County News: Andy Murray namechecks Sussex town in Sports Personality speech

A SUSSEX town got an unlikely namecheck on national television tonight - in tennis ace Andy Murray’s Sports Personality of the Year victory speech.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Dec 2015, 23:02 BST
The Aquarena from above. Picture by Eddie Mitchell SUS-151210-151320001The Aquarena from above. Picture by Eddie Mitchell SUS-151210-151320001
The Aquarena from above. Picture by Eddie Mitchell SUS-151210-151320001

The two-time grand slam champion told the Belfast crowd his friend had sent him an article which compared his personality with a weekend in seaside town, Worthing.

Accepting his award on BBC One, he said: “A friend send me a message the other day with an article saying ‘Andy Murray is duller than a weekend in Worthing’, which I thought was harsh - on Worthing!”

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Murray, who collected the award for the second time, was a key figure in guiding Great Britain to its first Davis Cup win for 79 years.

He beat rugby league’s Kevin Sinfield and athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill into second and third respectively.

Commenting on Murray’s Worthing jibe, town crier Bob Smytherman said he would welcome the Scot to show him the sights.

He said: “Congratulations to Andy Murray on winning Sports Personality of the Year.

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“Worthing is a great place to live , work and visit with loads to shout about so hope Andy will come and see for himself. I will be delighted to show him around town.”

Social media was flooded by comments soon after the speech.

Durrington High School deputy head teacher Shaun Allison urged Murray to visit Worthing for a challenge match with teachers. He said: “No response from @andy_murray yet about a challenge match with Worthing teachers @tennisbloom & @BenCrockett1 - he’s thinking about it!”

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton hoped the Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion would follow fellow Brit Greg Rusedski, who visited West Worthing Tennis Club last summer, to the town.

What makes Worthing a great place to live? Let us know by commenting below.

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Related topics:Andy MurraySussexSocial mediaGreat Britain