Wimbledon’s longest-serving line judge makes 50th appearance at SW19 – after being replaced by Hawk-Eye

He has appeared on A Question Of Sport, received 130mph serves to the face and stared down temper tantrums from John McEnroe.

But despite a remarkable run of 49 Wimbledons in 54 years, it appeared 77-year-old Charles Falconer’s extraordinary SW19 career had been cruelly cut short before he reached that coveted half-century.

The veteran line judge’s position was axed last October when the All England Club replaced him and his smartly dressed comrades with the all-seeing Hawk-Eye line calling system.

However, bosses at the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament listened to appeals from friends and colleagues and recognised Mr Falconer’s service.

Wimbledon’s longest-serving line judge was given a ‘special invitation’ to the Championships last weekend and handed Centre Court tickets so he could claim he has made the big 50.

‘It is a nice feeling,’ Mr Falconer said. ‘It is good that they have done something. It was a bit of a kick in the teeth when I didn’t get anything, so I’m very happy.’

When Mr Falconer started calling the lines in 1970, Ted Heath was prime minister, the Beatles had just broken up and Australia’s Margaret Court became the first female tennis player to win the Grand Slam.

Today the wooden rackets have been swapped for carbon fibre, while the days of a quick smoke between sets are long gone as players arrive with personal chefs, fitness coaches and mindfulness mentors.

Charles Falconer worked as a Wimbledon line judge for 54 years

Wimbledon’s longest-serving line judge was given a ‘special invitation’ to the Championships last weekend and handed Centre Court tickets so he could claim he has made the big 50

‘It wasn’t nearly as competitive,’ said the former postie and insurance rep of the olden days, adding: ‘And the players were a lot more fun.

‘They are all into the game so much these days – it is the game, and that is it. They are all so serious.’

The Scottish grandfather of two, who was born in Forfar but now lives in Chatham, Kent, with wife Anne, 70, has had his fair share of fun during his years covering the lines.

‘I have been in the background of Terry Wogan’s Sporting Bloomers,’ he said.

‘John McEnroe and Pat Cash were playing and I got hit by the ball,’ he said. ‘Cash hit me, and I never got an acknowledgement from him.

‘That’s what they caught on the show, my face when he didn’t say anything. That’s probably why it was on.

‘I have also been in the background of A Question Of Sport and What Happened Next. Again, being hit by a ball. Yes, I’ve had a few bruises in my time.’

The Scottish grandfather of two has had his fair share of fun during his years covering the lines

Charles Falconer working at Wimbledon in his earlier years as a line judge

There was a particularly brutal moment a few years ago when he was on court for Croatian giant Marin Cilic – who can serve at over 130mph.

‘Again, I didn’t duck fast enough,’ said Mr Falconer. ‘When you’re on the service line and they’re coming down 130-odd miles an hour, sometimes you don’t duck quick enough and you get hit.

‘It happened to me about three years ago at Wimbledon.

‘One of my friends from Scotland got hit and taken off – you have to have an assessment if you are hit in the head.

‘It was funny, I came on, and the next game I got hit and I was taken off.’

For Mr Falconer, nobody was more intimating to call the lines for than Mr McEnroe.

‘It was always the case that you were never sure which Mr McEnroe was going to turn up,’ he said.

‘If he was winning he was alright, but if he wasn’t then he could be a bit of a…

‘Especially if you were on service line or baseline, these were always the places that caused the most problems for lines people.’

Mr Falconer would have made his half-century much more easily if miserable bosses hadn’t prevented him covering a few years. He also missed out on making it last year due to Covid-19.

And while he long predicted the game was moving towards electronic line calling, it is perhaps unsurprising that Mr Falconer does not have many kind words for the new look Wimbledon this year.

‘Awful,’ he says when asked what he thinks of it. ‘What gets me is you’ve got that one voice all the time. It just sounds funny.

‘It’s just not the same as having people at the back of the court. It was part of the tennis really. I saw a survey that 75 per cent of people want linesmen rather than AI. So that was good – but they’ll never come back.

‘I always knew that.’

With British number ones Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper questioning a few Hawk-Eye calls this past week or so, Mr Falconer’s own eagle eyes have been raised by a few decisions at SW19.

‘Certainly some have been close,’ he jokes. ‘I’m not sure I did see any that were actually wrong, but certainly a few very close ones.’

A Wimbledon spokesman said: ‘We are delighted that Charles is joining us to celebrate his incredible years of service to The Championships and we hope he has a lovely day with us on Centre Court.’