A former British tennis No1 has been left saddened after reportedly being banned from Wimbledon. In 2023, Christopher ‘Buster’ Mottram was informed he was no longer welcome at the All England Club “following further misdemeanours”, according to fellow ex-tennis star Roger Taylor.

Taylor made the claim in his recently-released book, The Man Who Saved Wimbledon, as reported in the Daily Mail’s Eden Confidential column. Some viewed Mottram, now 70, as a controversial figure. He once wrote a letter in support of then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher amid her battles with the trade unions, signing it on behalf of the Davis Cup team, of which he was a part. He was also accused of racism after expressing support for Enoch Powell, infamous for his 1968 ‘Rivals of Blood’ speech about mass immigration.

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 a player with his record, would usually be guaranteed. In 2023, following further misdemeanours, he was banned from the place altogether.”

A Wimbledon spokesperson said: “I’m afraid we don’t comment on our membership.” Mottram is said to have been left deeply saddened by his expulsion. Taylor 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.”

Mottram reached a career-high 15th in the world rankings in 1978 and 1983. His best Grand Slam performances were reaching the fourth round at the French Open (1977), the US Open (1980) and Wimbledon (1982).

He was part of the British Davis Cup team that reached the final of the 1978 tournament, where they lost to the United States. He suddenly retired from tennis at the end of 1983, citing the “hassle” of playing in tournaments throughout the year.

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Mottram later went into politics, becoming a member of UKIP, only to be expelled from the party in 2008 for trying to forge a pact with the far-right British National Party. Mottram, who claimed to be representing BNP leader Nick Griffin, reportedly refused to leave the meeting when his offer was rejected, leading to the police being called.

Then-UKIP leader Nigel 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."