Bobby Murphy ‘85 joined the Greenhill community in third grade, where he spent his time engaging in a wide variety of activities including Quiz Bowl, The Evergreen, volleyball, and more. 

“It was a place I remember where your value wasn’t just judged on your grades,” he said. 

Murphy said, however, that it wasn’t just the school that resonated with him but the people he created friendships with. 

“You were there for the good times and the bad times,” Murphy said. “And even today, if I needed to, I could call on quite a few people that I haven’t seen in years, but I’m sure would pick up the phone.”  

Because of this unique connection, it was at Greenhill that Murphy said he learned the value of being surrounded by the right people. 

Now, Murphy works as head coach and supporting director of Portland Hearts of Pine, a professional soccer team in Portland, Maine. As one of the first staff members, he said he was tasked with a lot of responsibility helping the recently established team. 

“I was the first technical hire on the soccer side, so I had to start a club from scratch last year,” Murphy said. “There were no players, no staff and no infrastructure.”  

Aside from playing soccer, Murphy said he helps the team be active in the Portland community, believing that soccer can be used to create change and opportunity. 

Recently, Murphy has gotten attention for wearing a sweatshirt with the word “neat” as a subtle way to protest the increase in Immigration Customs & Enforcement activities in his community. 

“Portland has the second largest per capita East African population in the country, behind Minneapolis,” he said. “So, we have a large Somali population, and one of our young fans was actually picked up by ICE last season.” 

Murphy said that he had to be more subtle with the meaning of the shirt since he could not wear one with an overt message. 

“I tried to be clever,” Murphy said. “And, you know, if you go into a bar and order a whiskey neat, it means it comes with no ice. So, I got that sweatshirt and started wearing it, and people started asking what it meant.” 

According to Murphy, the “neat” sweatshirt now has a group of supporters who sell neat-themed shirts, with profits going to the Maine Human Rights Coalition, an organization providing legal services for immigrant families. 

For supporters of the soccer team, the “neat” brigade has become a subgroup within the community. Additionally, it has gained traction and been recognized by some major political figures as well. 

“Graham Platner, who’s a Senate candidate, is wearing the sweatshirt,” Murphy said. “I heard Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, is now on the Instagram following, so he might have a sweatshirt for all I know.” 

Murphy said that the values he learned from his upbringing and his time at Greenhill, as well as his experience as a soccer coach, influenced his decision to wear the shirt. 

“I think soccer clubs are different than other professional sports teams, and they should be,” Murphy said. “We made a choice here to really reflect the values of the community that we represent.” 

Murphy also said that he wanted to use his platform to advocate for the values he believes in. 

“I mean, you got to take a stand,” Murphy said. “If you believe something’s wrong, then, as an adult, you have a responsibility to state what you believe and stand by what you believe to be the way people should be treated,” Murphy said. 

Portland Hearts of Pine’s club motto is “lead with your heart,” something Murphy hopes his soccer team tries to live up to every day. 

The players dedicate time to supporting various organizations to fulfill their motto. Last year, Murphy said they made 150 appearances at several events, ranging from soup kitchens to hospitals and libraries.  

One program the team supports is called Kennedy Park, which uses soccer as a means of assimilation for new immigrant families. 

“You’ll go out there and you’ll hear six different languages spoken and kids from all over, but it’s a way they learn,” Murphy said. “We’ve started an after-school program that uses soccer as a means to teach values and coping skills with young people. So, we just try and be out there every day, doing the best we can, trying to change the world a little bit.” 

Murphy said that seeing the local community united by a love of soccer is rewarding.  

“It fills me with a sense of responsibility to be a steward of this club,” Murphy said. “It’s not my club, it’s somebody else’s, but it’s actually the community’s, but I’m a steward of it for as long as I’m here and to make sure that my players and I are the best example of what professional athletes can be.” 

Murphy says that the values he learned at Greenhill and as a soccer coach influenced him to do the right thing no matter what. 

“There’s no ‘what’s in it for me’,” Murphy said. “There’s no ‘what do I get out of this’. It’s just right action for the sake of right action.”