The Ghost of White Hart Lane

A complete account of my search for my father would take a lifetime to tell because that's how long I've been looking.

Spurs and Scotland star John White was one of the best footballers of the 1960s. However, in July 1964 he was struck by lightning and killed at 27 years-old. From humble beginnings growing up just outside Edinburgh, through to football fame and his tragic death, the play shares John's cheeky humour. It also follows the story of his son Rob White, who was just five months old when his dad died. The play shines a light on the mental health challenges both father and son face and the way we deal with grief and loss.

Martin Murphy's The Ghost of White Hart Lane was originally produced by Bruised Sky Productions and supported by Tottenham Hotspur FC. It was commissioned by John White's son Rob and follows on from his and Julie Welch's Sunday Times bestselling biography The Ghost of White Hart Lane - 'In Search of My Father the Football Legend'.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July 2024 before the subsequent run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Underbelly in August 2024.


About the Author

Martin Murphy is a writer, director, performer and workshop leader. His recent writing credits include The Ghost of White Hart Lane (2024), along with Midas (2023) and Jonny Feathers the Rock & Roll Pigeon (2022) both at Park Theatre.

Martin's previous writing credits include Jury (Park Theatre / Zoom), Victim (Pleasance Courtyard / Kings Head Theatre), Worlds (VAULT Festival), Rockstar (Lyric Hammersmith), Villain (Soho Theatre / Underbelly) & Manor (Soho Theatre). Villain & Victim are both published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.

Martin also directed Villain, Worlds & Victim. As a workshop leader Martin works for the National Theatre working with teenage playwrights all over the country as part of their New Views competition. Martin is a former Associate Director of Arc Theatre where he ran their Youth Theatre & has delivered playwriting & drama workshops for a number of organisations including Group 64.

As a performer Martin was half of musical comedy double act Pistol & Jack who played at over a hundred venues across the UK & internationally including Secret Garden Party, Assembly Edinburgh, NuWrite Festival (Zagreb), Madame Jojos's & Soho Theatre.