History of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships By Ben Johnson | Comments The Championships, Wimbledon, or just Wimbledon as it is more commonly referred to, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and arguably the most famous. Since the first tournament 125 years ago in 1877, The Championships have been hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London and take place over two weeks in late June – early July. Of the four major annual tennis tournaments known as the ‘Grand Slams’, Wimbledon is the only one to still be played on grass, which is where the name lawn tennis originated. Grass is also the surface which provides the fastest game of tennis. Of the other three, the Australian Open and the US Open are both played on hard courts and the French Open is played on clay. In stark contrast to today’s sporting extravaganza, the first year of the Championships took place with very little fanfare.

The All England Club had originally been called the All England Croquet Club when it opened in 1869, but as the new game of lawn tennis – an offshoot of the original indoor racquet sport known by traditionalists as ‘real tennis’ – began to grow in popularity at the end of the nineteenth century, the club decided to provide tennis courts for their visitors. On 14 April 1877 the Club introduced the first of a number of name changes to become the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. Unlike today’s tournament, which involves four junior and four invitation competitions alongside the five main contests – the men’s single and double matches, the women’s single and double matches and the mixed doubles – the first Wimbledon championships had one event, the Gentleman’s Singles. As it was not permissible for women to enter the tournament in 1877, the first Wimbledon champion from a group of twenty-two male competitors was twenty seven year old Spencer William Gore. In front of a crowd of 200, who had paid a shilling apiece to attend, Gore beat his opponent William Marshall in a decisive 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 defeat lasting only forty-eight minutes.

As would also be the tradition for many Wimbledon tournaments to follow until a retractable roof was installed over centre court in 2009, the final was postponed due to rain. When it was eventually played three days later the weather conditions had not greatly improved. Ladies at Wimbledon The game of lawn tennis was still in its infancy at this stage, with players using basic handmade equipment and imprecise strokes, unlike the slick powerful serves and top of the range rackets we see today. However, modern day Wimbledon spectators would be sure to recognise many of the rules of the game which were first introduced by the All England Club’s Committee in 1877 as an adaptation of those put in place by the Marylebone Cricket Club, perversely the then controlling body of ‘real’ tennis. Whilst no tournaments were held at Wimbledon during 1915-1918 and 1940-1945 because of the First and Second World War s, the game continued to grow in popularity. In 1884 the men’s doubles competition was introduced and the same year women were also invited to join the tournament.

In the fifties the club moved from its original rented site on Worple Road to the larger, present day Church Road site and in 1967 the tournament made history when the event became the first broadcast to ever be televised in colour. Trophies and prize money Following the completion of the five major competitions the winners are presented with the traditional Wimbledon trophies. Having had to replace both the Field Cup in 1883 and the Challenge Cup in 1886, the All England Club decided that future trophies should no longer become property of the Championship winners, who would instead receive a replica of the trophy whilst the originals were housed in the Wimbledon museum . For the men’s singles winners the trophy was a silver gilt cup engraved with the words "The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Champion of the World" and inscribed with the name of winners dating back to 1877. In 2009, when there was no more room for the names of future Wimbledon Champions, the addition of a black plinth adorned with a silver band was incorporated so that more names could be commemorated.

For the ladies' singles winners the trophy is a sterling silver salver, known as the 'Rosewater Dish', which was first introduced in 1886, and for each of the doubles tournaments a silver challenge cup is presented to the winners. Whilst the coveted trophies were highly prized it wasn’t until 1968 that prize money was awarded at Wimbledon. This was also the first year that the Club allowed professional players to compete. However, surprisingly it was only as recently as 2007 that the prize money for men and women became equal! As you can see below, there is quite a difference between today’s prize money and that received by the winners in 1968! Prize money won by Wimbledon Champions in respective events: Year Wimbledon Fashion The accepted outfit of choice for Wimbledon players in the nineteenth century was plain white long-sleeved shirts and trousers for men and full-length corseted white dresses and hats for women. It was not until the 1920s and 1930s that the players, and particularly the female players, began to experiment with their clothing.

Shorter skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops were all introduced, some more daringly than others, to provide ease of movement and a sense of individual personality. As far back as the nineteen thirties the French grand slam winner René Lacoste promoted his own eponymous label by wearing his crocodile emblazoned shirts whilst on court. However, today Wimbledon is besieged with the current sports logos of choice as tennis outfits seem to be less about comfort or individuality and more often than not, a result of the multi-million pound sponsorship deals with sportswear giants. Indeed even the ball boys and girls have left behind the traditional Wimbledon colours of green and purple and have sported navy and cream uniforms created by the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren since 2006. Wimbledon traditions Although much has changed since the Wimbledon Championships were first introduced in 1887, today when we think of Wimbledon fortnight there are a number of traditional images that still spring to mind.

The obligatory strawberries and cream (of which it is estimated that 28,000 kilos of English strawberries and 7000 litres of cream are consumed each year!), the white or almost all white dress code which is still a requirement, or the strong ties with the Royal family to name but a few. All of which combined continue to preserve Wimbledon’s place both in British heritage and at the forefront of the tennis world. Getting here Wimbledon is easily accessible by both bus and rail, please try our London Transport Guide for further information. Wimbledon Traditions - Wimbledon Tennis Championship Traditions, Traditions Of Wimbledon Tournament Tennis » Wimbledon » Wimbledon Traditions Wimbledon Traditions Wimbledon is the oldest international tennis event to be held in the world. It is also one of the four Grand slams championships. Started in 1877, the tournament has covered a journey of about 132 years. In the century of its existence, Wimbledon has become more of a tradition than a mere championship. With time, interesting things were been introduced in the event, which have gradually become an inherent part of the tournament. In fact, Wimbledon, after more than 100 years of its existence, stands as a classic tennis tournament with some really interesting traditions.

Read on to explore the major traditions of Wimbledon Tournament, in detail. Wimbledon Tennis Championship Traditions Grass Surface Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam event which is still played on a natural surface i.e. on a grass court. It is also the oldest event of its own kind. Even after 132 years of its existence, Wimbledon is still played in its natural form, on a natural court. Reference to the Players Unlike other championships, the reference to the players in the Wimbledon championship still holds the same charm. Until now, the men's events are known as 'gentlemen's' and women's events are known as 'ladies' events. Earlier, the married women tennis players were called by their husband's name. Now, the concept of 'Miss' - for an unmarried woman player and 'Mrs' - for a married woman player is in vogue. Still, there is no reference to any male player as 'Mr'. Dress Code The 'All England Club' accepted the colors of green and purple as the club official colors in 1909 and until 2006, every single official, including umpires, linesmen and ball boys and girls, were dressed in green.

After this, the dress code changed for the first time, when the club approached American designer Ralph Lauren for designing all the official outfits in navy blue and cream. However, the rule of all white uniform still exists for the players, since 1877. Royalty The royal family of England has an old connection with 'All England Club'. In the last century, they came up as ardent supporters of Wimbledon Championship many times. Even the famous Princess Diana, before her sudden demise, was often seen as a spectator at Wimbledon matches. The Queen is presently the sponsor of the All England Club and the Duke of Kent is its presiding president. It was earlier a tradition for a player to bow on entering or leaving the court, if he/she encountered any member of the British Royal family. However, this rule was abolished in 2003 and now only the Queen and Prince are honored this way. Prize Money Initially, it was a trend that the winners of the gentlemen's events were presented with a lot more prize money than their female counterparts.

However, the famous player of current times, Venus Williams of USA led dominant protests against this variance and in 2007; the organizers of the tournament, All England Lawn Tennis, dismissed the earlier practice and started awarding the same prize Ball Boys & Ball Girls Ball boys and ball girls form an intrinsic part of any Wimbledon event. They play a crucial role in the tournament, by ensuring its smooth functioning. They are available at all the required places, for ensuring efficient interior management of the tournament. Strawberry & Creams The tradition of Strawberry and Creams is also extremely important in Wimbledon. The tradition of serving strawberry began in 1953 and the cream was added to the traditional fare in 1970. Gradually, the two of these became an essential part of the tournament. The History Of The Championships, Wimbledon, Wimbledon History How did it all begin? The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was founded in 1868 and is responsible for the world's leading tennis tournament. Lawn tennis, originally known as ‘Sphairistike, was invented by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield and was introduced at the Club in 1875.

Two years later, the Club was renamed “The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club” and the first ever Lawn Tennis Championship took place. A new code of laws was drawn up and most of these laws still stand today. During this first Championship, only one event took place; the Men’s Singles, which was won by Spencer Gore. Around 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final. Just five years later, in 1882, the Club’s main activity became lawn tennis and so in 1884, the All England Club (by this point the word “croquet” had been dropped from their name) decided to add two further events; the Ladies' Singles and Gentlemen's Doubles (Ladies' Doubles and Mixed Doubles were added in 1913). By the early 1900s the Club had outgrown its home in Worple Road , Wimbledon , where it had been since its formation. A lot had changed since the first ever Lawn Tennis Championship in 1877 (in which the final attracted 200 spectators) and the old grounds were no longer able to cope with the huge crowds who flocked to the event each year.

And so, in 1920, the decision to move was taken. A site was chosen just a mile or so from the Worple Road site – and the major undertaking of designing and constructing the new Centre Court began. Well known architect Captain Stanley Peach was commissioned to design the new Centre Court . To convince the Club’s Committee, he built a huge scale model of Centre Court . His original blueprints for the Centre Court still exist (discovered recently in a basement storage area of the offices of Stanley Peach & Co). A driving force throughout the project was Commander George Hillyard, secretary of the Club since 1907 and once a men’s doubles finalist. Hillyard collaborated with Peach on the ambitious design and his mission for the Club was clear: ‘‘Let us look to it that we construct and equip our ground that it will immediately be recognised as the finest, not only in England Wimbledon is acknowledged to be the World’s premier tennis tournament and a Long Term Plan was unveiled in 1993 by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which will improve the quality of the event for spectators, players, officials and neighbours in years to come.

The first stage of the Plan was completed in time for the 1997 Championships and involved building the new No. 1 Court, a Broadcast Centre, two extra grass courts, and a tunnel under the hill to link Church Road Somerset Road . The second stage involved the removal of the old No. 1 Court complex in order to make way for the new Millennium Building to provide extensive facilities for the players, press, officials and Members, and also the extension of the West Stand of Centre Court, creating a further 728 seats. The third stage is currently under way with the recent redevelopment of the turnstile area, the construction of the new Museum Building at Gate 3, a permanent 2,600 sq ft Wimbledon Shop, Club offices and Ticket Office, an increase in Centre Court capacity from 13800 to 15000, and a new restaurant and bars. Rain has frequently interrupted play at The Championships and so this year, for the first time, a new retractable roof will be in use on Centre Court . During The Championships, this roof is to be kept primarily closed in an attempt to protect play from inclement.

2009 also sees an increase in the court’s capacity to 15,000 and the installation of new, wider padded seating for the comfort of the spectators. Wimbledon Over the years, Wimbledon has developed many unique traditions, including: strawberries and cream , royal patronage, a strict dress code for competitors, and ball boys and girls. However, one not so popular tradition of the rain stopping play should hopefully be avoided in 2009, with the installation of a retractable roof on Centre Court . This will come as a relief after the 2008 Men’s Final lasted 7 hours, ending in darkness and making it the longest Men’s Final in history. The British are very proud of the tournament and such unique traditions help emphasise this fact but something we are no doubt less proud of is the fact that the Singles event hasn’t actually been won by a British man since Fred Perry in 1936 or a British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Previous FRED PERRY 1934, 1935, 1936 Ever since becoming world table-tennis champion as a 20-year-old in 1929 Fred Perry, the son a Labour MP, had set his sights on becoming as dominant on the larger stage. He had been playing the game for only seven years when in 1934, aged 25, he won the first of his three consecutive singles titles at Wimbledon . His 1934 victory was against Crawford, the holder, in three sets in the final. The following year, he mastered the German, Baron Gottfried von Cramm, in the final in three sets. In 1936, Perry beat Don Budge in the semi-finals and in the final (the last singles Perry played in the Championships) he again beat von Cramm in straight sets. There never was a more effectively forceful British player. At Wimbledon he took three successive titles and won 21 consecutive singles. The record stood until Björn Borg, arrived on the scene in the 1970s and Perry was the first to congratulate him.

BJöRN BORG 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 Never in the history of lawn tennis did any player accomplish so much and in so brief a time as the Swede, Björn Borg. He was more coolly dominating and ruthless at Wimbledon than any previous modern challenger, precociously successful in Paris and on clay courts, clinically efficient in the Davis Cup and entirely a sporting phenomenon. Only the US title was to escape his grasp: he lost in the final four times. Having won the junior tournament at Wimbledon in 1972 aged 16, it was in 1976 at his fourth attempt that Borg wove the first major strands in his unique Wimbledon tapestry. He lost a set to no-one, his victims including Guillermo Vilas, the hard serving Roscoe Tanner in the semis and the touch genius Ilie Nastase in the final. It would not be until 1981 that he next lost at Wimbledon .

The span was from 1st July 1975, when Ashe beat him in the quarter finals, to 4th July 1981 with McEnroe his victor in the final: 41 matches in a continuity of victory and five successive titles! After the first Borg’s subsequent titles were more onerously gained. In 1977, he overcame the American Vitas Gerulaitis in a brilliant five set semi final. In the final he survived in a five-setter against Jimmy Connors. In 1978 Borg made an awkward start in his opening match but proceeded dominantly to the final beating Connors again, this time quite easily. In 1979, the final also had the champion against the ropes, before Borg beat Tanner in five sets. In 1980 Borg had his notable confrontation with McEnroe in the final. It was among the best ever played at that stage. Borg won the final set by 8-6 to be champion for the fifth time. In 1981, though McEnroe at last got his hands on the famous gold cup with a victory in four sets. For Borg it was virtually the end.

Only 25, the years of intense effort had taken their toll. Later, in 1981, he suddenly retired from the mainstream. Idolised by young spectators and awesomely admired by all, Borg’s legacy was immense. His example made the double fisted backhand and patience an orthodoxy. His coolness under pressure, his speed about the court, his utter dependability from the back of the court through the use of heavy topspin, his fast reflexes on the volley, his formidable serve, his bloody-minded refusal to lose – all these attributes, honed to perfection by coach Lennart Bergelin – pointed the way forward. Björn Borg ranks as one of the giants of the game. PAT CASH 1987 Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1965, Patrick Hart Cash first came into the tennis spotlight in the early 1980s, and in 1981, he was ranked the top junior tennis player in the world. The following year, Cash won the junior titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open and the same year, he turned professional, going on to win his first top-level singles title in Melbourne.

He soon established a reputation as a hard-fighting serve-and-volleyer and for wearing his trademark black-and-white checked headband and his cross earring. In 1983, aged just 17, he became the youngest player ever to win a singles Davis Cup final and a year later he reached the men’s singles semi-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl respectively. He was also the runner-up in the Men’s Doubles competition at Wimbledon with McNamee and again the following year with Fitzgerald. In 1986, Cash claimed a 3-2 victory over Swede, Mikael Pernfors, in the Davis Cup and just a year later came the crowning in moment of his career, his triumph at the 1987 Wimbledon Championship, beating World No.1, Ivan Lendl in straight sets. This victory made him one of only a handful of players to win junior Wimbledon and senior Wimbledon singles titles (others include Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer). Pat Cash continued on the full-time circuit until his retirement in 1997, despite Achilles tendon, knee and back injuries.

Since retiring, Cash now lives in London and has coached many top players, including Greg Rusedski and Mark Philippoussis. Also during his retirement, he has opened a number of tennis academies and for The 2009 Championships, Keith Prowse is delighted to offer the exclusive opportunity for our guests to play tennis with Pat Cash on the morning of their visit to The Championships at the Speakeasy venue ; thereafter, Pat will join guests to discuss the order of play, his thoughts on the current players and sign autographs. ROGER FEDERER 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 The career of Roger Federer is still unfinished. By the close of 2008, still only 27, the Swiss superstar has already achieved tennis immortality. His total of 13 Grand Slam victories among the men is second only to Pete Sampras’s 14. By reaching the final of ten consecutive Grand Slam championships and winning Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back four times in a row, he set records that may never be equalled.

Until overtaken by Rafael Nadal in August 2008, Federer had been ranked number l in the world for 237 consecutive weeks. There was early evidence that Roger had exceptional talent: in 1998 he won the junior singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon (only two others have done that). He also beat 17 times champion Pete Sampras in the fourth round at Wimbledon Two years later he joined Björn Borg, Pat Cash and Stefan Edberg as Wimbledon ’s only junior champions who went on the win the men’s singles. His victories over Andy Roddick in the semi final and Mark Philippousis now placed him at the top of the game. Between 2004 and 2007, the confidence factor lifted Federer to another level. His further Wimbledon final victims have been Andy Roddick (2004 and 2005) and Rafael Nadal (2006 and 2007). His five wins in a row equalled Björn Borg’s record in the 1980s and the Swede was present on Centre Court in the Royal Box to witness Federer’s feat in 2007.

Even when his reign came to an end in 2008 at the hands of an inspired Nadal, Federer produced a performance of heroic proportions as he came back from two sets down and saved two match points in the fourth-set tiebreak before going down 9 7 in the fifth set of a compelling battle full of glorious shot making. Two months later, a fifth consecutive US Open triumph saved Federer’s year. A natural athlete, Federer’s speed of thought and movement, when allied to an abundant talent with the racket, give him options that others envy. Many consider that we have been witnessing the greatest striker of a tennis ball who ever lived. As with Sampras, however, there is one piece still missing; the French Open title on clay has eluded his grasp, losing three finals in a row to Rafael Nadal. Perhaps his two finest weapons are his serve and his forehand. Both are hit with easy grace; both are deadly. A strong right wrist allows him to apply fizzing topspin on the forehand when necessary to create sharp angles; it also produces heavy slice or topspin on the serve. Federer has reminded us all how beautiful this game can be.

British Tennis Players As one of the four major tennis tournaments, and possibly the toughest, Wimbledon is the tournament that all players set out to win during their career. Winning a singles title at the Championships automatically assures that a player goes down in Wimbledon tennis history. The first Wimbledon Men’s Singles champion was British player, Spencer Gore, who won the first title back in 1877 and for the next 40 years, British males dominated the title. This was probably due to that fact that it was predominantly British males who entered the Championships in its early years. However, between 1907 and 1912 this trend changed and Australian players, Norman Brookes and Arthur Wilding, kick-started the dominance of international male players. Since then, few British tennis players have earned the title Men’s Singles Champion. Fred Perry was the last British Men’s Singles Champion, winning the title for the third and final time in 1936. This is something which has become a long-standing joke among the British media in the weeks preceding the Championship as over the years, many British players have tried and failed to win the title.

Virginia Wade was the last British tennis player to win Wimbledon , winning the Ladies Singles title in the tournament’s centenary year. Throughout her long and successful career she won three Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam doubles titles but winning Wimbledon in 1977 was the pinnacle of her career Since Wade, no British play has won the Championships but perhaps the player who has come closest to claiming the title in recent years is Tim Henman. Henman appeared in four semi finals of Wimbledon ; however, he never managed to get into a final. Andy Murray is currently ranked the highest British player. In 2006, Murray reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time and last year he was knocked out at the quarter finals stage by eventual champion, Rafael Nadal. Could he become Britain ’s next Wimbledon Champion in 2009? When Does The Tournament Take Place ? Every year, the tournament begins on the Monday which falls between 20 and 26 June and is scheduled to last 14 days. Traditionally, there is no play on the “Middle Sunday” as this is considered to be a rest day.

This tradition has only been broken three times in the history of the Championships; in 1991, 1997 and 2004, when rain forced play. The Grounds All of the nineteen courts which are used for Wimbledon are made of rye grass and the two main courts, Centre Court and No. 1 Court, are usually only used for the two weeks of the Championships (although under exceptional circumstances, play can be extended into a third week). The other seventeen courts are used throughout the year for other events. Today, Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam event still played on grass courts. opened in 1922 when the Club moved from Worple Road to Church Road . It usually plays host to both the semi-finals and the finals of each of the main events, as well as many of the earlier matches. At the south end of the court is the Royal Box from which members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries are able to watch. No.1 Court The second most important court is No. 1 Court.

The current court was built in 1997 with an increased capacity of 11,000 Ball boys and ball girls Each year, ball boys and girls play an essential role in the smooth running of The Championships and since 1969 have been provided by local schools, having an average age of 15. Prospective candidates are nominated by their headteacher and must undergo and series of written and fitness tests before being selected Wimbledon Dark green and purple are the traditional colours of Wimbledon . Until 2005, Green clothing was worn by the chair umpire, linesmen, ball boys and ball girls but in 2006 a new navy blue and cream uniform designed by Ralph Lauren was introduced. Trophies The Men’s Singles champion receives a silver gilt cup. This trophy has been awarded since 1887 and bears the inscription: "The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Champion of the World." The Ladies' Singles champion receives a sterling silver salver commonly known as the "Venus Rosewater Dish". The salver is decorated with figures from mythology. Winners of the Men's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events receive silver cups.

The runner-up in each event receives an inscribed silver plate. The trophies are usually presented by the President of the All England Club, The Duke of Kent, and by his sister, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy. Hospitality at Tennis Collectables - Wimbledon Towels Tennis Collectables Contact Us Wimbledon Towels Every year Christy supply Wimbledon with all the towels used by the players. We now have Wimbledon 2007 towels in stock plus a few remaining Wimbledon 2006 towels. We also have several different face cloths and guest towels available. Please use this link to order your Wimbledon Towels . Wimbledon 2007 Official Women's Tennis Towel Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2007 the colour is updated to rose pink and it features the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2007' in navy blue. The towels are slight 'seconds' which means that there may be a minor manufacturing flaw such as an occasional pulled thread or minor weaving flaw, but in most cases the fault is undetectable.

The official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club label has had one corner clipped to indicate that it is a second. The towels are otherwise in MINT UNUSED condition, straight from the factory. Priced at ï¿½22.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½27.50 (approx $55) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 2007 Official Men's Tennis Towel Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2007, the menï¿½s championship towel comes in the traditional colours of rich purple, green and gold and feature a stripe with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2007'. The towels are slight 'seconds' which means that there may be a minor manufacturing flaw such as an occasional pulled thread or minor weaving flaw, but in most cases the fault is undetectable. The official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club label has had one corner clipped to indicate that it is a second.

The towels are otherwise in MINT UNUSED condition, straight from the factory. Priced at ï¿½22.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½27.50 (approx $55) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 2006 Official Women's Tennis Towel In Carry Bag Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2006 the colours are updated (turquoise, orange and cranberry) and feature a stripe with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2006'. The towels are in absolutely MINT UNUSED condition in the official clear PVC carry bag, complete with all tags and labels.

Priced at ï¿½27.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½32.50 (approx $65) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 2006 Official Women's Tennis Towel Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2006 the colours are updated (turquoise and orange) and feature a stripe with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2006'. The towels are slight 'seconds' which means that there may be a minor manufacturing flaw such as an occasional pulled thread or minor weaving flaw, but in most cases the fault is undetectable. The official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club label has had one corner clipped to indicate that it is a second. The towels are otherwise in MINT UNUSED condition, straight from the factory.

Priced at ï¿½20.00 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½25.00 (approx $50) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 2006 Official Men's Tennis Towel In Carry Bag Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2006, the menï¿½s championship towel comes in the traditional colours of rich purple, green and gold and feature a stripe with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2006'.

The towels are in absolutely MINT UNUSED condition in the official clear PVC carry bag (bag may have minor marking and paper price tag may be missing from the bag) Priced at ï¿½27.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½32.50 (approx $65) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 2006 Official Men's Tennis Towel Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 2006, the menï¿½s championship towel comes in the traditional colours of rich purple, green and gold and feature a stripe with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 2006'. The towels are slight 'seconds' which means that there may be a minor manufacturing flaw such as an occasional pulled thread or minor weaving flaw, but in most cases the fault is undetectable. The official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club label has had one corner clipped to indicate that it is a second. The towels are otherwise in MINT UNUSED condition, straight from the factory.

Priced at ï¿½20.00 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½25.00 (approx $50) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Official Face Cloths A pair of dark green face cloths manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon each measuring approximately 12" by 12". These items each feature an embroidered/woven official Wimbledon 'Flying W' logo. There are no dates on these items. These face cloths are 'perfects' and are supplied in their original clear plastic zippered case and have the official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club labels. The cloths are in MINT UNUSED condition. Priced at ï¿½12.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½17.50 (approx $35) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Official Face Cloths A pair of turquoise and orange face cloths manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon each measuring approximately 12" by 12". These items each feature an embroidered/woven official Wimbledon 'Crossed Rackets' logo.

There are no dates on these items. These face cloths are 'perfects' and are supplied in their original clear plastic zippered case and have the official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club labels. The cloths are in MINT UNUSED condition. Priced at ï¿½12.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½17.50 (approx $35) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Official Face Cloths A pair of cranberry pink face cloths manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon each measuring approximately 12" by 12". These items each feature an embroidered/woven official Wimbledon 'Crossed Rackets' logo. There are no dates on these items. These face cloths are 'perfects' and are supplied in their original clear plastic zippered case and have the official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club labels. The cloths are in MINT UNUSED condition, straight from the factory.

Priced at ï¿½12.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½17.50 (approx $35) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Official Guest Towel SOLD OUT Cranberry Pink towel in pure cotton manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon measuring approximately 28" by 16". The towel features the official Wimbledon 'Crossed Rackets' logo in pink and purple, and 'Wimbledon' embroidered in gold beneath the logo. There is NO date on this towel. This guest towel is a 'perfect' in MINT UNUSED condition with the official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club labels. It is supplied in its original clear plastic zippered case. Priced at ï¿½15.00 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½20.00 (approx $40) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Official Guest Towel SOLD OUT Forest Green towel in pure cotton manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon measuring approximately 28" by 16".

The towel features the official Wimbledon 'Crossed Rackets' logo in green and purple, and 'Wimbledon' embroidered in gold beneath the logo. There is NO date on this towel. This guest towel is a 'perfect' in MINT UNUSED condition with the official Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club labels. It is supplied in its original clear plastic zippered case. Priced at ï¿½15.00 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½20.00 (approx $40) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon Hand Towel SOLD OUT Forest Green towel in pure cotton manufactured by Christy for Wimbledon measuring approximately 36" by 20". The towel features the official Wimbledon 'Crossed Rackets' logo in green and purple. There is NO date on this towel. This towel is in UNUSED condition, with the original tag and labels (small tear and light creasing to the tag).

Priced at ï¿½12.50 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½17.50 (approx $35) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping) Wimbledon 1996 Official Men's Tennis Towel Christyï¿½s famous Wimbledon championship towel (100% cotton), as used by the players themselves, measures approximately 52" by 27". For 1996, the menï¿½s championship towel came in a check design in the traditional colours of purple, green and white with the legend 'The Championships Wimbledon 1996' in white along the lower edge. The towels are in MINT UNUSED condition with the official The Championships Wimbledon label intact. Priced at ï¿½20.00 to a UK address (including p&p and VAT) Priced at ï¿½25.00 (approx $50) to all other addresses (including Priority shipping)

Question: What are the two traditional colours of Wimbledon?
Answer: Green and Purple