By Mark Whiley
A divisive former tennis star has reportedly been excluded from Wimbledon. Christopher Mottram, known widely as ‘Buster’, was Britain’s leading male player in the late 1970s and early 80s as well as representing his country in the Davis Cup. However, he has been barred from SW19 since 2023, fellow former British tennis star Roger Taylor has revealed. Taylor made the claim in his recently-released book, The Man Who Saved Wimbledon, per the Daily Mail’s Eden Confidential column. Now 70, Mottram was seen as a controversial figure. He once wrote a letter in support of then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher during her battles with the trade unions in the 80s, even signing it on behalf of the Davis Cup team, which left the tennis authorities fuming. Additionally, he faced allegations of racism due to his backing of Enoch Powell, a far-right politician notorious for his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech about mass immigration in the late-60s. Taylor, 83, wrote: “His antics and beliefs saw him frozen out by the establishment. He never became a permanent member of the All England Club which, for player with his record, would usually be guaranteed. In 2023, following further misdemeanours, he was banned from the place altogether.” When approached for comment, a Wimbledon spokesperson said: “I’m afraid we don’t comment on our membership.” Mottram has been left feeling despondent by his expulsion, although Taylor attributed the ban primarily to his own conduct. He wrote: “Buster spent more time there than just about anyone else and it’s been very sad to watch his decline and exclusion, even if much of it has been down to his own failings.” In his heyday, Mottram soared to 15th in the world rankings in 1978 and 1983, with his most notable Wimbledon achievement being reaching the fourth round in 1982. He made it to the fourth round at both the French Open and the US Open as well. He was also a member of the British Davis Cup team that was runner-up to the United States in 1978. Mottram abruptly hung up his racket in 1983, blaming the continuous “hassle” of participating in year-round tournaments. He later ventured into right-wing politics but found himself ejected from UKIP for fraternising with the British National Party (BNP) and its leader Nick Griffin. After attempting to broker a pact between UKIP and the BNP, Mottram was ejected from the party, then under Nigel Farage’s leadership. Farage said at the time: “There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever. “I’m simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party.” Griffin had entertained hopes of forming an agreement to prevent BNP and UKIP candidates from competing against one another in the forthcoming European elections.