Embedded Files
A number of years ago I was given access to a range of Table Tennis memorabilia which belonged to Robert Murray (former Director of Coaching and Team Manager with the Scotland team in the late 1960s and early 1970s) and this included a collection of photos from the 1960s to 1980s. As ever with photos from the past you will see that I’m not always entirely sure of the subjects or when and where the picture was taken. I have made some educated guesses and also received information from coaches and players who appear in some of them. I would be very grateful for any additional information you may have about the content/subjects of the photos and I will be very pleased to add this detail to the description. Please contact me at shouston@ntlworld.com identifying the photo and providing me with any additional information. (Photo top left is of Robert (on a visit to Sweden) with Hans Alser - World Class player and coach).
Robert travelled extensively to major championships. At these international tournaments he networked brilliantly and developed close ties with the Swedish and Japanese Association and in particular Ichiro Ogimura (Japanese World Champion and former ITTF President). As a result of his and others efforts some of our players went to Japan to train – Keith Rodger, Davie McIlroy and Ewan Walker – and Japanese players visited Scotland to play and train with our players. The photos reflect this but Robert also organised numerous coaching sessions particularly at Inverclyde. The badges in the photo top right includes the current TTS thistle design and the S.T.T.A. Golden Jubilee badge. I haven't seen the top left one before West of Scotland Table Tennis Association or the STTA bottom right.
I am very grateful to Heather Murray (Robert’s sister-in-law) and his nephew Alan for contacting me about Robert’s collection and making it available and I hope you enjoy the photos and trying to identify players, coaches, friends and even venues from the past.
Springburn Coaches 1973/74
Springburn Coaches 1973/74
From left to right:
McGillvray (possibly), Jim Wilson, Jimmy Fisher (STTA Director of Coaching in the early 1970s), Willie Keys (Prominent coach in Lanarkshire and assisted Jimmy Fisher), Andy Fleming, John McCulloch (West Lothian TTC, formerly Knightswood and Paisley YM), Jimmy Beck (West Lothian), Jimmy Cook (see below), Drew McLaren (was very active in West Lothian club and a regular at the Scottish Vets' events), Arthur Binnie (West Lothian) Robert Murray, Dunky Hogg (see below), Alex Dalrymple and Ian McLeod (see below).
This photo was taken in 1973 or 74 at Springburn Sports Centre and John McCulloch has provided the following inside information that only someone that was there can.
During the early 1970s Scotland was visited by the Japanese national team when international matches/tours were more in vogue than grand prix tournaments. There was a similar visit by the Chinese national team in either 1981 or 1982, probably the former, when the team manager was the legendary Li Fu Yung and the Chinese team (then like now) had two 'Wangs' whom, rather irreverently, we referred to as 'Big Wang' and 'Wee Wang'. Returning to the Japanese visit, I can't remember there being a specific reason for the visit other than goodwill while on a world tour. However, I'm reasonably certain that former World Champion (Munich, 1969), Itoh, was part of the Japanese team. There was a reception for them at the Royal Stuart Hotel, now no longer.
Here are some of John’s West League memories which the photo also sparked off:
At the time, I was a member of Knightwood club and the other Knightswood player in the photo is Jimmy Cook (number 3 in the West First Division averages c1962 and my 'minder' in my first Division One season). Jimmy is very much a contemporary of Liam McKeating. I vaguely recognise Bob Dalrymple (father of Carol) who represented Stirlingshire/Falkirk alongside Harry Crawford and Willie Young. Ian McLeod probably played for Brighter Holidays in the West League at the time where matches were played in the basement of the company's office near Charing Cross. Brighter Holidays was owned by Doreen Robertson (former Scottish international).
I don't recall the photo being taken but I would be surprised if it was not taken in either Springburn Sports Centre (formerly Springburn Town Hall) or Palace of Art, probably the former especially if you can identify the poster on the wall as referring to cycling. Billy Bisland (top cyclist) trained there on Friday nights. Duncan Hogg played with SCWS, he was an International Umpire and his team included Bobby Jackson and Hugh McLaughlin. Their first team included internationals Jimmy Dow, John Reilly, George Anderson and Peter Cameron. I remember losing to them in a Maxwell Wilson cup final c1971.
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