Advantage Stirling: Murray opens ace facilities
Scottish tennis sensation Andy Murray will return to his roots on Monday 27 November to open a £1.3 million extension to the Scottish National Tennis Centre at the University of Stirling.
Funded by sportscotland (£500,000), the Lawn Tennis Association (£450,000), the University of Stirling (£325,000) and Tennis Scotland (£25,000), the two new acrylic courts cement Stirling’s position as Scotland’s focal point for performance training in tennis; the National Tennis Centre already boasts 4 indoor courts and 2 outdoor courts.
As a school boy living in Dunblane, Andy and his brother Jamie used the University’s indoor courts as their training base – training during the day, after school and weekends under the guidance of their mother and Scotland’s then National Tennis Coach Judy Murray. Jamie continues to train at the University with doubles partner and University sports scholar Colin Fleming.
University of Stirling Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christine Hallett said: “The University has long been at the forefront of high performance sport and training. More than 70 talented tennis players have benefited from our international sports scholarship programme over the past 25 years and these new courts will help us to increase tennis participation in Scotland and nurture Scotland’s finest young sporting talent.” 
She added: “We are delighted to welcome Andy back to the campus. This project goes back to the 1990s when Andy and Jamie trained for hours and hours on our courts as schoolboys; and look where it has taken them. These new facilities are the result of the drive, energy and commitment of our partners including sportscotland, the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Scotland as well as our own estates and sports studies staff.”
sportscotland also announced today (Monday 27 November) further investment in Tennis Scotland for 2007. The award of £318,000, of which £200,000 is from the sportscotland lottery fund will go towards club development, coaching, medal success, organisational development and player improvement.
Chair of sportscotland, Julia Bracewell OBE, said: “We recognise the importance of tennis in Scotland and we hope our funding of the Scottish National Tennis Centre along with our continued support to Tennis Scotland will help build on recent achievements. Our investment aims to support tennis at all levels and help athletes with dreams of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray realise their potential.”
Speaking of the enhanced facilities, Chief Executive of Tennis Scotland, David Marshall said: “Quite simply, this enhanced facility will become the hub for tennis in this country. In addition to a central training resource, a home base for our players on the tour and a high performance centre, players can also enjoy the benefit of superb support facilities including sports sciences and a state of the art fitness centre, creating what is, in effect, a sports village. This is a hugely significant development in terms of putting the infrastructure in place if we are to ensure our most promising players are given every assistance possible in their drive to the top of the game.”
Chief Executive of the LTA, Roger Draper added: "It is vital to the future success of tennis in Great Britain that our elite and on track players have access to these type of high performance facilities. I am sure this will help to create a real focal point of excellence for tennis in Scotland."
Welcoming the launch of the new extension, Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said: “Quality sports facilities are essential to develop the expertise of Scotland’s athletes. These new facilities at the Scottish National Tennis Centre are a welcome addition. There is great potential across Scotland and we are committed to supporting the elite as well as nurturing up and coming players to ensure a bright future for tennis in Scotland."