Good Guiys Do Get Recognition, And Deserve It

BILL McMURTRIE is perhaps the ultimate rugby poacher turned gamekeeper. The young Galashiels Academy schoolboy, who had his first match report published in the Border Telegraph, aged 15 – well it helped that his Dad was Editor – went on to become the distinguished Rugby Correspondent of the (Glasgow) Herald, before he segued into the corridors of power at BT Murrayfield as a full Council member.

Bill McMurtrie, as in this picture, handed-out a lot of 

awards onbehalf of the SRU. Last night, he was on the

receiving end, and deservedly so.

Bill, has no ego, thus, he gets a wee big miffed when I say this, but, for me, he was "the best President the SRU never had." Illness, his own and that of his beloved and devoted wife Evelyn has forced Bill to give up active involvement in rugby, the game in which he has made, over 60-plus years, a huge impact.

So, on Friday night, in an under-stated ceremony at GHA's Braidholm ground a gathering, including no less than two SRU Presidents, incumbent Dee Bradbury and Ed Crozier, plus Board member Willie Gardner convened to see Bill's contribution to rugby recognised. It was an appropriate setting, given Bill's long association with the club, as secretary.

Dee sparkled, recalling the fall-outs she had with Bill, when she was President of Oban Lorne Bill, was the SRU official charged with investigating alleged rules breaches: “When I was in the Police, I have seen murder cases less-thoroughly investigated,” she joked. But, as she made clear, nobody ever fell-out with WM McMurtrie for long.

Dee then gave way to Dougie Belmore, who paid tribute to Bill's help and guidance, in particular his forensic knowledge of the SRU bye-laws, before praising: “his phenomenal impact on Scottish Rugby, as journalist and administrator,” before, on behalf of the West Region clubs, he presented Bill with a quaich, while Evelyn received an SRU necklace.

In reply, Bill, for once, was struggling for words. He mentioned his life-long interest in the game, which had actually taken him round the world. “It has been an absolute delight to be part of Scottish rugby, and while I doubt if I will ever again be at Murrayfield – where I first ventured as a 13-year-oild schoolboy, to see Scotland beat Wales 19-0 in 1951, I will still be able to get down here to Braidholm.”

The Herald has fallen a long way from the standards it had when Bill was Sports Editor, it no longer covers rugby as comprehensively as in Bill's day. In fact, the paper no longer has a dedicated Rugby Correspondent, while it barely comments on games below those involving Glasgow and Edinburgh in the PRO14. Both David Barnes and I tipped-off the paper about Bill's presentation, they deigned to cover the occasion, which, considering here was a former Sports Editor, was for me, criminal.

In Bill McMurtrie's heyday, if you pardon the crudity, nobody farted in West of Scotland rugby, but Bill McMurtrie knew about it. He would as often turn-up at a midweek, end-of-season Ayrshire Cup game, as at West v Glasgow Accies. We shall not see his likes again.

I do not want this to read like Bill McMurtrie's obituary, I know he is struggling health-wise, but, I hope to have access to his good sense and his experience for a wee while longer.

He thoroughly deserved his recognition of Friday night.

The Calcutta Cup was on-display, with several of the guests taking the opportunity to be photographed with it. I was offered the chance, but declined. Being a big-headed so-and-so, I would surely have either put the picture up on here, or on my facebook page.

I would hate to think that might have got one or two people into trouble with the Junta, I could just see TCD and J Cheever Loophole calling a fatwa on whoever let me near the precious trophy, which, by the way, is even more-impressive up close than seen from a distance.

I also had a brief chat with the charming Dee Bradbury. The Lady knows her stuff, and for me, is doing an excellent job in her figurehead role. Now, if she could just bring the hired help to heel in matters rugby – still, she is, like a lot of us, enthused by the appointment, and looking forward to seeing how Jim Mallinder performs as Director of Performance Rugby.