Weekly Exchange
Meeting held 6 May 1884
MIDDLESBRO’ FOOTBALL CLUB
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On Tuesday evening the annual general meeting of this club was held in the long
room of the King’s Head Hotel, where there was a large attendance of members. The
chair was occupied by the President - S.A.Sadler, Esq.
ANNUAL REPORT.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, the Chairman called upon
the hon. Sec. Mr F.Hardisty, to read the annual report, as follows.
It affords me pleasure in presenting to you the proceedings of this club. The
past season has been in every way as successful as any previous one, having won as
many matches, whilst some of these have been of a higher class than in previous seasons.
Matches played and results: Won - 1st team - Linthorpe, 6 to 0; Rangers (Newcastle),
7 to 0; Surrey, 6 to 1 (Sheffield Cup); Tyne, 5 to 3; Loftus, 8 to 1; St.John’s,
3 to 1 (Cleveland Cup); Whitby 8 to 1 (Cleveland Cup); Thurlstone, 4 to 2 (Sheffield
Cup); Stockton, 5 to 1; Park Road (Durham), 2 to 1; Pyebank, 4 to 0; Whitby, 6 to
1; Attercliffe, 3 to 2 (Sheffield Cup); Rangers, 4 to 1; Park Grange, 3 to 1; Redcar,
3 to 0 (Cleveland Cup); South Bank, 6 to 4; Acton, 4 to 1; and Stockton, 3 to 0.
Drawn - Lockwood Brothers, 1 to 1; Heeley, 2 to 2; Loftus, 1 to 1; and Lockwood Brothers,
2 to 2. Lost - Redcar, 2 to 1; Staveley, 5 to 1 (English Cup Tie); Redcar, 2 to 0;
Lockwood Brothers, 3 to 2 (Sheffield Cup); and Whitby, 2 to 0. Total matches played,
28; won 19; lost 5; tied 4. Total goals kicked, 100; total goals lost 41. The goals
were kicked by the following:- Borrie 32; Pickstock, 10; Pringle. 9; Dales, 9; Ewbank,
7; Doughty, 7; McLean, 7; Watson, 4; Cochrane, 3; Ransford, 3; Fox, 2; Thompson,
2; Bastard, 1; McNellis, 1; Boldison, 1; Hornung, 1; Blades, 1. Won- Swift’s team-
Rangers’ 2nd, 3 to 2; Redcar 2nd, 1 to 0; Hurworth, 2 to 1; Normanby, 7 to 0; St.
John’s, 3 to 2; Hurworth, 1 to 0; 1st North Yorks Artillery Volunteers, 3 to 1; A
Team, 5 to 1; All Saints’, 3 to 1; Redcar 2nd, 2 to 0; A Team, 2 to 0; 1st North
Yorks Artillery Volunteers, 2 to 0; Normanby, 3 to 1; West Hartlepool, 2 to 1, and
A Team, 1 to 0. Lost - Olympic, 1 to 0; St. John’s, 3 to 0; Port Clarence, 3 to 1.
Ties - A Team (West Hartlepool), 2 to 2;Rangers 2nd, 1 to 1. Won - A Team (Darlington),
1 to 0; Darlington, 4 to 1; Wednesday, 2 to 0; Wednesday, 3 to 0. Lost - Wednesday,
2 to 1; Wednesday, 2 to 1. Total matches played 6; Won, 4; Lost, 2. Total matches
played, 18; Won, 13; Lost, 3; Tied, 2. Goals kicked, 12; lost, 5. These results show
that whilst our team have been pitted against most of the crack Sheffield clubs,
they have with one exception upheld the honour of the club, and this exception was
when they failed to grasp the Sheffield Challenge Cup. This competition was a source
of great anxiety to your committee, as the e expense of playing matches was very
great owing to having to travel to Sheffield and district on four separate occasions,
nevertheless your committee thought that we had a good chance of winning the Challenge
Cup, and not only this but our team would gain experience, which might eventually
be more beneficial to the club. We have however been awarded silver medals for second
best club in the competition. We also entered for the English Cup Competition, but
were not allowed to travel far, as in the first pit-- against Staveley-- our team
lost rather easily. In the Cleveland Cup Competition we were again fortunate to win
the cup , by beating our old opponents from the sea-side by three goals to nil. The
Swifts have again acquitted themselves admirably, by winning 13 matches, and only
losing three, out of a total of 18 matches played, this of course is not so successful
as the previous season, but is very encouraging, and I would say to the Swifts team
persevere as it is from your ranks that our future first team is to be formed. The
Annual Athletic Sports was held on July 28th. and was in every way a great success,
a large profit being made. We are however indebted to a very great extent to the
local gentry for giving us the wherewithal to buy such beautiful prizes. It will
be observed that during the past season a handsome pavilion has been erected at a
cost of about £130, which will be found a great boon to lovers of the game. Your
committee have not been enabled to wipe off all this large expenditure during the
past season, but they trust to be able to do so after our next Annual Athletic Sports,
which are fixed to take place on July 19th. The club is in a very good position financially
as you will gather from your balance sheet, that is considering the improvements
made during the season, but I have no doubt our hon. Treasurer will have a few remarks
to make under this head. The committee have had 41 meetings since the last general
meeting, with the following attendances :- F.Hardisty, 41; R.L.Peel, 39; H.Boldison,
39; W.H.Thomas, 34; J.Bastard, 33; A.Borrie, 33; W.Pickstock, 32; A.Maddison, 29;
W.Ransford, 26; W.Willits, 25; C.Booth, 21. Out of 31 -- O.H.Cochrane, 10; H.Holliday,
3; W.Greenwood, 2.
-- The treasurer (Mr W.H.Thomas) read the abstract of receipts and expenditure, from
which it appeared that the receipts from subscriptions, receipts at matches, profits
from sports, sale of grass, and receipts at stand were £299 13s, After paying all
dues, they had paid £80 12s towards the cost of the erection of the stand. He considered
that the club done exceedingly well, for during the past three years they had paid
£300 towards the improvement of the grounds, without any extra subscription or special
appeal. -The Chairman moved that the report and statement of accounts be adopted
and entered on the minutes, as it would then an interesting document to look back
to. -Mr J.Harrison seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. - The Chairman,
in putting the resolution, said it was very gratifying, on looking at the accounts,
to know that after paying current expenses, and having a good season’s sport, they
had spent £80 on a stand. It was simply marvellous. He had an idea that, with another
good season, the amount still owing on the stand would be wiped off and the club
would next be supporting the charitable institutes of the town. (Applause.)
RULES
The old rules were adopted, and Mr D. Shearer proposed the following be added
;- “That the members be admitted free to the ground at all football matches thereon,
whether by our teams or those of other clubs or association, excepting in cases where
the proceeds are advertised as for charitable purposes.” - Mr Craig seconded. - Mr
Thomas opposed the rules, considering that it was a hard and fast line; he suggested
that it be a suggestion to the committee as last year, and had been carried out to
the letter, - Mr John Reed, secretary of the association, also opposed the introduction
of this rule. - On being put to the vote, 25 voted for the rule and 17 against.
OFFICERS
It was unanimously resolved that Colonel S.A.Sadler be re-elected president.
- The Chairman, in accepting the post, said that it gave him very great pleasure
in belonging to such a club that had won so many laurels. (Applause.) - The vice-presidents
were re-elected with the addition of A. de Long. Captain, O.H.Cochrane; deputy captain,
A.Borrie; hon. Sec., F.Hardisty; assistant sec., H.Boldison; treasurer, W.H.Thomas.
Committee- Pick stock (39), Bastard (37), Shearer (36), Pringle (36), Peel (22),
Ransford (30), Willits (29), McNeelis (26), Fairgreaves (25). Booth and Fairgreaves
both obtained 25 votes, but the former retired in favour of the latter.
PROPOSED CHARITY MATCH
Mr. Waddell suggested that something should be done by the new committee to
promote a series of matches for the benefit of the charitable institutions of the
town. This met with general approval by the members, and Mr M.G.Collingwood promised
to give a splendid cup for competition if the club would make the necessary arrangements.
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Weekly Exchange
Dinner held (9) May 1884
MIDDLESBRO’ FOOTBALL CLUB.
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ANNUAL DINNER
The third annual dinner of the Middlesbrough Football Club took place on Friday
evening, at the King’s Head Hotel, Middlesbrough. Lieut. Col. Sadler occupied the
chair, and Mr Jackson Ewbank the vice-chair. Among those present were Ald. Collingwood,
Mr Wallis, Mr Raikes, Mr F.Hardisty, Mr W.H.Thomas, Mr E.Pickstock, Mr Higginbotham,
Mr Wm. Thompson, Mr C. Booth, Mr A. Mathieson, Mr Williams (Loftus), Mr R.W.Peel,
Mr Bastard, Mr Ransford, Mr Bosher, Mr Pringle, Mr Borrie, Mr Boldison, Mr Coates,
Mr R. D. McLean, Mr J.A. Thomas, Mr John Thomas, Mr Clayton, Mr Brentnall, Mr Dawkings,
Mr Woodman (Loftus), Mr J. Reed, etc. Mr O.H.Cochrane, the captain of the club, was
unavoidably absent. After an excellent repast, which reflected every credit on the
catering abilities of Mr and Mrs W. Lambert, the Chairman proposed “The Queen and
Royal Family,” a toast which was enthusiastically received, the company joining
in the National Anthem. -- Mr Ransford sang “Jack’s Yarn.” -- Mr Bastard proposed
“The Town and Trade of Middlesbrough.” It must be a matter of regret, he said, to
all of them that trade was not in that condition which they should wish, but they
must look forward hopefully. In looking over one of their local papers the other
day, he saw that one gentleman who took great interest in the prosperity of the town
had said that the trade had gone to the devil. If that was so, he hoped the devil
would make it so hot for the trade that it would be glad to come back again. -- The
toast was coupled with the name of Ald. Collingwood, and drunk with musical honours.
-- Ald. Collingwood said the toast was one which materially affected the whole community.
He was very sorry to say that the depression they were suffering from just now was
very general, and the cause was somewhat difficult to explain. He saw no immediate
prospect of a return of those better times in which they all rejoiced. In the history
of Middlesbrough they had passed through seasons of great prosperity and the reverse.
It had often been a great struggle to keep their heads above water, and in the struggle
many good men had fallen. But with perseverance, and industry, and courage, he hoped
they might weather the storm, and that once more the staple trade of the district
might flourish -- for unless they were prosperous the smaller trades must suffer.
They had hitherto tried to uphold the motto of their town, “Erimus.” So far they
had succeeded, and he believed that still they could say “We shall be.” It was said
that “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” and he for one had confidence that
the great iron and steel trades -- and he might add the chemical trade -- had within
them the elements of success. And, guided as they were by men of great repute, sterling
integrity, and business capacity, he believed that when the good times of prosperity
came again Middlesbro would get its share. (Applause.) -- Mr Jackson Ewbank sang
“The Pirate King.” -- Mr Boldison played a selection on the piano-forte -- The Chairman
rose to repeat an operation which he had the pleasure to perform last year. It was
the good fortune of the Middlesbrough Football Club last year to win that magnificent
cup which stood in the middle of the table. It had been again their good fortune
to win the cup this year. It had been a great pride to him to have it on this side-board,
and to tell his friends that he had been for two years the president of the club
that had won it. It was hardly his province as president to present it, but to receive
it. He would have been glad if the president of the Cleveland Football Association
had been here to present the cup. He had many pleasant recollections of their last
dinner, but non more pleasing than the fact that he had the pleasure of receiving
the cup on the part of the club. He thought the Cleveland Association might now well
consider that it was getting monotonous that the cup should be continually carried
in this direction, and that there had come a time when it should stop here. He begged
to acknowledge its receipt. He was glad they had won it, for he was sure they were
worthy possessors of it. -- The Chairman said it had pleased the Cleveland association
to devise a means of showing their gratitude to those who had taken part in the matches,
by presenting them with medals. The medals were the gift of the Cleveland association
to the members of the winning team. Every member who took part in the competition
and won those extraordinary series of matches, would wear these medals on his manly
bosom, remembering the part he had to take and the manly fellows he had to beat in
order to win. He then presented medals to Mr Pick stock (3), Mr A. Borrie (3), Mr
O.H. Cochrane (3) Mr Ransford (3), Mr A.R. Pringle (3), Mr J.Ewbank (2), Mr R.L.Peel
(2), Mr J. Thompson (2), Mr C. Booth (2), Mr Catterson (1), Mr T. Dales (2), Mr A.Thomas
(1), Mr Coates (1), Mr Dawkins (1), Mr J.Rowlands (1), Mr S. Kemp (1), and Mr J.
Bosher (1). The medals awarded by the Sheffield Association to the Middlesbrough
team for running up in their Challenge Cup Competition were then presented by the
Chairman. . -- Mr Peel sang a humorous song. -- Mr Raikes proposed “The Winning Team,
1883-84.” -- Mr Pickstock replied. They had won this cup for three years in succession,
and they hoped they would win it next year, and that their president would have the
pleasure of holding it again and placing it upon his side board. The Middlesbrough
team and the Redcar men were very evenly matched, and it was rather hard lines that
they should have had a man hurt, but for which they would probably have won. -- Mr
Bastard sung “Simon the Cellarer.” -- Mr W. H. Thomas proposed “The Umpire,” in complimentary
terms, and Mr F.Hardisty replied. -- Mr Booth sang “The Stowaway.” -- Mr Williams
(Loftus) proposed “Success to the Cleveland Football association.” He was proud to
belong to one of the oldest clubs in Cleveland. When the Loftus Club was started
the Middlesbrough Club was the only other club in existence. Since then other clubs
had sprung up very quickly, till in every town and village there was a club. He thought
that, although the Middlesbrough Club had won the cup three years in succession,
there would be a turn in the tide some day. -- Mr John Reed, jun., replied. He had
great pleasure in rising once again to reply to this toast, which, he was sure, would
meet with their heartiest approval, so long as the Cleveland Association continued
to act as they had done in the past. They had now reached a point which he had been
looking forward to so long, when they had been able to give the medals which had
been won by the Middlesbrough Club. The Cleveland Football Association was never
in a better position than it was at present; they were never more united, they never
had a better committee; and he believed they would go forward next year, and, in
spite of a few difficulties and obstacles which they could not avoid, they would
take a better position than they had done in the past. -- Mr Hawkins sang. “All on
account of Eliza.” -- Mr J.Reed then proposed “The Runners-up.” and expressed a hope
that the Redcar Club would win the cup next year. -- Messrs Pickstock and Ransford
sang a duet. “The merry maiden and the Tar.” -- Mr Peel gave a humorous recitation.
-- Mr Collingwood proposed “The Chairman,” which was given with musical honours.
-- In replying, the Chairman said he felt it an honour to be president of a club
which occupied a foremost position in the town. He felt it was no mean position.
That they did not occupy a secondary position was proved by the medals they had brought
from Sheffield. He had always heard that Sheffield was rather a good district for
football and when he heard that the Middlesbrough Club was playing there he did not
expect they would succeed in winning. Though some of them might have been disappointed
that they did not bring back the cup, he, as president, felt great satisfaction that
they should have gone to Sheffield and brought back the second prize. -- Mr W.H.Thomas
proposed “The Press.” and Mr J.W. Finlayson, of this journal, responded. -- The rest
of the evening was spent with song and sentiment, and was passed very merrily.
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