Non-League and Academy football writer

Mural Karagul is a player for FC Baresi (step 6) of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. A player who I have seen on a good number of occasions for the club who play their home matches at Wodson Park, in Ware, both this season and during last season, I thought that I’d write a short piece on the vastly experienced forward. Murat has previously played for Haringey Borough, Wingate & Finchley, Broxbourne Borough, and Ware, a club that he made a real impression on. Now in his 30s, Murat has been a very important player for FC Baresi, since joining the club during their Essex Alliance Football League days. Finishing last season (2023/24) as the club’s top goalscorer, Murat has been a mainstay of the side, so far, during the 2024/25 season, making many appearances for them.

Murat is a tenacious and talented forward, who works so hard for the team, and last season (2023/24), his goals and all-round play was so crucial to Baresi winning promotion to step 6. A skilful player who is very capable of dropping deep to link the play, Murat Karagul’s positioning in forward areas is consistently good, and he likes to make good forward runs off the ball. Since I first saw Murat play for FC Baresi, his quality in and around the oppositions penalty area, is clear. He has a real variety of finishes, and he has really good awareness on the pitch. In an important 2-1 win against Newbury Forest, early on in the season, Murat scored both goals in that win for Tufail Amjad’s side. However, his work off the ball was just as important, with his link play, and selfless off the ball work really showing just how dedicated he is on the pitch, for his team.

A versatile player, Murat even started one particular game for FC Baresi, at the beginning of this season, in central-defence. He may not have scored as many goals at this point of the 2024/25 season, then during the same point of the previous 2023/24 season, but Murat’s influence on FC Baresi, and in games, is in my opinion, just as impressive. He adds real experience and quality, alongside the likes of Marvin Hamilton, Ahmed Abdullah, Marvin McCoy, and Junior Appiah, to the team. There is still plenty to play for in the league, for FC Baresi, during the remainder of this season, and I’m sure that Murat will continue to play a big and important role for them.