EVERTON F. C. SHAREHOLDERS ASSOCIATION
______________________________________
7, Stopgate Lane,
LIVERPOOL, 9.
13th August, 1945.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am directed by the Executive Committee of the above
Association to report upon the result of the recent election of
Directors to the Board of the Everton Football Club.
To those Shareholders who supported the Association's
nominees at the recent election either by entrusting to us their proxies
or by their attendance and vote at the Annual Meeting, the Executive
Committee desires to extend its very sincere thanks and appreciation.
As you are doubtless aware, the Shareholders Association only
partially succeeded in carrying out its objectives. The first was to
place Mr, W. C. Cuff at the Head of the Poll. This was accomplished
in as much as Mr. Cuff received a record number of votes, viz: 1,928.
An analysis of the votes cast for the other four candidates leaves not
a shadow of doubt that both Messrs. Searle and Lake were elected to the
Board as a result of cross support by each to the other, thus the efforts
of the majority of the Shareholders of the Club in seeking the election
of Messrs. Denaro and Nuttall were frustrated. In other words, Mr.
Searle's holding of approximately 300 shares was the deciding factor in
the election to the Board of Messrs. Searle and Lake, so that actually
both these gentlemen have been elected on a minority vote as is clearly
evident by the number of votes cast by the general body of Shareholders
for Messrs. Nuttall and Denaro. Consequently, the supporters of the
Shareholders Association Candidates undoubtedly gained a moral victory:
This being so, the Shareholders Association, far from being discouraged,
is more than ever determined to pursue vigorously the policy of defeating
the object of any one man acquiring a controlling influence in the
affairs of the Everton Club. They are equally determined that they
shall place on the Board only men who will truly represent the Share-
holders.
One of the members of the Directorate, Mr. George Evans, J. P.
has been a member of the Association since its inception, whilst Captain
T. Percy, R. A. O. C. another prominent member of the Board also joined
the Association recently, and the Executive Committee now has the
greatest pleasure in intimating that Mr. W. C. Cuff, President and Life
Member of the Football League Management Committee, Vice President of
the Football Association and President of the Central League, has
decided that the present ideals and objects of the Association are such
as to merit his whole hearted support and that consequently, he also has
become a member of the Association, SO CONVINCED IS HE OF THE NEED FOR
THIS ORGANIZATION, THAT HE ADVISES ALL SHAREHOLDERS TO FOLLOW HIS
EXAMPLE. The significance of this action, by one who is regarded by
most people as the foremost Football Legislator of his time, cannot be
over-emphasized, and all thoughtful Shareholders who have the interest
of the Everton Club at heart will at once realize the implications.
Shareholders can be assured that Mr. Cuff's vast experience,
ripe judgment and legal knowledge, are now placed at the disposal of
the Shareholders Association. The Executive feels confident that the
large number of Shareholders who are already members of the Association
will wish to continue their membership and a strong appeal is now made
to those Shareholders who have not hitherto joined, to do so without
delay. The Association is the only medium whereby Shareholders can
co-ordinate an effective opposition to certain individuals and their
small coterie of supporters, who, for the present, have succeeded in
overriding the desires of the vast majority of individual Shareholders.
If you, personally, agree that a repetition of what happened at the last
Annual Meeting is not in the best interest of the Everton Club, then we
confidently ask you to take the only step possible to obviate a
recurrence by becoming an active member of this Association.
