Hidden treasures of Murrayfield

Murrayfield heritage lead Laura Tinch reveals hidden collection of 5,000 artefacts charting a century of Scottish rugby history.

Article Source: Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Last Updated: 10 November 2025 11:12

THE woman responsible for thousands of pieces of priceless Scottish rugby history has described the collection as a ‘national treasure hiding in plain sight’ as she lifts the lid on Scottish Rugby’s archive as part of the Murrayfield Memories campaign.

Deep beneath the stands at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, among stacks of forgotten match balls, yellowed photographs, and hand-stitched caps, heritage lead Laura Tinch is piecing Scotland’s rugby past back together one story at a time.

Tinch, who after originally discovering the Scottish Rugby Archive in 2016, has spent the past four years since the pandemic painstakingly cataloguing it, says the collection is ‘a national treasure’, and one day hopes to digitise the collection for access around the world. Inside are thousands of objects and personal mementoes that reveal the story of the Scottish game, and also the people who shaped it – soldiers, teachers, broadcasters, volunteers, and families whose lives intertwined with rugby’s rise.

“The collection is a national treasure hiding in plain sight. When I first opened the vault – well room to be more accurate – it was overwhelming, priceless artefacts piled high, barely labelled,” she recalls. “There was a marble hippo from Zimbabwe sitting next to an eagle from the USA, both brought home from Rugby World Cups. Of course, there are the trophies, the jerseys, the balls, and the medals, but I knew this is about far more than just rugby, it’s about people, about Scotland.”

Tinch is speaking as part of Murrayfield Memories, a nationwide campaign launched by Scottish Rugby last month to collect and celebrate personal stories from across the country as the national stadium celebrates its centenary this year. The project aims to highlight Murrayfield’s heritage through the memories of fans, shining a light on the social history of the game through the stories spanning 100 years.

“There are of course famous sporting moments that are synonymous with Murrayfield – the Grand Slams, the Calcutta Cups, magical rugby moments, but the archive is far bigger than that,” Tinch explains. “It’s about the local clubs, the volunteers who marked the pitches, the families, who travelled every weekend. These stories are the soul of Scottish rugby – they deserve to be remembered.”

A former tour guide at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, Tinch has storytelling in her blood. Raised near Dunfermline in Fife, she grew up surrounded by history – her grandfather served on HMS Belfast, and family tales of wartime life filled the house. After leaving university and a brief flirtation with law, she discovered a knack for bringing the past to life through character performance and museum work. “I was Mary of Guise one week, a castle servant the next,” she laughs. “It taught me that history connects best when it feels human.”

That instinct now drives her work at Murrayfield. Since joining Scottish Rugby in 2011, initially to help revamp stadium tours, Tinch has gradually become more involved in the national game’s archive, unearthing a collection she believes holds national and international significance.

“It takes incredible dedication and an enormous amount of time. You could have a team of 20 trying to look after this collection and it’d still take forever to catalogue it. But that’s a huge part of the charm and challenge – there’s so much history in every piece,” Tinch, who is currently looks after the archive on her own, hopes to bring in further volunteers, explained.

Among her favourite discoveries is a near-pristine dark blue silk flag from South Africa, dated 1932. “It’s almost 100 years old and still gleams,” she says. “Unfolding it for the first time gave me goosebumps.” Another highlight is a set of ornate international caps, each one hand-stitched, dating back to 1871. “They’re like tiny pieces of art – silver-threaded, velvet, beautiful. You can see history changing through them, from the craftsmanship of the early game to the more practical caps after the Second World War, and the arrival of women’s caps in the modern era. Each tells a social story as much as a sporting one.”

But it’s the human connections that move her most. During Scottish Rugby’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Tinch – aided by Murrayfield tour guide David Jordan and his wife Fay – helped track down the descendants of James Michael Blair, a soldier who died in the D-Day landings who represented Scotland during the Second World War years, but was never officially capped. “We found his relatives in Inverness and sent them his cap,” she recalls. “It was incredibly emotional. These are moments when sport becomes family history.”

Her work has also uncovered the quirks that make rugby folklore unique – like the tale of fans spiking cockerels with rum-soaked raisins to sneak them into Murrayfield in the 1980s. It’s a moment immortalised in the Scottish rugby museum in a famous photograph of legendary Scotland captain Finlay Calder baring down on one of the birds on the pitch. “Everybody’s seen that image, but few know the mad story behind it. It’s those eccentric, very Scottish touches that make the archive so alive,” she added.

Other artefacts include a pair of black boots from 1971 – once work by the late great Scotland captain PC Brown – with branding blacked out in marker pen to prevent the giant forward falling foul of sponsorship rules in the sport’s strictly amateur era.

The archive also includes handwritten notes from Bill McLaren, the legendary commentator whose voice became the sound of rugby for generations. “Bill’s story transcends the pitch,” Tinch says. “He was a teacher, a soldier, a pioneer of sports broadcasting – and he connected Scotland to the world. Holding his notes in your hands, written on old school jotters, is spine-tingling.”

As the Murrayfield Memories campaign prepares to reach its climax at the Scotland vs New Zealand match on November 8, Tinch hopes to see more of Scotland’s rugby heritage recognised as part of the nation’s cultural story.

“It tells us who we are,” she says. “Every medal, every jersey, every faded photo tells a story of courage, community, and identity. These memories belong to everyone in Scotland – and they deserve to be protected.”

Murrayfield Memories is a Scottish Rugby initiative dedicated to collecting, preserving and celebrating the stories, objects and photographs that tell the human history of rugby in Scotland. The campaign invites fans, families, and former players to share their personal mementoes and memories, helping to celebrate the nation’s sporting heritage.

To contribute your story to the Murrayfield Memories archive, visit scottishrugby.org/murrayfieldmemories.

Image: Laura Tinsh, Heritage Lead at Scottish Rugby, with the Doddie Weir Cup (image courtesy of Scottish Rugby)

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Glasgow News

SEC Glasgow at 40: Four decades of creating incredible

For four decades the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) has stood at the centre of Scotland’s cultural life, attracting world-class shows, artists, major events and conferences to Glasgow.

Aldi Scotland is turning up the Christmas cheer with its first ever festive Supermarket Sweep

Aldi Scotland is giving one lucky customer the chance to take part in a seasonal edition of its popular shopping challenge, all while raising vital funds for Children's Hospices Across Scotland.

Glasgow Taxis Cup returns for its 21st year in 2026

Now in its twenty-first year, Glasgow Taxis Cup, will see more than 700 student athletes from Glasgow Caledonian, Strathclyde, and Glasgow universities competing across 17+ sports in 21+ events!

Hidden treasures of Murrayfield

Murrayfield heritage lead Laura Tinch reveals hidden collection of 5,000 artefacts charting a century of Scottish rugby history.

Christmas Songbook to take festive cheer to Glasgow

Scotland's iconic Christmas Songbook is back for 2025, promising to sprinkle even more festive magic in Glasgow this December!

Breaking the Silence Gig: Last Minute Tickets available for Oran Mor

Last-minute tickets are still available for JJ “Jinky” Gilmour’s Breaking the Silence show at Oran Mor on Thursday 27th November.

Santa clocks in early: Scotland shift heroes among 30,000 invited to claim free festive meal

Greene King pubs is raising the spirits of Scotland's hardest workers this festive season, hosting 'The Big Christmas Shift' across 700 pubs nationwide, giving away 30,000 meals on Monday 1st December

Festive days out to make the most of the season

From wreath-making workshops through to New Year’s Eve street parties, here's a rounded up some of the best events to help make the most of the season with loved ones in a fun and creative way.

SAY Award winner announced as Kai Reesu

Kai Reesu’s ‘KOMPROMAT vol.i’ was tonight announced as winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, as the country’s national music prize Ceremony took place in Dundee’s Caird Hall.

Flight Club Glasgow launches limited edition Winter Menu and Festive Brunch

Flight Club Glasgow kicks off Christmas party season with the unveiling of its specially curated limited-edition menu and festive celebration-worthy bottomless brunch.

Citizens Theatre announces Associate Companies and Artists programme plus new shows for 2026

The Citizens Theatre has announced a new initiative to support and collaborate with artists and theatre companies, alongside more productions in its reopening year.

Glasgow Kelvin College hosts Big Scottish Breakfast and beauty event for STV Childrens Appeal

Glasgow Kelvin College students dished up community spirit in style earlier this month, raising £700 for the STV Children's Appeal through a Big Scottish Breakfast and beauty event.

Aldi opens applications for Christmas food donations programme in Glasgow

Aldi is calling on charities, community groups and food banks in Glasgow to sign up for surplus food donations from its stores this Christmas.

Public vote opens for Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 as scene flourishes

A stellar lineup of nominees has been announced for the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025, showcasing the exceptional talent flourishing across Scotland's vibrant jazz scene.

From Pop to Print: Bobby Bluebell Unveils Forevermore at Glasgow Print Studio

Glasgow Print Studio is delighted to announce the launch of Forevermore, a new limited-edition print by Bobby Bluebell.

Winter Wonderland at St Enoch Square set to open this Thursday

Glasgow's Winter Wonderland gets underway this week with the opening of St Enoch Square on Thursday 6th November from 12 noon until 9pm.

The Christmas tradition of the year is back...

Scotland's biggest Christmas drive-in returns: 11 days of Elf, Home Alone & more at Loch Lomond Shores!

Have a merry little Christmas at Glasgow Science Centre

Make this winter one to remember at Glasgow Science Centre! Discover a line-up of unmissable seasonal events packed with science, wonder and festive fun!

Four top chefs in Glasgow team up to raise money for Hospitality Health

Four of Glasgow's top chefs are teaming up on Thursday 13th November to host a charity dinner for Glasgow based charity, Hospitality Health.

Go to Christmas market for locally made gifts returns to Glasgow city centre

Mary's Meals' much-loved market – where your Christmas shopping can help feed hungry children – returns at The Social Hub this November!

Peter Kay announces triumphant return to the OVO Hydro next year

Extra tickets released including premium seats to celebrate his record-breaking stand-up tour.

Unfolded brings sustainable pop up shop and sample sale back to Glasgow for one weekend only at the iconic Buchanan Galleries

Groundbreaking Scottish sustainable ladies fashion brand Unfolded is returning to the heart of Glasgow and the homeland of ladies fashion for one weekend only.

Martin Compston to bring star power to Hoolie in the Hydro as co host

Celebrated Scottish actor Martin Compston has been announced as the co-host for this year's highly anticipated Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin.

Buchanan Galleries marks Purple Tuesday with Charity Partnerships

Buchanan Galleries is marking Purple Tuesday, on 4th November, with a series of initiatives designed to champion accessibility and inclusion within the centre.

Pizza Punks is coming to town with an all new door to door delivery service

Pizza Punks Glasgow have revealed a revolutionary new service, door to door delivery, and to celebrate, the pizza scene disrupters are offering 50% off your first order!

Reward offered for return of Elvis artwork stolen from The Clutha Bar in Glasgow

The Clutha Bar and local artist Moe Rocksmoore are appealing for the safe return of Elvis, a much-loved artwork created by children and young people from Glasgow and Renfrewshire schools.

Book Tales: Storytelling through the lives of readers past and present

This November, the University of Glasgow and The Mitchell Library invite you to explore the rich and historical life of books in a series of engaging Being Human Festival.

First Bus gives Remembrance free travel for all Armed Forces, veterans and cadets

First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

Scotland Meats Germany

Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.