Wimbledon

I’ve spent most of my life playing sport of various types but never been a big fan of watching anything. I’d always rather be out – too busy actually playing the sport to have time to watch others doing what I could be doing.

This is except of course for… Wimbledon.

When I was growing up, the Wimbledon fortnight in our house was actually close to a religious experience.

It was the only time that mother and father were actually rude to anyone. If a caller came round they were ignored – if someone rang on the telephone – the phone remained unanswered. And if…. heaven forbid anyone in the family spoke during finals day…they would be sent to their room and forbidden from watching the game.

So imagine my pleasure when finally I got an invite to come and watch the tennis with free tickets to men’s semi- finals day.’

Mother and father had been some thirty odd years ago …but only to some peripheral court to see first round matches with nobody particularly famous.

I was going to see Federer.

Yes Federer. Roger Federer.

….or ‘God’ as he also known.

I cannot speak too highly of the whole day – it was just an amazing experience. Everyone involved was courteous and helpful, queues were non-existent, the crowd were well behaved and the tennis was sublime.

Roger Federer was in a class of his own – a class called ‘Masterclass’ and it was an honour to be able to say I was there and saw him play. It is something that I just won’t ever forget. The abiding memory of the day won’t be the tennis though… but will be the whole occasion from arrival to departure …just drinking in the history of the place – very special.

When we British do something like this, we do it really, really well and we should all be proud of our heritage of such sporting events. it’s opened my eyes to the excitement of ‘real’ sport and watching ‘live’ action.

No more Sky TV for me – I’m going to start getting out and about to events around the country and enjoying this sort of occasion whilst I still can.

Mike C

I’ve spent most of my life playing sport of various types but never been a big fan of watching anything. I’d always rather be out – too busy actually playing the sport to have time to watch others doing what I could be doing.
This is except of course for… Wimbledon.
When I was growing up, the Wimbledon fortnight in our house was actually close to a religious experience.
It was the only time that mother and father were actually rude to anyone. If a caller came round they were ignored – if someone rang on the telephone – the phone remained unanswered. And if…. heaven forbid anyone in the family spoke during finals day…they would be sent to their room and forbidden from watching the game.
So imagine my pleasure when finally I got an invite to come and watch the tennis with free tickets to men’s semi- finals day.’
Mother and father had been some thirty odd years ago …but only to some peripheral court to see first round matches with nobody particularly famous.
I was going to see Federer.
Yes Federer. Roger Federer.
….or ‘God’ as he also known.
I cannot speak too highly of the whole day – it was just an amazing experience. Everyone involved was courteous and helpful, queues were non-existent, the crowd were well behaved and the tennis was sublime.
Roger Federer was in a class of his own – a class called ‘Masterclass’ and it was an honour to be able to say I was there and saw him play. It is something that I just won’t ever forget. The abiding memory of the day won’t be the tennis though… but will be the whole occasion from arrival to departure …just drinking in the history of the place – very special.
When we British do something like this, we do it really, really well and we should all be proud of our heritage of such sporting events. it’s opened my eyes to the excitement of ‘real’ sport and watching ‘live’ action.
No more Sky TV for me – I’m going to start getting out and about to events around the country and enjoying this sort of occasion whilst I still can.

Mike C