SHAREHOLDERS' SEATS STORM AT EVERTON Dictatorial, meeting told PROTESTS that "dictatorial directors" had robbed the shareholders of their customary stand seats and removed them to a place "near the boys' pen" were made by shareholders at the annual meeting of Everton Football Club last evening. This was the biggest bone future he would be sitting. of contention at the meeting, He asked whether it was a which lasted an hour and a mistake or a calculated insult. half. The chairman: "I think it Mr. R. E. Searle (chairman) was a mistake. We all apologies presided. to you. It will not happen The meeting was only two again." minutes old when a note of The member: "If it does protest was heard. happen again we shall finish Mr. Searle had opened by up in the boys' pen." saying that they were all look- After some heated exchanges, ing forward to next season in the chairman said, "I disagree the finest ground in the country with you about dictatorial and had paid a compliment to directors. I have apologised the ground staff, when a Mr. for a mistake. We might con- Gregg said it was most dis- sider the whole thing again appointing to read from the during the close season and I balance sheet of a reduction of cannot go any further than £1,600 from the sale of season that to-night." tickets. Was this not due to Mr. W. M. Tickle said: "May the increase in the price of I propose we all accept the tickets and the law of dimin- chairman's promise." ishing returns working against Mr. Barton seconded and the the club, he asked. chairman added: "And I will support it." £5,900 for scouts Mr. W. Dickinson (secretary of Another shareholders pointed the club) said last year they out that there was an item of had 449 applications for the £5,954 for scouting expenses. north-end stand and 552 for the Was the club getting the full members' stand, a total of 1,001. benefit from this expenditure, Up to a corresponding date he asked. The reason he asked this year, there had been 430 was because he had recom- six-guinea applications, and 960 mended a boy to Everton who seven-guinea applications, a had now been signed by total of 1,390, a net increase of Arsenal. It was true that this 389 and £3,995 in cash over had happened before the arrival last year's figure. of Mr. John Carey as manager The member: "That is satis- and he did not think it was fair factory and I am sure the that he should be saddled with shareholders will be pleased to the blame for it. hear it." The chairman said that he Mr. Dickinson said the seating himself had recommended one capacity of the new share- or two players but they had holders' stand was 951, with a found their way to other places. value of about £300, exclusively "We could have got one or for shareholders. two players," he said, "but we are not prepared to pay under No money to the table." buy players In answer to another question, The chairman said the club the chairman said their bank had no money. Otherwise they overdraft was £25,000, and they would not have to borrow. had received an interest-free Without money they could not loan of £16,000. buy players. A shareholder: "This surge "Deprived of of economy comes after spend- birthright" ing thousands of the club's Mr. Colin Askham, a member money in making yourselves of the board, proposed that the comfortable. You took a lot of club pay a 5 per cent dividend seats which were bringing free of tax, but before this was revenue into the club into the carried a member said:- directors' box and you suddenly "I propose that the amount be decided that the shareholders used to provide centre stand should be moved." seats for shareholders who have Mr. Searle, Mr. F. Micklesfield been deprived of their birthright and Mr. J. Taylor the retiring by dictatorial directors." directors, were unanimously re- The member went on. "It elected for three years, no vote breaks my heart to think of being necessary. Mr. D. M. directors going to New McPhail, a fourth nominee, had Brighton instead of the withdrawn because hospital Continent and smoking treatment had left him with no cigarettes instead of cigars. I opportunity of circularising never thought there were so shareholders of his policy. many people desiring to take Manager John Carey, who money out of the Everton club. was greeted with great enthu- "Therefore I support the siasm, closed the meeting on a proposition." more harmonious note. He A Mr. Barton said the board, remarked that it was encourag- without asking the share- ing to find so many people with holders for their advice, altered the welfare of the club at heart. the arrangements for seating accommodation in the stands. 29 full-time "It was an underhanded way professionals to go about it," he said, and Mr. Carey said Everton now added that he and others were had thirty-four professional prepared to pay the difference players, twenty-nine of whom between the cost of their own were full-time. ticket and that asked under the It must have noted in new arrangement. the balance sheet there was a They felt it was a great deficit of £35,000 on the item- slight upon them and they did transfer fees. not hear about it until a fort- No club could afford to buy night after the ordinary mem- all the first class players it bers, by which time it was too needed, but he added, "I am late. happy about the outlook at The chairman said that Mr. Goodison Park. I think many of W. Dickinson, the secretary, the young boys who are un- had a block of seats in reserve heard of at the moment will be for members and shareholders. coming to the forefront. Mr. Parry said it might have Perhaps not immediately but as been more in keeping with the soon as we can possibly get traditional dignity of the club them there. I am not suggest- if they had been informed ing you have to wait two or before the season-ticket holders. three years before we have a He personally had found good team. himself in an embarrassing "The time to have a good situation by being told by a team is now. I shall do all I non-shareholder where in can to bring that about."