Roy Erskine, the grandfather of tennis star Andy Murray and father of Judy Murray, has passed away at the age of 94. His death occurred on January 19, 2026, and has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the community in Dunblane and beyond. Formerly an accomplished optician, Erskine was also known for his athletic prowess, having played professional football as a full-back for clubs such as Hibernian, Stirling Albion, and Cowdenbeath.
Tributes from Stirling Albion, the club where Erskine played for two seasons, highlighted his significance to the team and the local community. The club stated, “Everyone at Stirling Albion was saddened to learn of the passing of former player, Roy Erskine.” He joined the team from Troon Juniors in August 1954 and contributed to the club’s legacy before moving on to Cowdenbeath.
Community Remembers a Beloved Figure
In recent years, Erskine was a familiar presence at club hospitality events, often attending with his daughter Judy. He enjoyed engaging with supporters and reminiscing about his time in football. The club noted that he was “particularly pleased to help celebrate the club’s League 2 championship win in 2022-23.” His long-standing connections in Dunblane made him a beloved figure, and social media has been flooded with condolences from those who knew him.
June Campbell, a local resident, shared her memories, stating, “Lovely man. Both him and his wife Shirley were regulars at Andy and Jamie’s tennis matches. Always up for a good chat. He’ll be missed by many.” Others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting his warmth and friendliness. Kelly-Marie Wilson remarked, “Sad news indeed. Always a pleasure to sit and chat to him when he was there. Thoughts with all of the family.”
Linda Aitchison expressed her sorrow, saying, “Oh I’m so sorry and sad to hear this. I loved our wee blethers. A lovely man. My thoughts are with Shirley and family.” Ian Fleming reminisced fondly, recalling, “Such sad news, fond memories of Roy from back when he was my optician.”
A Grandfather’s Pride
Following Andy Murray‘s retirement from tennis in 2024, Roy Erskine looked forward to spending more time with his grandson and family in Dunblane. After Andy’s exit from professional play, which concluded with a quarter-final match in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics, Erskine reflected on his grandson’s illustrious career. He remarked, “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.”
Erskine acknowledged the emotions surrounding Andy’s final match, stating, “The final game wasn’t too emotional for us because it had been talked about for some time. We realised Andy was stopping after the Olympics. The family are all very proud of Andy and what he has achieved in that time.”
Roy Erskine’s legacy as a sportsman, a devoted family man, and a cherished member of the Dunblane community will not be forgotten. His contributions both on and off the field have left a lasting impact, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
