A few feet, and an eagle eye, from the world's top athletes: Meet the UCC lecturer who was a Wimbledon umpire

Now a senior lecturer at UCC, Dr. Amanullah De Sondy says umpiring at Wimbledon brought immense pressure - but a visceral thrill nonetheless, writes Michael Moynihan

Amanullah De Sondy, former Wimbledon Umpire and Head of Study of Religions Department UCC, at UCC Campus, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Long before Dr. Amanullah De Sondy took up his position as Head of Study of Religions and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at University College Cork, he had another life.

For a couple of summers, he was focused on net cords and foot faults, calling serves long, staring intently at the greenery in a particular part of London.