‘I can remember Andy playing in my street. I wish I’d kept a clod of grass’

By MARTYN MCLAUGHLIN
Published on 17/09/2012 00:00

FROM townsfolk who recalled a bushy-haired youngster playing in Dunblane’s close-knit streets with his brother, to primary age pupils who have grown upon idolising him as a sporting superstar, generations of people from across the country turned out to welcome Andy Murray home yesterday.

“It’s such a wonderful day for Dunblane,” said Eileen Sinclair, left. “I can remember seeing Andy and Jamie as young boys playing in my street. I just wish I’d kept a clod of the grass to sell on eBay.”

Her friend Anne Casebow, who came from Perth to witness proceedings, had lost none of the excitement she felt from staying up into the small hours to watch Murray’s five-hour defeat of Novak Djokovic at the Arthur Ashe stadium. “I was jumping around in my nightie,” she recalled. “This is just as good, it’s put a real spring in everyone’s step.”

Murray was not the only Dunblane native to enjoy a homecoming yesterday. Roddy McGeoch, right, travelled back from Berwickshire with his son, Ruari. “I remember when Andy won the junior title at the US Open back in 2004,” said the solicitor. “You could see he had the ability back then, but it was still so wonderful to see him win a grand slam. ”

Youngsters from Dunblane Primary, Murray’s old school, were thrilled to see their hero in the flesh. Cameron Reid-Thomas, 11, said: “We’re Andy’s biggest fans, we all came here to see him and say well done.”