Judy Murray has made an emotional plea for political payback as a reward for her “national treasure” sons making Scotland proud.
The mother of Andy and Jamie has joined forces with Tennis Scotland and warned it’s now or never for creating a Murray tennis legacy.
Judy has long campaigned for the achievements of her boys to inspire a new generation of players, coaches and facilities.
Instead, she fears it could drown in political indifference as she called on the Scottish government and Lawn Tennis Association to do more.
In the decade when Andy and Jamie were most successful, from 2006-2016, not one indoor pay and play court was built in Scotland.
Five are currently under construction, including two in Edinburgh, as well as sites in Greenock, Inverness and Elgin, with a target of 10 by 2022.
In contrast, the Czech Republic have built 2,265 indoor courts in the last decade alone.
Meanwhile, the LTA commits a paltry one per cent of its turnover to tennis in Scotland when its financial strength has been underpinned in recent times by the success of the Murrays, especially at Wimbledon.
Asked for a message to Nicola Sturgeon, Judy said: “It would be an absolute crying shame if there was nothing to show for what they did. The profile they have brought to Scotland in a global individual sport is amazing.
“I still find it quite hard to believe sometimes that in 2016 they ended up world No.1s in singles and doubles. Really? Two little kids from Dunblane, with its soggy artificial grass courts? It’s staggering.
“When I was young I was the Scottish No.1, which might sound quite good, but hardly anybody was competing and one man and his dog came to watch.
“There was no profile, nothing. I could never have imagined we would have the success we have enjoyed since. Two Davis Cup semi-finals in Glasgow? Are you kidding me?
“When Andy had his press conference in Australia and revealed he wasn’t sure how much longer he could play, I was blown away by the outpouring of love for him across the country.
“I can’t walk anywhere without someone asking me how he is doing – and it’s ‘our Andy’. It’s a national treasure thing and it’s something to be lauded and applauded for the long term.
“I think the Scottish public want to see something that recognises what they achieved.
“In the long term you want something that says, ‘Look what was created in Scotland’. Are you really going to tell me we are going to have nothing to show at the end of it?
This is why all of us who really want to drive this have to come together to persuade the government and the LTA to come with us and deliver this plan.”
Murray joined forces with Tennis Scotland chief executive Blane Dodds at Cromlix House on 14th March, 2019, just a few miles from the public courts where her sons were set on the course to stardom.
Their action plan will ask the government and LTA to act this year to support a plan for Scotland that includes Murray’s controversial community pay and play facility at Park of Keir on the outskirts of Dunblane.
She plans to develop a nationwide workforce of coaches and open up the land around it for easier public access to encourage family activities.
But campaigners say it will lead to the erosion of centuries-old greenbelt land and is a hotel and executive housing development in all but name.
Murray said: “There’s talent everywhere in Scotland in all sports but it’s not always given the opportunity to develop. We want to give that to more kids in more areas of the country.”
Dodds added: “We have a £15million commitment from the LTA and sportscotland to provide more indoor facilities and later this year we’ll be opening our GB national academy in Stirling.
“Facilities are one thing but we must work more effectively to build a nationwide workforce to deliver on that commitment.”
Judy even played it for laughs when asked if Scotland could ever manufacture another Andy, she said: “Personally, no – it’s too late for me!”
