Football legend scores 20 years behind the bar at Everards pub
Bull Hotel Bert Murray 20 anniversary
A former sixties Chelsea football legend is celebrating after 20 years running the same Everards pub – with plans to go into extra time with a few more years behind the bar.
Bert Murray, a winger who made 160 appearances for Chelsea in the early 1960s, has hit another long service milestone by clocking up 20 years at the Bull Hotel at Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. Bert and his wife Eileen have been running the pub since 1992, moving into the Bull Hotel having spent a collective 17 years at two other Market Deeping pubs, The Winning Post and The White Horse.
Having played in a Chelsea team that included Terry Venables, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris and Peter Osgood, Bert Murray knows the importance of being part of a talented, loyal team. It’s a knowledge that he has carried forward into his time as a licensee with two of his star signings clocking up 56 years of service between them.
Barmaid Yvonne Curry and cleaner Maureen Leaton, have both been with the Murrays for 28 years each – part of a loyal, hard working team that have helped make the Bulls Hotel a popular pub with its regulars. They both continue to play their part along with Bill and Eileen, who are planning to remain behind the bar for the immediate future.
Bert, who celebrated his 70th birthday in September with a party at the pub, said: “It’s wonderful to have spent twenty years at the Bull Hotel and we marked the occasion by holding a bit of a joint celebration with my 70th birthday party.
Bull Hotel Bert Murray 20 anniversary
“It’s a smashing place and the customers we have here are a great bunch, who appreciate their real ale. We have a loyal staff team with us and it all makes for a friendly, family orientated atmosphere in the pub.
“Everards have been good and seem happy with what we are doing here. So if they are happy, Eileen and I plan to keep on going for a few more years yet as we really enjoy running the pub.”
As for the secret of their twenty year success as licensees, Bert said that personality went a long way in keeping customers happy. He added that a bright, welcoming personality has a positive effect on customers and encouraged any new licensees to adopt a similar approach.
Bert Murray started his football career with Chelsea in 1958, scoring 39 goals in his 160 appearances for the club in the old English First Division. In leaving Chelsea in 1966, he went on to play for Birmingham,Brighton and Peterborough, registering over 100 appearances for each of his three respective clubs. He also won six caps for England at under-23 level.
