A crowdfunding campaign launched to refurbish the dilapidated grave in Kent of the first ever Wimbledon men’s singles tennis champion has raised over £1,500.

Spencer Gore took the tournament title in 1877 and is believed to have been the first player to use the technique of volleying.

He died, aged 56, in Ramsgate in 1906 and is buried in the town’s cemetery.

The organisers of the campaign said it is “so sad” that Gore final resting place is “dilapidated and unkempt, bearing no mention of his achievement”.

Gavid Vickers, who runs the Infinity Tennis organisation in east Kent, is part of the campaign to get Gore remembered.

He said: “His achievements are a significant part of sport history, yet his grave has sadly fallen into disrepair.

“Restoring it isn’t just about honouring a tennis pioneer, but also about celebrating a local connection to a figure of international historical importance.”

After his Wimbledon triumph, Gore only played one more match at the famous tournament and never returned after 1878.

He was also an excellent cricketer and played for Surrey at county level.

Dominic Murphy, from Friends of Spencer Square, in Ramsgate, said he felt “so sad” when he came across the gravestone.

He said: “We propose that the new one will be simple and elegant with a green base and honey-coloured stone with a new inscription with the Wimbledon logo on it.”

The two men are trying to raise £5,000 to make Spencer Gore’s resting place “more prominent and widely-known”.

They hope the refurbishment will take place before next year’s Wimbledon tournament.

Mr Vickers said: “I don’t want to overstate it, but from a tennis perspective it’s pretty cool that the first Wimbledon champion is buried on out patch.”