To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?

Please design well fitting cool comfortable clothes for the lines men and women.
And srnd some of them on a diet begore!

The uniforms worn by Wimbledon umpires/lines people are frightful.
Hot, ill fitting, ghastly designs, totally inappropriate for the job they do.

Anyone can glance at the massive telly in the pub and make an innocent comment on the subject. The anger raised on this thread by people put out that I commented on the state of the grass is bewildering. Talk about hallowed turf.

Also - read the thread...the discussion went on.

I think sometimes people look at events with tradition and think "it would be better if it was modern" without really thinking it through.

Yes I agree a day at Wimbledon is really special

Its a great atmosphere

It doesn't need to change.
It's very successful as it is.

Wimbledon is a magical "happy place". My daughter and I have been a number of times through the queue and it's always worth it. 😃 (Also the tickets we get through the queue are amazing - really close to the court). Have we just been lucky or do they keep some of the best seats for the queue? My daughter got pictures with players and her ball signed 🎾. It's such a lovely place.

why does it need to change

to be involved in Wimbledon is a great honour. I’m still not quite over not getting passed the rounds to be a ballgirl 😭😭😭 a few from my school made it

I really don’t think people care what they wear it looks smart and recognisable and people just want to be a part of the most prestigious tennis tournament

You understand it starts off as pristine and becomes bare as the players actually play on it? There are no, "patches of mud" just a bit of scuffed grass where the players feet move. If you have no interest, don't watch it by "accident" in the pub.

Most teenage girls love short skirts (in fact they roll their school skirts to make them shorter). My daughter plays tennis and loves her tennis skirts.

Not everyone wants to look like a boy.

I'm very well educated about the whole issue and don't need propaganda from the usual nimbys, thanks very much.

And protected parkland that helps to keep air clean for “us locals”. Not to mention a decade of heavy plant construction traffic. You won’t have access to the redeveloped version either, except a few scrubby corners around their massive maintenance buildings which will be blocked off for weeks either side of the championships.

Educate yourself: www.savewimbledonpark.org

Before Ralph Lauren, the design was classic and very smart.

As for the linesman uniforms I mutter darkly every time I see them. Why didn't Wimbledon give the contract to a British designer? Ralph Lauren got it in 2006 and I have hated them ever since. The latest are dreadful. So badly cut , they don't fit anyone whatever their shape. The white skirts are a horror. The trousers crease dreadfully. I wonder if Wimbledon launders them or if they take them home to launder and iron themselves?

And I hate that the polo logo is massive and prominent. Surely it should be a very small discreet logo as per his usual shirts etc. I'm surprised Wimbledon approve it.

On the subject of debentures years ago I worked for a nursing agency that catered for wealthy elderly, usually living in decrepit grandeur in flats in smart areas of London which hadn't been done up for thirty years.
I went to a lovely lady who lived near Harrods, she had slipped on the marble floor of the food hall and broken her arm. I cooked lunch for her, made up a bridge four and carried her book and drink to bed for her. A most enjoyable day.

Anyway I also once visited a lady living in a flat in Berkeley Square .

She said to me (put on your poshest voice) "Do you know what my husband gave me for my 50th birthday?"

Me: "NO! What did your husband give you for your 50th birthday??"

Her: "A debenture for Wimbledon!! Wasn't that lovely!"

I confess I have forever felt deprived that no one has given me a debenture for Wimbledon. Any birthday would do. Or even Christmas!

I've been several times and absolutely love it. Tennis is the only sport I'm interested in. Sadly haven't had any luck in the ballot in recent years.
I've never felt it's too upper class. Obviously those in the debenture seats are somewhat more privileged than the rest of us, but they are greatly outnumbered by the tennis fans.
It's a lovely day out and imo very reasonably priced although that may have changed since I've last been. £80 for two tickets last time I went - a bargain for a great day out for two.

I don't think they are volunteers. I recall reading an interview with a professional linesman about this job and how he got into it.

I would have thought there would be progression from line judge to umpire so it's a shame if the role of linesman is being phased out.

It's not a funny thing to say. It's my opinion.
The ball girls are perfectly appropriately and modestly dressed.

@Runningupthecurtains That's stunning. Much more up my street.
Been reading up on the turf and it seems the modern faster style of game is much harder on the grass too.

@Churchview there was some beautiful horticulture on display too.

The nature of tennis focuses immense amounts of stress on a few square feet of turf unlike many sports where the play is more random or evenly spread.

I'm a gardener not a groundsman - there are many different areas of horticulture and not many people know it all.

Sports pitches are not an area in which I have any experience. I was just genuinely surprised that it's so worn but I can see exactly what you mean.