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A very British love affair - why Wimbledon regulars keep coming back
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Sports

A very British love affair - why Wimbledon regulars keep coming back

From BBC News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Wimbledon attracts devoted fans like Geoff Hughes, who has camped for two weeks annually for 20 years to experience the event.
  • The tournament's appeal extends beyond tennis, fostering lifelong friendships and traditions among attendees.
  • Record crowds attended last year, with over 548,000 people, reflecting tennis's growing popularity driven by new stars.

For many, Wimbledon is more than just a tennis tournament; it's a cherished tradition where deep friendships are forged and lasting memories are created year after year. Geoff Hughes, a fan for three decades, describes the experience as unique, wishing he could bottle the "sights, the sounds and the smells" of SW19.

I wish I could bottle how I feel when I'm down there. The sights, the sounds and the smells of Wimbledon. Truly, there's nothing like it.

— Geoff HughesA devoted Wimbledon fan describing his deep affection for the tournament.

While newcomers discover Wimbledon's magic, long-time attendees like Hughes, a 66-year-old from Cheshire, embody the event's enduring appeal. Hughes is perhaps its most dedicated queue veteran, having camped for the entire two weeks of the tournament for the past two decades. The queue itself is a social hub, with participants describing the atmosphere as a highlight, filled with conversations and the formation of new friendships.

The best thing is just the atmosphere throughout the whole queue. Chatting to people, meeting new friends.

— Geoff HughesDescribing the positive social experience of waiting in the Wimbledon queue.

Tennis is experiencing a surge in popularity, attracting a new generation of fans partly due to compelling young stars. This has translated into record attendance, with over 548,000 people flocking to the Championships last year, the highest in Wimbledon's history. This growing fanbase is a testament to the sport's increasing appeal.

I still can't believe it to this day. That was special.

— Geoff HughesRecalling Andy Murray's 2013 Wimbledon final victory.

Hughes, also a member of the fan group The Murraynators, cherishes his Wimbledon experiences, including a selfie with his hero Andy Murray. He vividly recalls watching Murray's 2012 Olympic final loss to Roger Federer in pouring rain, and the subsequent 2013 victory over Novak Djokovic, a moment he still finds hard to believe. Fellow regular Kev Cooper shared his own memorable experience of catching Murray's thrown shirt after a 2015 match, describing the feeling as electrifying.

Murray threw his shirt into the crowd. I'm quite big, an ex-goalie, and I put my arm up and just caught it. I was buzzing.

— Kev CooperRecounting how he caught Andy Murray's shirt after a 2015 match.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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