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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
