MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB
PAGES FROM HISTORY
PRE-LEAGUE FOOTBALL - [ENTERED DIVISION 2 1899]
1879/80
The Daily Gazette.
Meeting held 29 August 1879
MIDDLESBROUGH ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB. --A general meeting of the members
of this club was held at the Corporation Hotel on Friday night, Mr J. Ewbank in the
chair. In his opening remarks he spoke of the great success which had attended their
efforts in the past, and hoped that in the coming season they might be again as successful.
--The Secretary in his report stated that the past season was the most successful
the club has had since its formation. The first eleven were never beaten. They played
nine matches, seven of which were won, and two drawn, Fourteen goals were scored
in all against their opponents’ three, which were got by the Tyne Association Club.
The second eleven played three matches. Of these one was won, one lost, and the other
drawn. They scored in all six goals against their opponents‘ five. £4 16s 3d had
been handed to the Relief Committee, the result of a match for the benefit of the
poor. The club has been entered into the Sheffield Football association, also for
the Challenge Cup. In the first ties they were drawn against the Hunslet club to
play on October 18th.-- The report was passed unanimously with a vote of thanks to
Mr C. Booth, hon., sec., for his very efficient services. The patrons, J. Wilson,
Esq., M.P., S.A.Sadler, Esq., J. Gjers, Esq., A. C. Downey, Esq., and H. Swan, Esq.,
were re-elected. Mr Jackson Ewbank was elected captain, and Mr James Windross hon.
Sec.
1880/81
Weekly Exchange -
Meeting held (10) September 1880
Middlesbrough Association
Football Club
On Friday evening the annual meeting of the above club was held in the Swatter’s
Carr Hotel. There was a good attendance of members. The chair was occupied by Mr
Jackson Ewbank, who opened the proceedings by a few appropriate remarks on the success
of last season, and called upon Mr J.Windross, hon. Sec., to read the annual report,
which showed that the first eleven had won seven matches, lost three, and drawn
one, which was very good when it is taken into consideration that two of the matches
lost were those against the Sheffield Albion and Sheffield Exchange, two older and
more experienced clubs. The second eleven had played nine matches, three of which
were won, three lost, and three drawn. The third eleven had played three matches,
one of which was won, one lost, and one drawn. The financial state of the club showed
a balance of £4 11s on the right side of the ledger, with £5 of the unpaid subscriptions
which he (the Secretary) felt confident of getting in. The club is again entered
for the association Challenge Cup, and drawn to play against Redcar in the first
ties on October 16. The following officers were elected :- Lieutenant-Colonel Sadler,
president; captain Mr Jackson Ewbank; deputy captain, Mr C. Booth. Committee : Messrs
Bastard, Greenwood, Easton, Shearer, Hardisty, Pickstock and Ransford; hon. Sec.
And treasurer, Mr J. Windross, Grange-road. The club has again engaged the field
in Breckon Hill-road, where practice will shortly commence.
1881/82
Weekly Exchange.
Meeting held 12 September 1881
Middlesbrough Association Football Club.
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ANNUAL MEETING
On Monday evening the annual meeting of the above club was held at the King’s
Head Hotel, Middlesbrough. The chair was occupied by Mr Jackson Ewbank (captain),
and there was a good attendance of members. The chairman called upon the secretary
(Mr Jas. Windross) to read the annual report, in which it was stated that the past
season had been the best that the club had ever had in respect to the quality of
the teams they had pitted themselves against. The first eleven had played 12 matches,
winning 8, drawing 3, and only losing 1, that being the Albion at Sheffield, but
on the return match at Middlesbrough the club held its own, the result being a draw
greatly in favour of Middlesbrough. The second team had not been so fortunate; they
played 11 matches, winning 4, losing 4, and drawing 3. The financial position was
reported good. The report concluded with an earnest desire that the club might continue
to prosper. The election of officials was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:-
President, Col. S. A. Sadler; patrons, Messrs J. Gjers, J.T. Belk, A. C. Downey,
J. Imeson, H. Swan, and J. W. Cooper; captain Mr J. Ewbank; deputy-captain, Mr C.
Booth; secretary, Mr F. Hardisty, 6, Pembroke-street, Middlesbrough; treasurer, Mr
D. Shearer; committee, Messrs Bastard, Greenwood, Easton, Reed, Peel, Ransford, and
Thomas. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Jas. Windross, the retiring secretary,
for his energy on behalf of the club during the past two years.
1882/83
Weekly Exchange.
Meeting held 1 May 1883
MIDDLESBRO’ FOOTBALL CLUB
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The annual meeting of the Middlesbrough Football Club was held on Tuesday night,
at the King’s Head Hotel. There was a good attendance of members, and the President
of the Club (Col.S.A.Sadler) occupied the chair. --The annual report was read by
the Secretary (Mr F. Hardisty), and showed that the season had been the best they
had had, as far as the matches won were concerned, but it was scarcely the best in
regard to gate receipts, a circumstance which was attributable to the bad weather
they had had on the occasion of their important matches. The total matches played
by the 1st. eleven numbered 22, of which 19 were won and three lost. The total goals
kicked were 116, lost 44. The first team won more matches and met with fewer reverses
than in any previous season, notwithstanding that they met, generally speaking, able
opponents. There had been noticed at times a want of combination, without which no
club could aspire to first-class honours. They had won the Cleveland Challenge Cup
twice in succession. During the season they had lost the services of one of their
best players, Mr J. Ewbank, who had been the principal mainstay of the club seven
or eight years ago, and who had during the past five years been their captain. The
present efficiency of the club was due, in a great measure, to his zeal and energy.
The next annual sports had been fixed by the committee for July 21. The club, the
committee were glad to say, continued in a flourishing condition. The membership
now numbered 265, as against 150 at the commencement of the season. -- In moving
the adoption of the report, Col. Sadler congratulated the members upon the success
they had attained during the past year. He was glad to say that the finances of the
Club were in a prosperous condition, and they had spent over £100 in improving their
ground, and they had a balance in hand to carry forward. The Club was also to be
congratulated upon their success in their matches, and the number of times they had
come off victorious, having maintained their prestige throughout the past season.
The secretary, and officers of the Club were also to be congratulated on the way
they had conducted the business of the Club. -- The report was adopted. -- A discussion
took place as to the colours of the Club, which had hitherto been blue and black,
and ultimately a committee was appointed to consider this matter. -- The election
of officers was then proceeded with, when Colonel Sadler was elected president; J
Gjers, J. T. Belk, A. C. Downey, H.Swan, H. Cochrane, J. V. Cooper, and Jackson Ewbank,
vice-presidents; W. Pickstock, captain; Alfred Borrie, deputy-captain; F Hardisty,
hon. Secretary; and Mr W. H. Thomas, hon. Treasurer.