Murphy enjoyed a glittering rugby league career after signing for his hometown St Helens on his 16th birthday, going on to win at Wembley and represent Great Britain.
The legendary half back won four Challenge Cup Finals at Wembley, two with Saints in 1961 and 1966, and then with Leigh in 1971 and Warrington in 1974.
On top of that he won every other domestic competition in a playing career that spanned from 1956 to 1975 before going on to coach at Warrington, Leigh, numerous times, Salford, Wigan, St Helens and Huddersfield as well as England and Lancashire.
However, his family discovered at Christmas that many of those medals he won have been given away and this week issued appeals on social media.
RL Cares explain that Murphy was sadly diagnosed with vascular dementia in late 2024, a year that also saw the sudden and very sad death of his wife, best friend and rock, Alice.
They state: “His illness has accelerated in recent years and the loss of Alice was a cruel blow to a man who has won just about every honour the game can bestow.
“Left on his own, 85-year-old Alex became rather lost and his dementia led to some uncharacteristic, and rather unfortunate behaviour, including gifting his many medals, and much of the memorabilia associated with his illustrious career, to complete strangers, occasionally at a local pub and sometimes when they came to his home.
“Understandably, this has left Alex’s family very upset and they have issued a heartfelt appeal for the return of his collections, which are not just important to them but are of national significance.
“That some people have taken advantage of Alex’s confused seems likely: however many others may have accepted his ‘gifts’ unaware of his illness and fragile condition.
“The rugby league family is, at its heart, decent: Rugby League Cares is urging anyone who has received medals or memorabilia of Alex’s, either directly or via third parties, to do the right thing and return them.
“Help us restore this prized collection to the Murphy family – contact us at info@rlcares.org.uk if you have, or know someone who has Alex’s medals and memorabilia.”