SAINTS SAY FAREWELL TO TIFFER AFTER ALMOST 25 YEARS!

St. Johnstone Football Club’s longest-serving staff member, chef Christopher McMurray, left today after 24-and-a-half years at McDiarmid Park.

'Tiffer' starts next week at a restaurant in the city centre, ending an association that has lasted for almost a quarter of a century with the Saintees.

Looking back on his career, he said: “My first day here was May 10th 1991 as part of a YTS Scheme where I was at the college on a Monday then came here the rest of the week.

“I don’t remember my first day to be fair, it was a wee while ago now! I do remember Roddy Grant was here as a player in what must have been his first spell at the club.

“My job has mainly been helping in the preparation of food and then serving it in the stadium. Over the last few years I’ve become more involved with serving food to the players, which I didn’t do originally because we had Aggie then!”

Since 1991, Alex Totten, John McClelland, Paul Sturrock, Sandy Clark, Billy Stark, John Connolly, Owen Coyle, Derek McInnes, Steve Lomas and now Tommy Wright have been in the McDiarmid Park hotseat while Tiffer has been working behind-the-scenes in the kitchen.

“Owen Coyle was one that was up the stairs all the time, so was (Steve) Lomas, and the managers have all been nice guys and I’ve got on well with them all.”

Tiffer has also been at the club while hundreds of players will have passed through the doors, with one or two leaving lasting impressions.

“Gary McGinnis was the one who first called me ‘Tiffer’. After that everyone just called me it, when up to that moment it had always been ‘Chris’. Ever since then it’s stuck. A lot of people ask me that question to be fair, and it’s really just the second part of my first name!

“Allan Preston is a player that really sticks out amongst all the players that have played here. He was always up in the kitchen and that. I still see him and it’s good when you hear him on the radio, because he was good with me. I’ve always got on really well with the players but he was a good one.

“Winning the Scottish Cup was the highlight of my twenty-four-and-a-half years at the club. The Challenge Cup was a good one as well when we beat Dunfermline at Dundee. Awch aye, I felt part of those wins. I would see the players all the time and got on really well with them so it’s been good to feel part of the success they’ve had.”

Before leaving today, Tiffer was given a fitting send off from both the players and the staff.

“The players all shook my hand and wished me all the best and the manager said a few words – saying they’ll all get a discount at the place I’m working at next!

“You feel appreciated by the players especially on days like today when they all got together to give me money between them. The staff here also got me a signed Saints top, a case of lager, a glass with my name on it and a cake.

“It was really good to be appreciated like that and it was really emotional as well because this club has been all my working life.

“It’s been a pleasure to work here. I wasn’t really a fan of the club before starting here but I love the club now. It’ll be strange when I leave the place tonight!

“It’s strange to think I’m the longest-serving staff member, but that baton will be passed onto Karin (Ferguson) now!”

All the best Tiffer, you’ll be missed!