THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
LIMITED.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING.
Minutes of the Special General Meeting of the Shareholders of
the Football League, Limited, held at the Connaught Rooms, Great
Queen Street, London, on Monday, the 29th March, 1915, at 10-30
a.m.
Present : J. McKenna, President (presiding); J. Lewis and
H. Keys, Vice-Presidents; J. C. Baxter, J. Cameron, A. J. Dickinson,
W. Hall, T. E. Harris, C. E. Sutcliffe, and J. J. Bentley (Life
Member). In addition, the whole of the clubs were represented.
The President explained the objects of the meeting, which chiefly
referred to players' engagements and their wages. The three Leagues
were unanimously of opinion that no summer wages could or should
be paid, between May 1st, and the time the players came up for
training, which it was proposed should not be earlier than August
2nd, and it was stated that some clubs would be unable to pay wages
before the season actually commenced. The present rate of wages
could not be maintained, and the maximum must therefore be
reduced.
After a full discussion of the rules affecting players, the presence
of the newspaper representatives was invited.
At the request of the President, Mr. C. E. Sutcliffe, in the name
of the Management Committee, formally moved the adoption of the
alterations to rules, and in doing so said that the Management Com-
mittee had made every provision for players joining his Majesty's
Forces. The spirit of patriotism to the country must be placed first
and the game take second place. At the same time they were bound
to make alterations for carrying on the game this and next season.
No steps would be taken which would hold a player to the club which
was bound to reduce wages by the elimination of payments.
RULE 1.
The proposal of the Management Committee to add after "Annual
Subscriptions," in line 17, "must be paid on or before the 7th day
of May," was carried.
The proposal by Blackpool to delete "40" and substitute "44"
in line 3, and delete "20" and substitute "22," in lines 3 and 4, was
withdrawn.
RULE 3.
The proposal by the Management Committee to add after "year"
in line 5 : "All clubs must return the form issued to them by the
League in accordance with this Rule," was carried.
