AFTER a well-travelled playing career, Anthony Murray has found somewhere he feels he can truly call home in his role of North Wales Crusaders head coach.

Murray, whose professional career included spending the 2001 season with Barrow Raiders and later had a short spell in charge, returned to the Wrexham-based club for his second spell at the helm midway through the 2018 League One season.

After struggling in previous years, the Crusaders are now stable with former player Andy Mousey as CEO and when the call came to return, Murray had little hesitation in saying yes.

“I’ve always been a Crusader at heart and I love the club,” said Murray.

“Clive Griffiths gave me my first opportunity to work under him at Cru and I was bitten by the Crusaders bug ever since.

“There’s no hiding from the financial difficulties North Wales Crusaders have been in, but that’s gone now and we’re on an even keel, and we’ll just move forward and do the best we can.”

Murray is eager to build a strong Welsh identity at the club, including giving players such as promising full-back Aled Davies the opportunity to progress from the amateur game.

“A lot of my recruitment at North Wales over the years has been from there and we’ve pulled some gems out of it,” said Murray.

“Some want to test themselves playing at professional level and if I can offer that opportunity, then I will.”