Shropshire Star

Shropshire date for Judy Murray as she launches book

She is best known as the driving force behind the two greatest tennis champions the country has ever known.

Published
Judy Murray

And now Judy Murray has written her memoir, Knowing the Score.

According to her, the most important part of developing a child's abilities is to be a mum first and foremost.

Despite the public's perception of Judy being a pushy mum, she has always been a mum first and a coach second, she said.

She appeared at The Marches School in Oswestry on the first leg of a whistle stop publicity tour for her book, which is published tomorrow.

To a packed theatre of more than 200 members of the public, who ranged from bright eyed keen young players to grandmothers in wheelchairs, she told how she had gone from being a keen amateur to the mum of two great players.

The memoir, which commanded a six figure deal, tells of how she battled to bring her two sons, defending Wimbledon champion Andy and triple Grand Slam doubles winner and a Davis Cup champion Jamie from the soggy courts of Dunblane to the international stage, via desperate finances and growing pains.

The 57-year-old's inspirational story tells of the impact she has had on British tennis. From coaching multiple players at regional and national level under the auspices of the British tennis governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to being elected to lead the British Fed cup team.

In the packed hall in front of an audience of more than 200 people, she explained how she had decided to start a tennis club for children as a way of keeping her two boisterous sons entertained.

Calling fellow parents, she built up a formidable team, one which went on over the years to take titles and accolades around the world.

She also told the rapt audience told how she beat sexism and went on to study for of the top coaching courses in the country - which set her family on its path to fame.

As a youngster Judy was a brilliant player, she won 64 junior and senior titles and also briefly flirted with the professional circuit but despite being quick around the court and reading the game well, she did not have the power on her shots to make it as a pro.

But it was as a coach to Jamie and Andy, who, at the end of 30 is still as messy as he was as a child, that she found her calling.

Despite Jamie being the eldest by 15 months, Andy was determined to beat him at everything - a trait that survives to this day. Just a day after taking the Wimbledon title in 2013, he carried on his winning streak by thrashing Jamie at table tennis.

She revealed how the defending Wimbledon champion has had a tricky year, having contracted shingles and being affected by an elbow injury.

But her pride at her sons' achievements was evident and she became even more animated when she spoke of their successes both personally and professionally.

Judy also told of her time on the hit TV show Strictly and how she had taken the advice of her sons as to whether to appear. Jamie said she would love it and Andy told her she would be terrible. She was, she admitted, both.