Henman's army of flag-waving fans have always been ever-present on Centre Court and Henman Hill when their hero is in action.

So generally, are they his secret weapon - or an acute embarrassment?

By Tom Fordyce Supporter cynic

You could forgive Tim Henman if he walked out on Centre Court wearing blinkers.

It's the "ME" in capital letters that sounds alarm bells

The sight of those baying hordes in the stands would be enough for most of us to quit tennis instantly and run for the safety of the hills.

Poor old Tim.

He dedicates every hour of his waking life to playing the best tennis he can, and what is his reward?

The bug-eyed adoration of the sort of individual who sees the Union Jack and thinks "waistcoat" and who spends their spare time making terrifying home-made posters from chopped-up newspapers.

I'm not saying all fans of other sports are the sort of characters you'd want to sit next to on a long train journey. It's just Henman's Barmy Army ruin it for the rest of us.

You want to support the lad - he's British, he's playing great tennis and he's a nice enough chap.

But to do so feels like an implicit endorsement of the screaming mob on Henman Hill.

The top bods at the LTA must cringe every time the camera zooms in on another gaggle of emotionally-unstable flag-biters.

The message is clear to impressionable youngsters all round the country - choose tennis ahead of football, and your groupies will look like your mum's friend Pat after she's spent the night sleeping on the pavement.

The Henmaniacs are the sort of people who have no interest in any other sport. They're not even particularly interested in tennis.

Tim simply represents everything they like - safe, polite, and he even has sensible hair.

There's nothing wrong with any of those attributes. It's just if Henman played the same tennis but had tattoos, was called Steve and hailed from Stoke, these fans wouldn't go anywhere near him.

And as for those red, white and blue jester's hats....

By Ben Gallop Flag-waving fan

Here we go again.

It's the last week of June so it must be time to knock Wimbledon tennis fans.

OK, I'll come clean here - I wouldn't want to spend too long in the company of Middle England's finest who populate Henman Hill.

But neither would I want to hang out with large sections of the England football team's hardcore following, spend a day on the lash with cricket's Barmy Army nor indulge in the frat-house frolics of a Lions rugby tour.

Sure, the crowd at Wimbledon can sometimes appear naff. Cool it ain't.

Academy: Download your own Henman mask

But who cares?

It's time to get to the nub of the issue - and tackle the sneering sexism and sporting snobbery that is the hidden agenda behind the attacks on Henmaniacs.

Look at those faces. What do you see - magic or madness?

For 50 weeks of the year, sport in this country is totally dominated by men.

Then, for a glorious midsummer fortnight, this demographic is turned on its head.

During Wimbledon, women - many of them (heaven forefend!) middle-class and middle-aged - get involved in sport.

They turn up at SW19 in huge numbers, mobilised by the particular charms of the All England Club - the atmosphere, ambience and action that sets Wimbledon apart from other sporting events.

For those two weeks a feminine flag flies above UK Sport PLC.

And guess what? The blokes don't like it.

Sport belongs to men, or so the received wisdom goes, with their encyclopaedic knowledge of lower division football grounds and appreciation of the lbw law.

But relax lads - you'll get your ball back soon.

It's nearly time for the new Premiership season, for the relentless round of hamstring strains and rumours of big-money moves to the Bridge.

I for one, though, will not be celebrating the return of the established order.

Sport should be for everyone and the summer offers a chance to put that noble theory into practice.

And if Wimbledon can continue to broaden the appeal of sport and bring in new audiences, then long may it reign.

All hail Henman Hill.

They're a desperate embarrassment - usually older middle aged women with sausagey arms, probably spinsters who share their homes with too many cats and Charles & Di memorabilia plates, thimbles, etc.
Nick Oakes, London

Whenever Henman plays, I'm forced to watch the television on "mute", such is the embarrassing behaviour of his supporters. I've got nothing against Henman per se - he seems "nice" enough - but I always look forward to his getting beaten if only to silence the partisan, middle-Englanders that follow him.
James Chapman, London

For poor Tim it must be like having your mum cheer you on when you used to get into a fight as a kid. Immensely embarrasing and severely style-cramping. You'd lost before you'd even started. Is it just me, or did I see the entire population of Henman Hill at the last night of the proms? I bet you can't move for Volvos in the car park.
Paul Sharville, Brighton

Tom Fordyce is spot on, the public wouldn't give a halfpenny for tattooed Steve from stoke because Classism still exists in Tennis. But if he was long haired Steve from Melbourne or Piere from Marseile We would probably Love him as a sexy rebel. It will take at least two Grand slams before the English middle classes start to like tattooed Steve from stoke so instead he plays football where the groupies are nicer anyway.
malcolm baldwin, London

Tennis is a sport for toffs played by toffs. They just dont want working people in their game. Timbo only represents middle England. Wimbledon doesnt start for most of us until he is knocked out. Then we can watch the tennis.
Mike barnes, Bedford

Henman fans resemble a Broadmoor day out for the compulsive obsessive stalker patients
Him Tenman, London

Without wishing to sound cruel, they are the embodiment of all that is wrong with sport in Britain today. Where do all these strange middle aged housewives go during the other 50 weeks of the year ? Is Wimbledon the only time of the year they are allowed out to follow Henman around like a herd of crazy menopausal sheep ?
gav, Tamworth

Supporter Cynics....who needs 'em? Since when have us Brits had anything to shout about over the last 25 years of tennis. Tim is our best hope of glory and he deserves the support of the nation - no matter how fanatical it may become. Let the British public cherish Tim's Wimbledon adventure - it may be a long time until we have another true competitor in the sport. Two words to all you supporter cynics - "Bah humbug".
Lee, Christchurch

I don't believe Ben's point about it being female-dominated. Look at the crowd and you'll see just as many idiot blokes with "Come on Tim" t-shirts as there are horse-faced women with tennis ball earrings. The only way to shut these people up is to keep Henman away from Wimbledon, and that's why so many would-be supporters (myself included) always want him to get spanked by some no-mark in round 1!
Alex, London

This lot are enough to make you feel unpatriotic. There is a level of support which is acceptable and a level of support which is cringe inducing. These Henmaniacs are in the latter camp. It wouldn't be quite so bad if Tim actually had a decent chance of winning.
Kate, London

It should be compulsory to wear the St.George when one of our nations hero's goes out to do battle. People who find it embarrassing are obviously anal retentive & should loosen up a bit and be proud to be English. God save the Queen. Speed be with you Tim.
James Thorpe, Pudsey

The "Henmaniacs" are idiots.I'm all for supporting Tim but these fools with flags,hats and face paint make a mockery of tennis.The make out they love tennis but where will they be in 10 years time when Tim is retired.Answer-nowhere.These mainly sad middle aged women do it just so the get on TV and they don't even watch the match properly.They start cheering for Tim even when he's hit a ball is clearly out.These idiot fools should be prevented from entering Wimbledon the 2 weeks of the year they decide to come out and support a sport.They are not real fans, they are pitiful.
Richard Yaxley, London

Even the fact that the question is being asked surely indicates that most people find 'Henmania' embarrassing. Middle aged women copting football chants in high pitched voices and crying after his inevitable semi-final defeat is nothing short of laughable.
James Falkingham, Rochford, Essex

they are completely embarrassing and quite frankly shouldn't be allowed in dressed like football fans and screaming like banshes. selective ticket sales please.
Judith, London

If this bunch of potential stalkers represent middle England then give me the working classes any day of the week.
David Richards, Rotherhithe

I cannot believe again that the BBC(please remind us of what that is supposed to stand for!!)have put yet another crap micro site on the website having the chance to have a pop at fans supporting their one and only remaining hero at the ALL ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. Is it not enough that we have to listen once again to Pat Cash slating Tim (my complaint at having to listen to him, never mind paying him to slate Tim again - do you think they have a Brit over there slating the local stars, no I dont' think so went unanswered last year, yr before etc etc). Can the BBC just do something patriotic and 'unTabloid' like for once and be proud???
Julia Hancoock, Barnt Green, Birmingham

I think the supporters are fantastic. Unlike football where you have loads of people in support on the field, this is a one-to-one match and one relies on the supporters to keep the spirits high, the adrenalin rushing and your pride intact. Long live the true supporters of Tennis! Come on Tim!
Susan Revell, Feltham

Looking at the crowd at a Henman game just makes me cringe. It must be nice to have fans but the some of the 'women' you see in the crowd are more likely to put Tim off then cheer him on. They look like a bunch of middle age wannabe stalkers. At least that must make him focus on the tennis and avoid looking at the crowd. I quite resent the BBC for beaming images of those grotesque supporters in to my home. Still, at least he doesn't have to talk to them.
Adam, Wantage

It's a tribute to England that the fans come together on these occasions to get behind our nation's sporting heroes. Surely it can only serve as a help to Tim's motivation to know that the crowd is willing him to win. To call the fans an embarrassment is disgraceful. Without them the courts and the tournament as a whole would be totally devoid of atmosphere, which would be a great shame for the sport!
Kirsty Pagett, Kenilworth

I think they are a disgrace, they wouldnt be there if cliff richard was off singing somewhere. Ps I think they should change his nickname to hamster henman, it rings true more than tiger tim.
Wayne, Mansfield

If I hear one more chant of Henman followed by hand clapping a la Eng-er-land at the football, I will put my fist through the telly, god only knows what other countries think watching that. I want Henman to win, even if he is posh, but lets be honest - its not as important as football is it?
Andrew Duthi, Wing, Bucks

Well said Tom Fordyce for daring to say what the overwhelming majority of people think of Henman's fans. Ask them who won the Australian or French opens and they won't have a clue. Ask them what no seed their hero is and they won't have a clue. Ask them if they care about Wimbledon when their hero is knocked out. The answer will be no. They are an embarrasment to Tim , to tennis and to this country and are enough to make you switch the TV off.
Adrian Cork, Liverpool