Paddy Murphy founded volleyball at Queen’s University Belfast in the newly-opened Queen’s Physical Education Centre in 1972.
And he’s just returned to that very same place to have the court named after him.
A capacity crowd of national and international volleyball VIPs, as well as current and past Queen’s and Northern Ireland players, turned out to watch Lady Mary Peters unveil a plaque naming the court, in a ceremony organised by fellow 1972 Queen’s player Michael McKeever.
Jonny McFadden, the current President of Northern Ireland Volleyball, told the crowd:
“Paddy was always on hand for guidance and support as he educated me in the structures of volleyball here.
“The tireless work that he put into volleyball in Northern Ireland has paved the way for myself, and without those that came before us, it wouldn’t be possible to do what we do today.”
Federico Ferraro, the Press Officer of the European Volleyball Confederation, presented Paddy with a specially-commissioned trophy marking the occasion, and said: “I joined the CEV in 2008, and I know how much passion Paddy has for the game. It’s always been a joy to discuss the sport with him.”
Karl Oakes, the Head of Sport at Queen’s, said: “It’s a great honour and privilege to support this event.
“At Queen’s, club sport dates back to the 1800s, and It’s people like Paddy who have kept club sport alive. I don’t think anyone in the room was there back then, but after Queen’s was established in 1845, I think the first game was a rugby match.
“Apparently the result set was a draw, and although there’s no video footage to prove it,
it reminds us that Queen’s has a long and proud sporting heritage. At the moment, there are about 60 sporting clubs, and many date back right to the 1800s.
“About 5,000 students now are members of the sports clubs at the university, and the volleyball club and many clubs like it provide loads of those life experiences that students are now seeking out.
“The international population of Queen’s has grown, and the volleyball club are a great example of the promotion of that diversity.
“They are one of the leading lights in having a diverse range of members across the club, and should be applauded for that.
“This building came to pass in 1972, and the volleyball club formed just after that. It was a great example of how we promoted and developed indoor sport, and the volleyball club has been a key indoor sport for Queen’s.”
Richard Callicott OBE, honorary Life President of the British Volleyball Federation, said he had known Paddy since the late 1970s.
“He has given a lifetime to the sport, as Northern Ireland representative on the BVF and as an international referee, and he became Mr Northern Ireland Volleyball as far as British volleyball was concerned,” he said.
Other volleyball dignitaries there were Scottish Volleyball President Margaret Ann Fleming, Clodagh Nic Canna, President of Volleyball Ireland, and Joanna McCrory, Vice President of Northern Ireland Volleyball.
Lady Mary Peters said: “I’ve known Paddy since he had black hair and I was a blonde, and Paddy’s a great tribute to you that so many people have come here today to recognise your contribution to volleyball.”
For Mary, being at the Queen’s PEC brought back memories for her, too, since it was there that she trained for her pentathlon gold medal in the 1972 Olympics.
After thanking Michael McKever for organising the event, Paddy said: “I am extremely humbled and personally delighted; not just for myself, but for those of us who work together, men and women, for volleyball, not just in Northern Ireland, certainly here at Queen’s, but as part of the British involvement in the sport.”
And Michael McKeever thanked Mary Peters for her part in the event.
“The Mary Peters Trust gave me an award back in 1985 to attend my first international volleyball coaching course in the USA, so thank you very much for all the work your Trust has done and continues to do.”