That's when he stepped out onto his beloved Windsor Park pitch and faced his boyhood heroes, now known as Rangers Legends.

The star-studded line-up included past Ibrox heroes such as Graham Roberts, Dave McPherson, Mark Hateley, Mark Walters, Scott Nisbett and Graham Dodds.

But they weren't the only legends on the pitch, Murphy is another who deservedly fits into that category and that's why the crowds turned out to mark his special day.

Almost 3000 fans were treated, even to the rare spectacle of a Murphy goal — which may have come late but was worth the wait as he fired into the top corner just a few minutes before the final whistle.

Murphy was the last to score for the Blues, wrapping up a 5-3 win over their elders after other goals from Glenn Ferguson, Peter Thompson, Oran Kearney and Thomas Stewart.

At the other end Nisbett, Walters and Paul McKnight netted for Rangers, with the latter the pick of the day's bunch as it beat Linfield's number two keeper Chris McKendry from the half way line.

McKendry had been guesting for the Scottish side for most of the afternoon but, when he returned into his home nets, unlikely candidate Graham Roberts put on the gloves for the Legends.

New Blues boy Johnathan Harkness got a run out and even their kit man Gary Eccles got in on the act, taking over from McKendry in the dying moments.

The well organised match was then followed by a parade of this season's winnings as the Gibson, Irish and CIS Cups all graced the pitch.

But the day was not about trophies, it was about a true Blues' stalwart who has served the club exceptionally well over the past 11 years.

Following his successful Testimonial match, man of the day Winky was joined by nearly 500 guests in the Ramada Hotel, including both sets of players, for a night of celebration as they capped off what has been a very memorable year for a very memorable player.

LINFIELD: Mannus, Douglas, McShane, Gault, Murphy, Kearney, Ferguson, Bailie, Dickson, Mulgrew, Stewart, subs: Curran, Harkness, Burns, Lindsay, O'Kane, Thompson

RANGERS LEGENDS: McKendry, McPherson, Walker, Canoviles, Cundy, Sedgeley, Rae, Hateley, Walker, Walters, Nisbett, subs: Roberts, Dodds, Don, McKnight, R McCann, Carson