PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIMITED
REPORT
OF A CONFERENCE OF CLUBS, MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATE,
held at The Cafe Royal, London, on Monday, 12th March, 1951, at 10 a.m.
The President, in his opening remarks, referred to his suggestion last year of finding a more
salubrious place than London for the Conference, but it had been found impracticable at present.
He welcomed the presence of Messrs. Oakley and Richards, both of whom had been laid
aside by illness, and he expressed the hope they were now fully recovered.
An apology was received from Blackpool F. C., who were unable to attend.
New The President referred to his statement at the last Annual General Meeting with regard to
Regulations. the revision and codification of the Rules of the League and stated that this had now been done.
The New Regulations, which retained the spirit of the old, would be issued to the Clubs in book
form in a short time. He asked that Clubs should remember that any proposed alterations of
Rule for the Annual General Meeting in June should be made to these New Regulations.
Article 14. The President reported that as a result of the extension of the League it would be necessary
to amend Article 14 of the Articles of Association of the Football League, and it was the intention
of the Management Committee to place a Special Resolution before the members at a Special
General Meeting immediately preceding the Annual General Meeting on 2nd June, 1951. The
Secretary then read the proposed Special Resolution as follows :—
That the Articles of Association be altered in manner following : Article 14 shall be
deleted and the following new Article substituted in its place.
"14. Subject to the Regulations of the Football Association for the time being in
force the members may by resolution passed at a meeting called for the purpose from
time to time and upon such terms as they may think fit admit as Associate Members
such number of Football Clubs as may be permissible by such Regulations of the
Football Association. The members may by such resolution as aforesaid from time to
time and for such period as they may think fit grant to Associate Members the privilege
of appointing as their representative or representatives at ordinary or extraordinary
general meetings of the League any person or persons in the proportion of one repre
sentative for such number of Associate Members as the said Regulation of the Football
Association for the time being in force shall permit and such representative or
representatives shall have all the rights powers and privileges of members at any such
meetings except the right to vote upon such resolution as is mentioned in Article 11."
Regulation 59 A representative of Sunderland F. C. drew attention to the general unrest regarding wages
re Wages. and suggested that the time had come for some increase in players' wages. He pointed out that
in general the wages of artisans had been doubled over the pre-war scales, and yet the maximum
wage for the professional footballer only showed a 50 per cent, increase over 1939. His Club
suggested an increase of the maximum to first team players of £2 per week during the Playing
Bonus. Season, and suggested that the Clubs could afford this increase. His Club also suggested an
increase in the Match Bonus to £3 per point to give more incentive to players and thus keep alive
the interest in the League Competition to the end of the season for all Clubs.
A representative of Chelsea F. C. supported the suggested increase in wages.
Wages. A representative of West Ham United F. C. suggested that Clubs be given power to pay the
maximum wage to all players age 21 and over irrespective of service. His Club considered that
Clubs were at a big disadvantage when trying to secure players, especially first-class amateurs,
and suggested that the relationship between age and wage and the effect of acknowledging all
service, whether Amateur or Professional, would enable Clubs to secure players fairly and honestly.
Liverpool F. C. stated they were quite happy to support the suggested wage increase but not
increased bonus.
Everton F. C. agreed with Liverpool F. C. and asked if the feeling of the Meeting were to be
tested by a show of hands.
The President replied that no vote was intended. The purpose of the Meeting being for
discussion, not decision.
Bristol Rovers F. C. stated that all Clubs would like to increase wages but thought that some
Clubs would find it impossible, and wondered whether the proposed increase would work to the
advantage of the wealthier Clubs.
Luton Town F. C. stated that an increase in wages was bound up with the proposed increase
of admission charges.
Millwall Athletic F. C., speaking as a Third Division Club, supported the increase in wages.
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