1877 Wimbledon Championship H. Walsh, in his capacity as editor of "The Field", persuaded his employer to donate a cup worth 25 guineas for the winner; the "Field Cup". The cup was made of sterling silver and had the inscription: "The All England Lawn Challenge Cup – Presented by the Proprietors of The Field – For competition by Amateurs – Wimbledon July 1877". On 6 July 1877, three days prior to the start of the tournament, a notice was published in "The Times": Next week at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club Ground a Lawn Tennis Championship Meeting will be held.
1877 Wimbledon Championship It marked the moment when the AEC & LTC effectively usurped the rule-making initiative from the MCC although the latter would still ratify rule changes until 1882. In recognition of the importance and popularity of lawn tennis, the club was renamed in 1882 to All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC). On 18 June 2012 a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the former home of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in Worple Road, Wimbledon celebrating both the first Wimbledon Championships and the 1908 Olympic tennis event. The ceremony was performed by Heather Hanbury, Headmistress of Wimbledon High School;