Davis Cup star’s dad happy with ‘home’ tie
Norrie Snr travels far to see his son step up for Britain
THE accent, cheekily described by son Cameron as ‘filthy’, is actually very refined. David Norrie’s Glaswegian lilt, unaltered by almost four decades away from his ain folk, is much more Ashton Lane than Craiglang.
Still, the globe-trotting microbiologist — now based in New Zealand but back ‘home’ for this end-of-an-era tie — might just manage a hearty Rab C-style cry of ‘Gerrintaethem’ at some point over the next three days.
As he watches his boy fill the No1 singles slot in the Davis Cup clash with Uzbekistan, at a venue renowned for its atmospheric qualities, emotions are likely to run high.
The draw of watching Cameron play was already powerful enough to get David on a plane — two planes, actually — for well over 24 hours of time zone-warping travel, the proud dad only touching down yesterday.
Norrie Snr, who spent time in South Africa before heading to New Zealand, laughed as he admitted: ‘I wish he would stop saying that about my accent.
‘But I’ve kept it, of course. Why wouldn’t you? I’ve been away 36 years. Or 39, if you count England as being away. Which I think you do!
‘I think you probably try to imbue some of your upbringing and values to your kids.
‘Both my kids were born in South Africa but I don’t think you change who you are, where you come from, even if you travel all over.
‘Cameron always knew I was quite passionate about my football. I would always have to tell him what was going on because it’s the middle of the night in New Zealand, when games are on.
‘You couldn’t really stay up to watch Scotland. Or, if you did, you paid for it the next day.
‘I tried to keep him interested and I think it has helped him, because there is quite a big dynamic within the British team.
‘Even though they all play tennis, they’re all quite into football. So it’s helped him to understand what it means, living in Britain — just how big football is.
‘This will be as near to a football atmosphere as you can get, I imagine.
‘I’ve never been to a Davis Cup tie in Glasgow. In fact, I haven’t been to a Davis Cup tie since I went to watch John Clifton at Craiglockhart in 1970 or ’71, I think.
‘I can tell you I suspect the atmosphere to be a bit different tomorrow. I’m very proud to see him progressing and representing his country.
‘Part of the reason I made the trip is because, as Leon Smith points out, the change in format means this might be the last Davis Cup tie here.
‘With it being in Glasgow and Cameron playing at No1, I felt I should be here. But it was some journey. It’s 17 hours to Dubai from Auckland, then another seven-and-a-half into Glasgow.
‘And there’s the 11-hour time difference, which makes it pleasant...’
Born and raised in King’s Park, just a few streets from Hampden,
a young David used to get lifted over the turnstiles to watch Scotland play. He was also at Wembley in ’67; this guy has some serious chops when it comes to Caledonian heritage.
Watching Cameron in today’s second singles rubber at the Emirates Arena will be different.
But it should definitely feel like a homecoming for a player born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand. And for his proud father. Having graduated from Strathclyde University and completed a PhD in Birmingham, David — a former junior tennis star in his own right — was tempted by the sunshine of South Africa.
He and wife Helen, originally from Wales, were bold enough about the move. Until they started a family.
‘When we left, there were 15,000 murders a year,’ he said of their time in Johannesburg.
‘That’s only the crime that gets reported, so you could imagine the level of petty crime.
‘We were living in a complex like everyone else, surrounded by high walls and barbed wire.
‘Not long after I got home one night a car coming in behind me got held up, the girl inside got a gun put to her head and she had her kid in the back seat.
‘Luckily they both survived but I thought: “There but for the grace of God go I…”
‘So I thought we need to get out of here. The kids were young, so they were going to adapt wherever we went.
‘I actually come back quite often. But my mum passed away this year, so it’s strange to be back in Glasgow and not see her.’
GB captain Smith, a semiregular at Celtic Park, made a crack yesterday about David supporting ‘the wrong team’ — adding: ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise I’d spoken out loud.’
Norrie Snr laughed as he pointed out: ‘Rangers are playing on Saturday but I thought it would look bad if I said: “Sorry, I’m off to Ibrox…” rather than stay to support the team.
‘I think Cameron will be nervous but I’m not great at watching so I’ll have to sit and grit my teeth. But it will be nice to watch.’
As for Norrie Jnr, well, he’s effectively being asked to play the Andy Murray role here.
Lead from the front by beating Jurabek Karimov later today then, if needed, win against Uzbekistan No 1 Denis Istomin on Sunday.
‘I’m pretty grateful to be part of the team again,’ said Cameron, who won one and lost one in February’s 3-1 loss to Spain, his only previous Davis Cup outing.
‘Obviously it’s pretty different from the Spain tie. From what I’ve heard, the Scottish crowd gets pretty rowdy, from what Jamie (Murray) has said.
‘It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere, a pretty incredible experience tomorrow. I just can’t wait to get out there and compete.
‘My dad travelled all the way from New Zealand yesterday. Got here today.
‘He’s pretty jet-lagged but it’s great to have him here. He grew up here in Glasgow, so it’s a pretty special moment for us.
‘And he’s still got a filthy Scottish accent. Hasn’t lost it.’