Wimbledon headlines go to the champions, but it’s the hidden network of groundskeepers, ball crews, umpires, and operators that have helped build its legacy. This is their history.

1877: One court, a handful of staff, and a new chapter in sport

One day, on a croquet lawn in South West London, Wimbledon was born. It ran with just 22 players and a spectator audience of around 200 people, and certainly didn’t require the set-up it does today.

But the lines still needed to be marked, the grass still needed rolling and the balls still needed fetching. The first ever Wimbledon “staff” were likely club members and volunteers. 

Early 1900s: Maintaining the grass

As the tournament expanded in scale, the groundskeeping job of Wimbledon became a full-time task. 

Staff used hand-mowers and rakes to maintain the courts. They were continuously challenged with keeping the grass flat, even, and resilient, without modern irrigation or technology.

To this day, Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam tournament still played on grass, and maintaining those famous lawns is a year-round science!

1920 – ball boys

The kids who keep the ball rolling at Wimbledon were introduced in 1920, the boys at least. Ball girls followed in a whole 57 years later, in 1977. 

From what started as a few helping hands, today there are 250 schoolchildren selected from thousands of applicants. 

Though their role looks simple, each throw, roll, and sprint is calculated. Mistakes are rare, but when they happen, they become viral reminders of the human-run nature of the iconic tournament.

1950s – umpires take centre stage

Naturally, as the tournament became more competitive, the officiating became more formal.

Umpires and line judges were recruited, trained, and dressed in traditional dark blazers and hats. The art of silent, impartial judgment became a well known Wimbledon hallmark.

In earlier eras, uniforms were handmade; today, they’re high-tech blends, still tied to old-school elegance.

1963: All-white rule strengthened

In the 60s, Wimbledon tightened its now infamous all-white dress code. This dresscode still stands strict today, with tailors, wardrobe checkers, and laundry services working overtime to ensure player compliance. 

Even those behind the scenes adopt subtle white-accented uniforms to maintain the image. However the rules were relaxed in 2023 to allow dark undershorts for female players to help with fears of period leaks.

2010s: Hawk-Eye and human precision

The 2010s saw the introduction of line-calling technology, but Wimbledon decided to keep the line judges in the name of tradition and rhythm. 

2025 is the first year that this will change, with Wimbledon line judges replaced by technology.

2019: No.1 Court roof complete

We saw the first court roof in 2009, but 2019 was the year that both major show courts became weather-proof. 

With fewer delays and weather interruptions, the logistics teams can work more efficiently.

2025: Current day

Wimbledon now has over 750 staff, over 200 Ball Kids, and a packed team of tailors, kit checkers, nutritionists, cleaners and court teams. This list hardly scratches the surface of all those who work hard to make Wimbledon what it is. The unglamorous work is what keeps the spotlight shining! 

Wimbledon is more than a tournament, it’s a machine of mastery powered by invisible roles. As the game has changed, so have the people behind it. They don’t raise trophies, but they raise the bar, every single summer!