MISCELLANEOUS

PROFESSIONALISM AT MIDDLESBROUGH
Press cuttings covering the introduction
SDCM 5/10/1889

PROFESSIONALISM AT MIDDLESBROUGH
EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT.
THE TEAM ON STRIKE

 Professionalism among football players has taken a sudden and extraordinary development at Middlesbrough, where the local club has always set its face severely against the remuneration of players more than paying their reasonable expenses in playing for the town colours in "away" matches. It will be remembered that at the annual meeting of the club held in May last the subject came up for consideration, and gave rise to a somewhat noisy discussion. At that time Mr Wood proposed a resolution in favour of the innovation in the following terms: --"That in the opinion of this meeting of the Middlesbrough Football Club it is desirable that each member of the first team, providing he wish it, should be paid a fixed sum per match, to be hereafter agreed upon by the committee; but the amount must be larger if the match be won than if it be lost, and it be given for all matches played, and in case of those played away from home must be paid independent of all necessary expenses." After a very considerable discussion the meeting of members, which was very fully attended, decided that they should remain an amateur club with the laudable ambition of becoming the best club, without professionals in the kingdom.
 After this decision the subject was for long lost sight of, but with the resumption of play at the commencement of the present season several of the playing members, with an eye to what possibly might be, have put their heads together, with the result that a request has now been forwarded to the Club Committee asking that they should be paid for all matches in which they take part. Up to the present time six of the eleven members of the first team have joined the movement for remuneration, their names being R.Wilson, F.Dennis, J.Copeland, J.Taylor, T.Cronshaw (forwards) and W.Hopewell (half-back). Of these, two (Taylor and Hopewell) are recent additions to the team, the remainder having occupied pretty much the same positions in last year's first eleven as they now hold. Up to the present their demands have not been definitely stated; but it is generally understood that they regard 10s per match for a win and 7s 6d in all other cases as not being unreasonable remuneration for services rendered.
 The notices which have been served have taken the form of a petition to the committee to call a meeting to consider the matter, and the members of the Executive of the club met on Wednesday night at the King's Head Hotel with a view of considering the unexpected difficulty. The meeting, which was presided over by Mr W.H.Thomas, was attended by most of the elected and playing members. After a protracted discussion, the players undertook to go on with the present arrangement on condition that the committee made application to the English Football Association to adopt a rule by which the club would be enabled to pay playing members for loss of time in taking part in the club matches whilst still retaining their amateur status.

NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE - 18 October 1889

THE PROFESSIONAL QUESTION AT
MIDDLESBROUGH

  As stated in our columns yesterday, several of the players selected by the Middlesbrough Football Club Committee had declined to take part in the match with St.Augustine's to-morrow (Saturday), and last night a special meeting of the committee was held to consider whether the team should be reorganised, or the match, which is a League fixture, abandoned. Fortunately the players who had expressed their unwillingness to play changed their minds on finding that their places might be filled by other men. Cronshaw was, however, informed that "Sid" Dawes, late of the junior team, had been selected in his place and his services would not be required. Drabble, of Whitby, who was one of the selected, had written stating that he had received a communication from one of the Middlesbrough members to the effect that the local team was disorganised, and he had decided not to play. After some discussion the following was selected:- Goal, Walton; backs, Walsh and A.Livingstone; half-backs, T.Bach, Wynn, and W.Hopewell; forwards, Dennis, Wilson. Copeland, Dawes, and Taylor.


NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE - November 25 1889
  The Middlesbrough committee decide to allow professionals following the formation of Middlesbrough Ironopolis and the attraction to that club of some of Middlesbrough's best players. Professionals will be advertised for and preference given to those coming from within the club.

NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE November 28 1889
  The November 25th resolution has been ruled out of order by Middlesbrough club president Mr.O.H.Cochrane. The proposition in favour of non-professionalism still stands as a minute passed at the A.G.M. "It must be rescinded by the general body of members before the club can be professionalised.

NORTH EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE December 28 1889
  Match report v South Bank "Middlesbrough team included some professionals”.

NEDG March 3 1893

THE MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL
CLUB AND ITS PROFESSIONALS

  What will probably be the first step towards abandoning professionalism has been taken by the directors of the Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Company. As we stated in yesterday's Gazette, the players almost unanimously refused to accept 30s per week each for the remainder of the season, but now several have signified their willingness to continue playing for the club for the amount of pay mentioned. Five of this number will be played to-morrow against Royal Arsenal, while other two are also available. Many amateurs in the town and district have signified their desire to help the club out of their difficulty, and every effort is being made to get a team together.

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