Current plan doesn’t do Murrays justice
Andy Murray - World No 1. Jamie Murray - World No 1 earlier this year.
What a credit these two laddies are to their country, their sport, their families but most of all to themselves. The years of application and dedication to reach those levels are unbelievable.
Rafael Nadal is a friend of Andy Murray and has trained with him, I believe, since they were youngsters and attended the same training and coaching facility in Barcelona. His application and dedication to his sport is on a par with the Murray brothers.
In June of this year, the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy opened in Mallorca and sponsored by Movistar. This facility has 26 courts of differing surfaces, both indoor and outdoor, fitness suite, two swimming pools, mini football pitch and a multi-sport court.
It also has a campus with accommodation, health centre as well as a coaching and education centre. It is magnificent.
Now compare this with the proposed development at Park of Keir which has polarised the natives and in order to build it, the developers have espied an opportunity. It pales into insignificance against what has been produced in Mallorca.
If the Murrays brothers are to be remembered and honoured by a facility bearing their name, it should be on a par with the Nadal complex. The sponsors will be out there particularly with the brothers’ status and it should be in a central location. It could and should be a stand-alone complex for tennis and not dependent on a wee golf course and a few houses for funding.
If the proposal by Mrs Murray goes ahead, it is going to be compared with the Mallorcan enterprise and will simply not stand comparison.
This in no way undermines what Mrs Murray, a rightly proud mother, is trying to create but with the help of Government, sponsors and significant others, Scotland surely has the wherewithal to match the Mallorcan lad who has created his dream with no animosity whatsoever.
And Mrs Murray and her two sons are fundamental to the project.
Surely we are better than what is being proposed at the moment.
G Raff Causewayhead