Andy Murray's maternal grandfather, Roy Erskine, has died at the age of 94, prompting tributes from the football and tennis communities. The former professional footballer and optician passed away on 19 January 2026, as confirmed by his former club Stirling Albion.
Mr Erskine, who was the father of Judy Murray, played as a full-back for Hibernian, Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath. After retiring from football, he became an optician in Dunblane and remained a popular figure in the town. Stirling Albion described him as a “well-known and popular figure” who regularly attended club hospitality events with his daughter.
In a statement, Cowdenbeath expressed their sorrow, noting that after football Mr Erskine turned to tennis, playing at county level. The club added: “But of course maybe Roy (and Shirley’s) greatest contribution to tennis in this country is the genes they passed on to Judy, Jamie and Andy. And maybe a little bit of tuition over the years – indeed Roy was wont to claim he was the man who invented topspin in tennis.”
Social media tributes highlighted his friendly nature. June Campbell recalled: “Lovely man. Both him and his wife Shirley were regulars at Andy and Jamie's tennis matches. Always up for a good chat.” Linda Aitchison added: “I loved our wee blethers. A lovely man.”
In a 2024 interview following Sir Andy Murray's retirement, Mr Erskine spoke of his pride and his hope to spend more time with his grandson. He said: “We have missed seeing both the boys because they have been so busy over the years. Hopefully Andy will have more time to come up and we will see a bit more of him.”
