Derry John Murkin: That was my best day so far in a Schalke shirt

Derry, I’ve heard that you’re supposedly living in the same building in Gelsenkirchen as the coach. Is that true?
That’s true, actually. We’re neighbours.

Have you had to knock on Karel Geraerts door yet to ask to borrow a cup of sugar or anything like that?
No, that hasn’t happened yet (laughs). I’ve not seen him that often on the stairs. Once, twice maybe. It’s not like we bump into each other three times a day. But of course, if I have any issues, the distances are short.

Keke Topp lives there too, right? Have you been to each other’s place to play computer games or to watch a match together?
Opposite. Keke’s a quiet neighbour. He doesn’t cause any problems (laughs).

At that exact moment, the interview is interrupted. Keke Topp is filming from the training camp for his vlog and gets Derry John Murkin to smile for the camera. His teammate’s insights are entertaining, says the Englishman. His clear recommendation to all involved with Schalke: “Watch Keke’s vlog on YouTube!” When Topp hears this, he laughs and makes a point of saying that Derry John Murkin is definitely one of his favourite neighbours.

Well that seems to have cleared up the question of you being a good neighbour. Who else do you get on with best in the team?
I can’t and don’t want to single out any one player, because I get on with all the lads. Off the pitch it’s Bryan Lasme and Yusuf Kabadayi most of all. We do loads, and go out for meals together. We’ve already visited a few different restaurants. I like a good steak, and I like sushi as well. I’ve also been out with Thomas Ouwejan and Soichiro Kozuki. At the training camp I shared a room with Tomas Kalas. He’s a super guy as well.

You didn’t join FC Schalke 04 until a few weeks after the season had started, so this is your first training camp as a Royal Blue. Does being here in Portugal give you a chance to get to know your teammates a little better off the pitch?
The nine days in Albufeira were really exhausting. At my previous club, FC Volendam, it was never that intensive in a training camp. We had a bit more free time there and sometimes a day off.  But I think it’s important and right that we make the best possible use of the training camp time. That’s why we were in Portugal, after all. We trained well and in my eyes we made a step forward. You could also tell that there’s a good amount of team spirit in the group. Despite the tough sessions, it was fun.

You were born in England, but you then lived in the Netherlands for a long time and now you’re playing in Germany. How have you settled in in Gelsenkirchen?
At the beginning it wasn’t all plain sailing, because I’ve been separated from my family since the move. Since then, though, I feel like I’ve properly arrived and I’ve also seen quite a bit of the region.

And how are you getting to grips with the language? Have you learned a bit of German already?
I’m  always trying to sprinkle in a few sentences of German. I already understand a lot, and my speech is getting better from week to week as well.

Have your family already been to a game at the VELTINS-Arena?
My dad goes to nearly every game and my mum has been to a few games as well. They love the atmosphere in the stadium.

You played in a few different positions in the first half of the season – winger, full-back, centre-back. What’s your favourite position?
My favourite position is left-back. But if the manager wants to play me anywhere else, that’s fine as well. The important thing is that I play – and it’s even more important that I can help the team.

You’re obviously not able to play in the 2024 opener against Hamburger SV. How frustrating was your red card against Greuther Fürth on matchday 17?
I have to accept it, even if it hurts. Hamburg is one of the most attractive opponents in the league – I’d have loved to have played against them. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about it. So you can be sure that I’ll be supporting the boys from outside.

It will be the first match that you’ve missed since arriving from Volendam. Did you genuinely expect that you’d feature in every single game?
When I signed that’s obviously what I was hoping for. That it’s actually panned out like that makes me very happy. I’ll give my all in every training session so that I continue to get games.

Despite the team having struggled during the first half of the season, the home attendance has been 60,000 on average, while there are always thousands of fans at away games too. What was going through your head when you stepped out for your first home match at the VELTINS-Arena against 1. FC Magdeburg?
It was brilliant. Especially since the evening then went really well for me. We won, and I scored a goal in our 4-3 victory. So that was my best day so far in a Schalke shirt.

Every Schalke fan will be hoping for plenty more moments like it. What are your personal goals for the year ahead?
I want to contribute with more goals and assists as well, so we can win as many games as possible and climb positions in the table. We laid the foundations for that aim in Albufeira. We’re all looking forward to when the second half of the season finally begins!