if so it should be played after the conclusion of League fixtures, even if it were necessary to extend
the Season for a week. In any case, his Club recommended that a Resolution be passed at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the League, strongly urging the Football Association to
arrange for the Cup Final to be played on a date free from League matches.
The President, in reply, said that the League representatives on the Football Association
had put forward all the arguments used by the Liverpool F. C. in an effort to stop the televising
of the Cup Final, but they were out-voted in a democratic manner. The present situation had one
advantage, however, in so far as we should have facts and figures to support similar action this
year, and he promised that the Management Committee would take energetic action to see that
the opinions of the League Clubs were fully expressed when the question is being considered
next Season.
Broadcasting and Sunderland F. C. stated that they were against Broadcasting and Television, and they felt
Television— that, after the decision of the Football Association to televise the Cup Final, a special meeting of
Safeguarding the League Clubs should have been called to consider the position. After all, the Clubs provide the
of Interest of Football Association with a large part of their revenue from gate receipts, and they felt that the
Clubs. Football Association were riding roughshod over them in this matter of Broadcasting and
Television generally. They were of the opinion that the next step would be the broadcasting
and televising of Semi-finals, because it was obvious that the Football Association paid no attention
to the decisions of the League in this matter.
They hoped that the Management Committee would take every step to safeguard the interests
of Clubs in connection with future broadcasting and television of matches.
Liverpool F. C. spoke in support and said that they were wondering whether Clubs considered
that the figure agreed with the B. B. C. for broadcasting and televising matches was adequate.
The President, in reply, explained that the payment agreed upon had been arrived at after
negotiations with the B. B. C., and it was the maximum which could be obtained. He assured the
Meeting that the Management Committee were watching the position closely in accordance with
the views expressed, and if there was any question of extending facilities to other matches, they
would oppose it vigorously.
Allocation of Sunderland F. C. drew attention to the present method of allocating Cup Final Tickets, and
Cup Final submitted that, as things were at the present time, the allocation was anything but fair. The
Tickets. Amateur Clubs, in spite of the fact that they have their own Cup Final, receive a total of 43,000
tickets, but the two finalists only receive 12,500 tickets each. They felt that if the Amateur Clubs
received an allocation of 10 per cent. of the total number of tickets they would be well provided
for, and in their opinion the Management Committee should negotiate with the Football
Association for an increased allocation to the Professional Clubs, which at the present time appears
to be totally inadequate.
Liverpool F. C. spoke in support and referred also to the Semi-final Ties, in which the Club
on whose ground the match was played received 33 1/3 per cent. of the tickets. Liverpool were of
the opinion that this could very easily be reduced to 20 per cent., and possibly 10 per cent., which
would give a much fairer allocation to the Clubs actually engaged.
The President, in reply, stated that the Management Committee were in complete accord
with the opinions expressed and they would continue to pursue their efforts in the general direction
desired by both speakers.
Player's Age in West Ham United F. C. referred to Regulation 42, which provides for a Maximum Wage of £7
relationship to per week on first signing as a professional,irrespective of age, and stressed the difficulty Clubs
Wage when sign- were experiencing when endeavouring to sign for the first time an amateur player who was
ing Professional married, probably with a family and a job, for which his wage was more than £7 per week.
for the First Although this man may be a very good player and keen to turn professional, he was very reluctant
Time to do so when the full implication of Regulation 42 was explained to him, particularly having
regard to the fact that the only wage which appeared on his contract was £7 per week. The usual
answer the Club received, in circumstances like these, was that he regretted very much but felt
that he could not afford to turn professional. The Club felt that £7 per week was a fair wage for a
youth of 17, but the time had come for them to realise that it was far from fair for a player of
20 years of age, and they requested the Management Committee to consider bringing forward an
amendment to the Rule at the next Annual General Meeting to give Clubs the opportunity of
offering the Maximum Wage at 20 years of age, if they felt the player was worth it.
Tottenham Hotspur F. C. spoke in support, and said that they felt very strongly the injustices
of this case and had gone so far as to get out the following Scale of Wages to be offered on first
signing as a professional:—
17 years of age ... ... ... £7 per week.
18 years of age ... ... ... £8 per week.
19 years of age ... ... ... £10 per week.
20 years of age ... ... ... £12 per week.
21 years of age ... ... ... Maximum.
It was a question entirely for the Club if they felt a player was worth it.
Chelsea F. C. Luton Town F. C. and Sheffield United F. C. all spoke in support.
The President stated, in reply, that the Management Committee's only concern was to
maintain the principle that all Clubs should have the same chance in the signing of players, but
they would look into the question of Regulation 42 and see what could be done about it. At the
same time, however, it would probably be as well, if any Club felt strongly enough, to put forward
a resolution for consideration at the next Annual General Meeting.
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