ANDY'S FAMILY ALBION; WIMBLEDON 2009..

Byline: Donna Watson

TENNIS ace Andy Murray has a new sporting goal - helping to save debt-ridden Stirling Albion from going under.

Andy and Wimbledon doubles winner brother Jamie have signed up to the campaign to save the Binos - one of the clubs their grandad Roy Jenkins played for during his footballer career.

The brothers, along with Roy, 76, and their uncles, golf pro Keith and optician Niall, have bought pounds 40 stakes in a drive to take it over.

Andy and Jamie, who grew up in nearby Dunblane, will be presented with their membership certificates by Roy this week at Wimbledon.

Roy, who still lives in Dunblane with wife Shirley, said: "When I heard about the campaign, I knew I wanted to help and I was sure the boys would too.

"Jamie phoned me last week and I told him all about it. He said he'd love to get involved and he was just about to speak to Andy so he'd see if he was interested too.

"They came back to me shortly after it and said, 'We want to help. Buy us a membership.' So I'm taking the certificates down to Wimbledon to hand them over while we're all there together."

Roy added: "It will be a lot different from when I played for the Albion and got paid around pounds 8 a week.

"But we all feel it is important that the community does not lose its club."

Buystirlingalbion's Paul Goodwin said: "We are delighted that our most famous local sportsmen have agreed to endorse our campaign during what must be the busiest time of the year for them.

"We now have what we are sure is a future world No1 tennis player and Grand Slam winner in Andy and a Wimbledon Champion in Jamie pledging their support to help us - not only buy the club but to develop it as a real community asset for future generations."

Football fanatic Andy grew up supporting Hibs, the team his grandfather played for at the height of his footballing career.

But Stirling Albion also holds a special place in the hearts of the Murray family as Roy had two stints playing at the club during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Stirling Albion Supporters' Trust are aiming to sign up 20,000 new members and will be the sole shareholder in the club if the takeover bid is successful.

Albion are pounds 1.5million in debt and chairman Peter McKenzie has been trying to sell the club without success.

Meanwhile, bookies reckon Andy will be the best-backed Briton in the history of Wimbledon this week.

Tomorrow will see him begin his bid to become the first homegrown winner of the men's singles title since Fred Perry in 1936.

And Ladbrokes estimate a victory for the Scot could mean a pounds 3million payout.

Spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "Move over Henmania - it's Andymonium out there. While punters travelled in hope with Timmy, they travel in expectation with Andy. And the expectation is that it will cost us a fortune."

Ladbrokes place Andy as 7-4 second favourite to win his first Grand Slam behind five-times winner Roger Federer, at 8-11.

The Scots star is 1-100 to see off first round opponent Robert Kendrick and 1-6 to do so in straight sets.

Rival bookies Coral have Andy at 2-1 second favourite to win the tournament, the shortest price a home player has ever been to win the men's singles.

Scots betting specialists McBookie.com reckon the betting on Wimbledon could top pounds 10million.

Punters

Spokesman Paul Petrie said: "Murray is already proving an ace with Scottish punters and a win for him would net them a small fortune.

"We have been forced to cut his odds from 9-2 to 5-2 in the past week alone.

"The further he goes the more interest there will be and the more money bet on his matches. A semi-final and then a final involvingMurray would be huge."

GET more information from www.BuyStirlingAlbion.org.uk or contact Paul Goodwin on 07702 252519 or email paulg@buystirlingalbion

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FAMILYFAVOURITE: Andy's grandad Roy Jenkins, who played for Stirling Albion, right, in the 1950s