worthington Cup final, against Leicester City at Wembley. Martin O'Neill's side proved victorious, but Murphy continued to win acclaim - pipping Achterberg to the goalkeeping jersey for the majority of the remainder of that campaign.

After breaking his collarbone he missed three months of the 2000/01 season before reclaiming his place as custodian at the end of the season.

His performances in the following campaign had the Premiership scouts flocking to Prenton Park, although, again, injury blighted his campaign as he missed over four months. His final Rovers appearance came in the 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City.

With his contract up in the summer of 2002, Murphy was keen to use this opportunity to move up a level, and in July 2002 he signed a four-year deal with Premiership newcomers West Bromwich Albion.

As the player was under 24, the Baggies had to pay a fee. It was destined to be set by a tribunal after Rovers rejected an initial offer of £150,000.

He had a dream start to his Baggies career after Russell Hoult was sent off for hauling down Liverpool striker Michael Owen in the box at Anfield. Murphy came on and with his first touch saved a spot-kick from the England international!

Hoult's super form kept Murphy out of the side for that season and the remainder of the next one too, though the 2003/04 season did see him being capped by the full Republic of Ireland side, appearing in the 3-0 win over Canada, and the 2-2 draw at home to Turkey. However, despite being victorious in all four of his appearances in a West Brom short that Championship promotion season, he was to not appear in West Brom shirt for the first team again.

2004/05 saw him enjoy a 25-game loan spell at Paul Merson's Walsall, in League One. Murphy impressed, but wanted to try his luck at the Premiership once more - this time at Mick McCarthy's Sunderland, who came in for him after their promotion to the Championship in summer 2005.

Unfortunately he couldn't break into the first team, with Kelvin Davies holding firm, and he went on to Walsall once more - where he made 14 appearances during another loan spell at the Bescot.

After his three months ended in January though he knew he needed a move for more regular first team football, and before the season was out Iron boss Brian Laws was on the case - trying to secure the signature of the Dublin-born goalkeeper.

His signing was secured on 13th May 2006 and, penning a two-year-deal, Murphy was hoping to secure his spot back in the Ireland squad and to help the Iron to promotion from League One.

He made his Scunthorpe United league debut at Bristol City on Saturday, August 6, 2006, and was the star performer in a 1-0 defeat. He went on to become, undoubtedly, the best goalkeeper in the division during his first season of the club - keeping an amazing 24 clean sheets and helping himself to a League One 'Golden Glove' and a spot in the PFA League One team of the season in the process.

In addition to that haul, Murphy also scooped numerous player-of-the-year awards at the end of the campaign. As well as all that, he also managed to strike the crossbar from the halfway line in Soccer AM's crossbar challenge.

A tremendous shotstopper, Murphy controlled his area with pride in 2006/07 and was a pivotal part of the club's promotion.His experience of playing in the Championship will no doubt prove invaluable next season.