Football club chairman became Yorkshire Ripper suspect because of his aunt

28 September 2023 , 15:57

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Sir Bob Murray was a suspect in the hunt for Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe (left) (Image: Getty Images)

Former Sunderland chairman Sir Bob Murray has produced an autobiography full of remarkable stories and recollections.

And his tell-all book I’d Do It All Again reveals how Murray became a suspect in the Yorkshire Ripper case after a false tip-off that the killer was from Sunderland with a Wearside accent. Murray, 77, who helped oversee the building of St George’s Park and a leading figure in the English game, was working in Yorkshire at the time and even believes his beloved aunt Sylvia unwittingly tipped the police off.

The Ripper case has also been put back in public focus with a new TV series launched this week focusing on the stories of the victims. Murray recalls in the book how, because of his North East accent, the police turned up at his workplace to interview him and it became “quite intense.” His father had also given him a hammer to keep in his boot to help change a wheel and that became an item of “significant interest.”

Murray recalls it as an “awful time” before eventually Peter Sutcliffe was identified, arrested and then convicted. It was years later that John Humble - dubbed “Wearside Jack” - was convicted of the hoax which conned detectives.

The book is published on October 12 and every penny goes to the Foundation of Light charity which Murray founded. Murray discusses Sunderland, the state of the game, the FA and even sports washing. The book was started in 2019 by the late sports broadcaster and author Lance Hardy and completed with the help of his editor and friend Ian Preece.

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Hodgson keeps an ear out

Football club chairman became Yorkshire Ripper suspect because of his aunt

Roy Hodgson missed Crystal Palace's defeat to Aston Villa (Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson revealed last week that when he missed Crystal Palace’s defeat at Aston Villa through illness he had to follow it on the radio.

It might seem strange that even Premier League managers are not given special access to live streams for matches. Club analysts often sit in the stands watching games but only rights-holders can get other live games and Prem teams then have to wait for the full game before they can even do video analysis.

But even Prem bosses are not given any special or extra access - and they, like the rest of us, would run the risk of prosecution if they used illegal streams. Palace boss Hodgson also recounted the drama of listening on the radio and still nothing beats live coverage on a Saturday afternoon with all the drama unfolding.

50,000 and counting

Arsenal have already surpassed the 50,000 ticket sales mark for their WSL opener with Liverpool on Sunday.

Research carried out by OLBG, reveals that their average attendances in the 2022/23 season had more than TREBLED on the previous year. Clearly, that has a lot to do with them staging more games at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium but more teams are using their main stadium and this promises to be another record-breaking year for all clubs.

White deal in the works

Ben White is in line for a new Arsenal contract (Matt Impey/REX/Shutterstock)

Ben White is likely to be the next Arsenal player to be rewarded with a new contract. The Gunners have already gone through a raft of contract renewals including Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

No show Antonio

West Ham striker Michail Antonio co-hosts an entertaining BBC podcast - The Footballers’ Football podcast - with Newcastle striker and long term pal Callum Wilson.

Antonio predicted last week that West Ham would finish above Liverpool. But the Hammers duly lost at Anfield and there was no sign of the Hammers striker on this week’s show - much to the amusement of Wilson who ridiculed his friend’s absence.

Play Safe

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Football Association Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham, said: "We want everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – to have a safe, positive and enjoyable experience.”