Norman Mair
Encyclopedia
Norman G.R. Mair is a sports journalist and a former Scottish international rugby union and cricket player. He later became a journalist for The Scotsman
on rugby and golf., and also wrote for Rugby World
His daughter is Suzi Mair, who presents STV News at Six
.
Mair has always been outspoken in his opinions. In the early fifties, for example, criticising the large number of new caps in each game in 1953 and 1954, he said that he consider the "inhabitants of lunatic asylums... had a fair grievance while the S.R.U.
selectors walked around free and uncertified."
He was capped for in 1951-37, and played for Edinburgh University RFC
.
He also played for the Scotland national cricket team.
rates Mair as one of the best rugby journalists that Scotland has produced:
Writing of the Australian player Mark Ella, he once said:
"Ella
has hands so adhesive that when he fumbled a ball against (in 1984) you would not have been surprised to see those Australians of the appropriate religious persuasion cross themselves"
Mair's favourite player of all time is G.P.S. MacPherson
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
on rugby and golf., and also wrote for Rugby World
Rugby World
Rugby World is the world's top-selling rugby union magazine. It is published monthly by IPC Media and edited by Paul Morgan. Long considered a leader in the industry, the magazine has benefited from a worldwide rise in interest in rugby following the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.-See also:* Bill...
His daughter is Suzi Mair, who presents STV News at Six
STV News at Six
STV News at Six is a Scottish regional news programme, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland, produced by STV Central in the Central region and STV North in the Northern region.The programmes were launched on Monday 23 March 2009, replacing Scotland Today in...
.
Mair has always been outspoken in his opinions. In the early fifties, for example, criticising the large number of new caps in each game in 1953 and 1954, he said that he consider the "inhabitants of lunatic asylums... had a fair grievance while the S.R.U.
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
selectors walked around free and uncertified."
He was capped for in 1951-37, and played for Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
.
He also played for the Scotland national cricket team.
Sports journalism
Bill McLarenBill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
rates Mair as one of the best rugby journalists that Scotland has produced:
- "I always have had a high regard for the coverage by Norman Mair, formerly of the Scotsman
- "Norman never was persona grata with all members of the Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby UnionThe Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
because he wrote what he felt and had the ear of some very influential people in the game. There have been times when I have had to read one of Norman's sentences two or three times over in order to get the gist, but he has been one of the most perceptive of analysts and his articles have been both enlightening and enjoyable - especially the little humorous stories that were so often his punchlines."
Writing of the Australian player Mark Ella, he once said:
"Ella
Mark Ella
Mark Gordon Ella is an Indigenous Australian former rugby union player, often considered as one of his country's all-time greats in that sport. In a relatively short career , Mark Ella established himself as one of the all-time greats in world rugby union...
has hands so adhesive that when he fumbled a ball against (in 1984) you would not have been surprised to see those Australians of the appropriate religious persuasion cross themselves"
Mair's favourite player of all time is G.P.S. MacPherson
Selected publications
- Mair, Norman, 1994, Muirfield, Mainstream Publishing
- John RutherfordJohn RutherfordJohn Rutherford may refer to:* John Rutherford , Scottish professor father of Daniel Rutherford* John Rutherford , governor of Virginia* Jock Rutherford , English footballer...
and Roy LaidlawRoy LaidlawRoy James Laidlaw is a Scottish rugby union footballer. Laidlaw was capped 47 times, as a scrum half, for Scotland between 1980–1988, and British Lions in New Zealand in 1983....
with Norman Mair, Rugby Partnership: Stanley Paul, 1988. ISBN 0-09-172703-0