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

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Glastonbury for tennis and a special aura - why fans worship WimbledonImage source, SuppliedImage caption, Super-fan Geoff Hughes has spent two decades camping for the entire two weeks in the queue to attend WimbledonBySarah HawleyReporting fromAt WimbledonPublished4 minutes agoFor many fans, Wimbledon is not simply a sporting event - it is a place where lifelong friendships are formed, traditions are passed down and memories are made year after year. Geoff Hughes, who has made the annual pilgrimage to SW19 for three decades, says: "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. " While Geoff is a devoted regular, many others are experiencing the wonder of Wimbledon for the first time. Tennis is enjoying a surge in popularity, driven in part by a new generation of compelling young stars attracting fresh audiences to the sport.

The Details

That has been reflected in record crowds, with more than 548,000 people attending the Championships last year - the highest in Wimbledon's history. Image source, PA MediaImage caption, A record number of fans attended Wimbledon last yearFor stalwarts like Geoff though, the Wimbledon appeal has been there from the start. The 66-year-old, from Malpas in Cheshire, may be its most dedicated queue veteran.

He has camped out there for the entire two weeks of the tournament for the past 20 years. Rules of the queue are simple. The day before you want to watch a match, head to Wimbledon Park, go to the back of the line and receive a queue card, which marks your position.

Those who join by mid-afternoon and camp overnight are usually in contention for a court ticket the following day. "The best thing is just the atmosphere throughout the whole queue. Chatting to people, meeting new friends," Geoff says.

What Experts Say

Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Fans compare the traditional Wimbledon queue to "Glastonbury for tennis fans"Geoff is also a member of fan group The Murraynators, and has numerous Wimbledon stories about British tennis player Andy Murray as well as a treasured selfie with his hero. He remembers standing on Henman Hill in 2012 "in the pouring rain with a bin bag over my head" watching Murray lose to tennis legend and winner of 20 Grand Slams Roger Federer in the men's final. But "redemption followed" the next year when he was lucky enough to secure final tickets in the public ballot.

He watched Murray beat Novak Djokovic in that 2013 final. "I still can't believe it to this day," he says. "Image source, SuppliedImage caption, Geoff has bumped into numerous tennis stars at Wimbledon over the years, including his hero Andy MurrayFellow Wimbledon regular Kev Cooper, from Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire, can go one better.

A last-minute ticket swap with a fellow spectator got him on to Centre Court for a Murray victory in 2015 - and he came away with an incredible souvenir. "Murray threw his shirt into the crowd," he says.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.