796EFC-1-1-12_0103.tif
									98

		of Derby requesting an interview with Representatives of
		this Club and of Liverpool F.C. to confer as to the
		continuance of Football and its affect on recruiting.
		That the Directors of both Clubs had held a meeting
		on Thursday last and that he, the Chairman,
		Dr. Baxter and the Secretary, as representing our Club
		and Messrs John Asbury, John McKenna and
		T. Watson, as representing the Liverpool Club, were
		deputed to meet the Earl of Derby at 21 Islington
		on the morning of the 27th ulto.
		That such interview had been held and that Lord
		Derby had suggested that on the occasions of our
		match with Manchester City on December 12th and
		Liverpool's match with Oldham Athletic on December 19th.
		Recruiting Officers should attend and distribute cards
		to those entering the respective grounds who appeared
		to be eligible to enlist inviting them to do so and to
		state the reasons (if any) of their inability. That
		our players be previously invited to enlist on condition
		that their services would not be required until as
		late a date as Lord Kitchener could make possible
		and that whilst undergoing military training they
		would be free to follow their occupations as professional
		footballers on match days and that those of the players
		willing to enlist under such conditions be invited to
		enlist on the field of play in view of all the spectators.
		The deputation having promised their utmost support
		in favour of this proposal, Lord Derby on his part
		promised to lay the matter before the War Office, to
		further confer with us and that the whole matter be
		ventilated in the Press in the shape of a letter which
		he would have prepared to be signed by the
		Representatives of the respective Clubs.
		Dr. Baxter reported that the Management Committee