No tennis at Lillywhites? It's like a pub without beer!

Ahead of a charity tennis game I felt the need to replace my somewhat ragged tennis shorts.

It would doubtless please the great old sports vendor Lillywhites, which dominates one corner of Piccadilly Circus, that that was my first thought as to where to buy them.

En route back from the House of Commons yesterday I diverted to the emporium. I was surprised to find what appeared to have all the hallmarks of a massive closing-down sale.

The darkness of the clothes and the low ceilings combined to provide an air of the black hole of Calcutta.

Hunting around on the ground floor, I found myself pushing through shell suits in my search for this simple garment. Eventually a helpful shop assistant dispatched me to the tennis floor – needless to say, the fifth, top floor.

I was greeted by a mass of rackets and balls but absolutely no whites of any sort, and no tennis clothing at all.

Wimbledon fortnight. Lillywhites. And no tennis gear? It’s like a pub with no beer.

Then I fell to thinking maybe this is a consequence of the markets. Maybe we who play tennis are some rarefied species (though you wouldn’t know it if you queued for London courts the way I do).

Then I realised that what we’re really seeing is the consequence of these massive sports chains that dominate the market and flog the football wear of the moment, together with the garish outerwear that accompanies it. Throw in a few items of footwear and you apparently have a sports store.

If it’s tennis kit you want, it seems the first thing is not to go to a sports shop.