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Andy Murray on Scottish independence: The 'being British' thing has always been difficult for the tennis star

The British number one appeared to show his support for the Yes campaign today

Thursday 18 September 2014 20:57 BST

Andy Murray at the US Open earlier this year (GETTY IMAGES)

Throughout Andy Murray's career his relative Scottish or Britishness has been a running joke associated with his form.

When the hugely talented tennis player wins a tournament, he is very much British. Around the time he won Wimbledon in 2013 it was impossible to turn on the TV and not see Sue Barker explaining yet again that he was the first British winner in SW19 for 77 years.

However, when things haven't gone so well for Murray he's cut adrift and just plain Scottish.

If anyone wasn't certain just how British or Scottish he was, a website was even set up to make things a little clearer.

Much of it stems back to a whimsical comment made from a then 19-year-old Murray. When asked who he would be supporting at the 2006 World Cup he replied "anyone but England". It was seized upon in certain sections of the press and even led to him releasing a statement on his website insisting he wasn't anti-English.

"Want to say that I'm not anti-English!", it read.

"I have supported Tim [Henman] the last 10 years and he is English! Ricky Hatton is one of my favourite boxers and he is English.

"I said I think England will beat Portugal in my press conference!

"I made a joke, I don't mind whether England win or lose!"

Scottish Independence: For and against

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1/24Scottish Independence: For and against

Scottish Independence: For and against

Vivienne Westwood

YES: “I hate England. I like Scotland because somehow I think they are better than we are. They are more democratic.”

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Bob Geldof

NO: "This argument needs to be had among us all, you can't selfishly resolve it amongst yourselves by taking an easy opt-out clause."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Leonard Cohen

UNDECIDED: “People are trying to make their lives significant,” he said. “[They] are engaged in a struggle for self-respect and significance.”

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Scottish Independence: For and against

James McAvoy

UNDECIDED: “If you vote for continued unification or independence there is no protest vote – that’s it. And that could be it for decades, for centuries. There’s no going back from it."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Bill Clinton

NO: “Unity with maximum self-determination sends a powerful message to a world torn by identity conflicts that it is possible to respect our differences while living and working together. This is the great challenge of our time. The Scots can show us how to meet it.”

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Scottish Independence: For and against

George Galloway

NO: “There will be havoc if you vote Yes in September. Havoc in Edinburgh and throughout the land and you will break the hearts of many others too… I know which side I’m on. I’m with JK Rowling. Just say No.”

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Scottish Independence: For and against

David Beckham

NO: “We want to let you know how very much we value our relationship and friendship. Of course regardless of your decision that will never change, however, my sincere hope is that you will vote to renew our historic bond which has been such a success over the centuries and the envy of the entire world. What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let's stay together.”

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Scottish Independence: For and against

David Bowie

NO: "Scotland stay with us"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Eddie Izzard

NO: "You can be Scottish, you can be British and you can be European. We can have that. “I say have the parliament, have the more power, but be with us. Like David Bowie said, ‘Stay with us Scotland’ and I’m saying the same – don’t go."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Frankie Boyle

YES: "It’s an ‘aye’ (for Independence) from me, man."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Andy Murray

NO: "I started competing for Great Britain when I was 11. A lot of people forget that. I didn't like it when Salmond got the Scottish flag up at Wimbledon"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

The Proclaimers

YES: 'Scotland has huge national resources, with its people, its wave power – all the possibilities that this country has...we need to take charge of our own affairs'

Gary Calton

Scottish Independence: For and against

Susan Boyle

NO: "I am a proud, patriotic Scot, passionate about my heritage and my country. But I am not a nationalist."

Rex Features

Scottish Independence: For and against

Chris Hoy

NO: "It will weaken the British team obviously if Scotland went separately, and it would be harder for the Scottish athletes, initially, to establish themselves in a new training environment, with new coaches, with a different environment altogether."

Scottish Independence: For and against

Alex Ferguson

NO: "Eight-hundred-thousand Scots, like me, live and work in other parts of the United Kingdom. We don't live in a foreign country; we are just in another part of the family of the UK"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Alan Cumming

YES: "The evidence is clear - in the past 15 years we have become stronger economically, socially, culturally and globally. The world is waiting for us and I know Scotland is ready."

Kalpesh Lathigra

Scottish Independence: For and against

Emma Thompson

NO: "Why insist on building a new border between human beings in an ever-shrinking world where we are still struggling to live alongside each other?"

Carlo Allegri, Reuters

Scottish Independence: For and against

Billy Bragg

YES: Independence would "create a new settlement that puts people before profit. Those in England who believe that our own society needs to be rebalanced along similar lines should wake up and join the debate"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Marcus Brigstocke

NO: "If Scotland go their own way (based on fingers crossed, f**k the Tories, William Wallace bollocks it'll be a damn shame. Still wish 'em well"

Scottish Independence: For and against

Rod Stewart

NO: "I'd hate to see the union broken after all these years. It's always been a spiritual home - but as I don't live there I shouldn't comment on independence. If it's good for the Scots I'm happy."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Sean Connery

YES: "As a Scot and as someone with a lifelong love for both Scotland and the arts, I believe the opportunity of independence is too good to miss"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Al Kennedy

NO: "Salmond has the warm potato head of a man who is Scottish and – we hope – no threat"

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Annie Lennox

YES: "There is an opportunity for something innovative and visionary. Scotland could have some kind of new, ethical, visionary stance and it could take on some fresh ideas. That could be amazing, really amazing."

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Scottish Independence: For and against

Morrissey

YES: "They must cut ties with the United King-dumb. I love Scotland, and I love the Scottish spirit and they do not need Westminster in the least."

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There is no doubt that the player from Dunblane is proudly Scottish. And his countryman are proud of him - even the very best of them. Two of the most famous Scots in modern history - actor Sean Connery and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson memorably gatecrashed a Murray press conference at the 2012 US Open to congratulate him.

Murray's tweet...

But then Murray has also represented Britain with aplomb. Whether it be his two Grand Slam victories in which he played under the flag of Great Britain, the many Davis Cup ties or perhaps most pertinently, the time he won a gold and silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics in front of an incredibly supportive crowd.

After his gold medal winning singles match, which came just a few weeks after a heartbreaking defeat in the 2012 Wimbledon final, Alex Sammond said: "It's a Murray masterclass which should make everyone in Scotland extremely proud."

At many points in his career, it's not just been Scotland proud of the Scotsman, the whole of Britain has been proud of Murray.