EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB CO. LTD
SECRETARY THEO. KELLY
Telephone Telegrams
AINTREE 2263 FOOTBALL LIVERPOOL
GROUND & REGISTERED OFFICE:
GOODISON PARK
LIVERPOOL-4
OUR REF YOUR REF DATE
June 23rd, 1943.
Dear Sir,
Re FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMPETITION NORTH, 1943-4.
My Directors have carefully considered the proposal of the League Management Committee
with regard to the above, and duly placed before the Committee a counter suggestion which they
believe would he to the advantage of all Clubs participating. This suggestion of ours does not
appear on the circular "A" issued to the Clubs, but we understand that the Committee have no
Objection to it being put forward by our representative at the Annual General Meeting.
The following is our suggestion:—
"That a Championship Competition run in areas similar to last season commence on 28th
August, to run for twenty-two Saturdays and terminate on 22nd January, 1944. That at
the conclusion on 22nd January, 1944, the thirty-two Clubs having the best record shall
proceed to a Knock-out Competition. Clubs failing to qualify and Clubs failing to
survive the respective rounds of the Cup Competition will fix League matches with
other Clubs similarly placed."
"The Cup-ties to commence on the home and away principle on February 5th could be
played fortnightly, with one week's gap between each round, which would enable early
fixtures to made for the certain clear dates, viz., January 29th, February 19th, March
11th and April 1st and 22nd. (County Cup-ties cum League matches would be assured
of these dates, where required). As before, all matches, Cup or League, would count
towards the 2nd Half Season League Championship."
The advantages of this scheme are many, particularly the time factor in these restricted days,
when communications from Clubs have to be dealt with by the Ministry of Transport in con-
sidering applications for travel by road. {& no extra time Cup ties (with spare date).}
Your own Club's Executive will realise the benefit of the extra seven days breathing space
in which to arrange travel, advertising, permits for players, etc., instead of as now, watching the
Sunday Press, and telephoning here, there and everywhere in desperate haste to fix a game for
the following Saturday.
Further, there will be greater interest in the bad weather weeks of January, when the Qualify-
ing thirty-two Clubs will be settled. Clubs not qualifying will have better chances of making
a good programme for the New League Competition and there is a greater chance for one of these
Clubs to win the 2nd Half Season's Championship.
Two-Club-City teams as Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, etc., and Clubs
running Reserve XI.'s, will not be so handicapped in concluding their fixture arrangements.
We purposely omit in our proposal any reference to Bank Holidays, as we cannot premise
the Government's situation, and further, travelling is so undesirable on these dates, that Clubs
are far better off in every way, by playing their nearest neighbours.
We trust that you will give this your earnest consideration, prior to and on Monday next.
Yours faithfully,
Theo. Kelly
SECRETARY
