The Murray family’s Deal Town links have grown even stronger this season.

With club captain Kane Smith plagued by injury in the Hoops’ first campaign at Isthmian South East, midfielder Macca Murray has regularly led the side.

Macca is following in dad Paul Murray’s footsteps - a former Deal player, coach and manager - who brought boss Steve King to the Charles Sports Ground with him a decade ago.

Now, Macca’s younger brother, Leighton, is playing for Deal under-23s.

“It would be nice to play with him,” said Macca, with all three Murray boys primarily midfielders.

“He recently got released from Gillingham, and he’s still very young and just playing for the under-23s. He wants to try to get into the first team.

“Kingy does give chances to players coming through from the under-23s. From there, you never know what can happen.

“If we played together, that would be really good.”

Murray Sr still regularly watches at Deal when he can, having recently left a coaching position at Ashford United.

Macca said: “He does watch, sometimes.

“He went with Hilly (Dean Hill) to Ramsgate when he was involved there and they got Kingy involved.

“Then, my dad came over to help out with Deal. He came at the same time that Kingy came over.

“My dad was with Ashford. He went there with Darren Hare and Alan Walker, and he stayed on with Danny Kedwell this year. He left not that long ago, just with work commitments.

“But he does come and watch me when he can.”

While the Murray boys spend plenty of time at Deal, Macca and Leighton’s mum is a less frequent visitor.

“She has never massively been into football,” said Macca.

“She might come to the big games and, if we play together, she might come for that. My dad played for Deal Town and, really, we’re just following in his footsteps.

“He has done a lot of travelling with us, supporting our football careers, but I suppose a lot of households are like that.”

While the 14th-placed Hoops have suffered a bad dip in form of late, losing six of their past seven matches, they remain comfortably in mid-table.

Murray, who is presently out injured, said: “It sounds a bit negative but, when you get promoted, the key is just to stay in the league.

“If you look at where we are, you would like to think we’ve done that so, overall, you could say it’s been a success.

“With our current form, we’re a bit down because a lot of our losses have come in one period.

“Overall, I’d say this season has been a success so far. A lot of us have played at this level before, but it’s changed a lot. We’re still trying to suss it out.

“I think a lot of us will stick around next year and maybe we’ll add in a couple of areas - although that’s down to Kingy - and, hopefully, climb a bit further up the league.”

While Murray, formerly of Ramsgate, Whitstable and Faversham, has played at the level before, he admits the players probably still need to adapt further to the standard.

The 30-year-old said: “A lot of us have played at this level before but over the years - even in recent years - it’s changed a lot.

“There’s some sides in the league with money and that’s attracting better players.

“But I don’t think the level has shocked anyone. Although a lot of us have played this level before, it’s the first time we have played this level as a group.

“One thing we have noticed is all teams are better in both boxes. We struggled a bit in our own box earlier this season, although we seem to have sorted that out a bit recently.

“We really dominated in that area in SCEFL [the Southern Counties East Premier Division] and that’s not been the same but, bar one or two games, we have always competed.

“Sometimes, we have deserved more than we have got out of games, but it’s no coincidence we have lost against all the top sides.

“I don’t think the level has shocked anyone, we just need to adapt a bit more.”

There is little for Deal to play for during the season run-in, although Murray thinks it’s crucial they don’t let this term just peter out.

“It’s important we don’t let the season fizzle out,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we improve because everyone is fighting for places next year and so we need to get on a run towards the end of this season and, hopefully, take that into next season.

“If we do find some good form and get on a run at the start of next season, you never know where that can take you.”

Murray revealed defender Smith has continued to lead the group, despite being out injured.

“Kane is the club captain,” he said. “Obviously, he has been very unlucky with injuries, which is a shame.

“But he’s still around a lot and does a lot of the organising for team events.

“With him not being involved, that’s given me a chance to captain the team and I do enjoy being captain.

“It gives you a bit of added responsibility but I think that’s a good thing.”

The fact Murray is skippering his hometown club has made the experience even sweeter.

“I’ve played for the club for a few years now,” said Murray, who joined in 2019. “I went away, travelling, and then I came back and went to Whitstable.

“We got promoted from SCEFL that year and won both cups. I’d known Kingy for years and it got to the stage where the club was on the up and I wanted to be part of it.

“The success the club has had was inevitable. It always takes time and doesn’t just happen, but we had a great time last year.

“I love it at Deal. It’s my hometown club.

“You see a lot of people you know in the town where it’s quite small and they’re always interested in how you’re doing.

“There’s a great atmosphere at the ground, as well, with the really good support we get.”

Deal visit struggling rivals Hythe on Saturday after hosting relegation-threatened Steyning Town Community tonight.

“We won’t underestimate teams but we’re expected to get results in these games so that’s what we need to try and do,” said six-goal Murray. “It’s key we get some momentum.

“These are the sort of games we need to win in order to get back on a run this season.”