Andy Murray doesn’t care about statues… he wants to train future tennis champions in Scotland
Proud mum Judy Murray says Andy and brother Jamie will both spend more time in Scotland after they hang up their racquets, helping to nurture young talent at their planned tennis and sporting complex.
The Murrays are fronting the £20million Park of Keir complex between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. It will see tennis courts, a golf course and housing built on greenbelt land and the plans went to a public inquiry, with SNP ministers giving the green light.
Judy said: “We have had offers from other countries to open an Andy Murray tennis academy. But, for us, it will always be about Scotland and our backyard. We want to give back to the game that has given us all so much. None of us have ever wavered from the position that we want to do this in our home country.”
“We all want to give the country a centre of national significance for tennis and other sports and the time is now. I keep hearing, ‘Oh, they’ll never produce another Andy Murray.’ Why not? I have a huge amount of experience to share and I can’t take it with me. Andy and Jamie are not fussed about statues or anything like that. It’s the tennis itself that they are passionate about.”
The complex at Park of Keir would provide grassroots facilities and employ a network of coaches. Judy won an eight-year planning battle at the end of 2021, but has continued to face opposition from local campaigners and politicians.
However, the project has the backing of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Scottish Government and the Lawn Tennis Association. And last week tennis great Billie Jean King called for the centre to be built, complete with a statue of Sir Andy in the grounds.
Andy has consistently refused to compete in Saudi Arabia because of his concerns over human rights, and has been a vocal champion of women’s rights. Saudia Arabia and the oil-rich Gulf states have been accused of ‘sportswashing’ their reputations by pumping huge sums into golf, football, tennis, cycling and other sports.
