Ian Murray

IAN MURRAY was born in Edinburgh in 1976. He attended his first Hearts game in 1985 whilst at Dumbryden Primary School. He left Wester Hailes Education Centre at the age of 16 to study Social Policy, Politics and Law at the University of Edinburgh. After graduating, he briefly worked in financial services before starting his own event management business, 100mph Events Limited. He ran one of the largest events at the Edinburgh Festival and was an innovator in broadcasting on the internet. He also owned and ran a hotel and two bars in Edinburgh.

Alongside running his own businesses, he was elected to the City of Edinburgh Council in 2003 for the Alnwickhill ward and was re-elected in 2007 for the larger Liberton/Gilmerton Ward. As a Councillor, he specialised in economic development and planning.

In 2010, Ian was elected as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Trade, Industry and Employment until the General Election in 2015 when he was returned to Parliament as the sole Labour MP from Scotland. He was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in 2015 and held the position until he resigned in 2016. He was re-elected with the largest majority in Scotland at the snap General Election in 2017 and currently serves on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

In 2013, he was appointed independent Chair of the Foundation of Hearts and served on the Board of Heart of Midlothian Football Club 2014–15. He is a Trustee of the McCrae’s Battalion Trust.

Ian is a lifelong Jambo and has always lived in Edinburgh. This is Our Story is his first book.

Books by Ian Murray:

Join the Conversation

Pie and Bovril Scottish Football Forum

r/ScottishFootball subreddit

Nutmeg Scottish football magazine

The Scottish Football Show podcast

The Tartan Army website

Countdown to Scotland's first game against Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (UK time).

Days

Hours

Mins

Secs

The perfect gift for Father's Day

We Are Scottish Football: World Cup Edition

We Are Scottish Football: World Cup Edition

Julie McNeill with photography by Campbell Ramage

Regular: £9.99

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Regular: £9.99

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SKU 9781804253496

About the Book:

Here’s to the players who wear the shirt, thank you for giving us something worth rallying behind, and here’s to the supporters who kept believing even when we were out in the wilderness.

28 years of heartbreak are over, Scotland are back in the World Cup. With a pen dipped in passion, McNeill explores the emotional landscape of football, bringing to life the highs and lows, triumphs and tribulations that define the beautiful game in Scotland.

Reviews:

Praise for We Are Scottish Football:

In this unique and vivid collection of poems and photographs Julie McNeill makes sure we don’t forget the impact our footballing history has had on the world. STUART COSGROVE, author & presenter

A must read for any fan of football, history, poetry and Scotland. IAN MAXWELL, CEO SFA

In this wonderful book of poems and photographs Julie McNeill ties together the past and present of the game and highlights some of its outstanding moments, personalities and controversies. ROSE REILLY MBE, World Cup Winning Footballer

A poetic tribute, capturing the soul-stirring drama and devotion that make Scottish football an enduring and enchanting spectacle. PAUL ENGLISH, The Herald

Timely and well-written by a fine poet [who] acknowledges the popular roots of the male game while inflecting these through a modern female gaze. ALISTAIR FINDLAY, Morning Star

About the Author:

Author photo of Julie McNeill JULIE McNEILL, poet, author and workshop facilitator, specialises in creative writing workshops and talks, focusing on mental

health and supporting individuals with additional needs. Author of Mission Dyslexia and two poetry collections, she’s the Poet in Residence for St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation and the Makar for The Scottish Women’s National Football Team Poets Society. Her performances include notable events like Wigtown Book Festival and StAnza International Poetry Festival.