1891-92
MIDDLESBROUGH - Press Extracts From The Early Years
North Eastern Daily Gazette, November 1891.
Football
----*----
THE MIDDLESBROUGH CLUB AND ITS
PLAYERS
FLIGHT OF BLACK AND McKNIGHT.
News was circulated to-day that the Middlesbrough Club's most recent acquisitions,
McKnight and Black, had taken flight to their homes across the border. Black, we
understand, a short time ago intimated to the secretary of the club, Mr A.Borrie,
that he wanted an advance in wages. The application was laid before the committee
at last week's meeting, but after due consideration they decided not to grant it.
Black was notified to this effect, and nothing more was heard of the matter until
a rumour was circulated this morning that the two players before named had left Middlesbrough
by the 8.40 a.m. train, their destination being Hurlford. No reason can be assigned
for McKnight's departure other than that he had been induced to go by Black. Should
Black and McKnight not return the club's front rank will again unfortunately be in
that disorganised state that has proved the great drawback to the team's success
in the past
-----------------------------------
NEDG 19/11/91
BLACK AND McKNIGHT COMING HOME
This morning the following telegram was received at Middlesbrough by Mr A Borrie,
the secretary of the Middlesbrough club,"--Hurlford. 9.30. Will leave here today
at 11 o'clock, Black and McKnight with me. --Dodds." It is expected that Mr Dodds
and his charges will arrive in Middlesbrough either at 5.45 or 7.20 this evening.
Some evil-disposed person on Tees side made an attempt during the present week
to get Mr Dodds, the member of the Middlesbrough Club's Committee, maltreated during
his visit to Scotland. Mr Dodds it is now pretty generally known, went to Scotland
on Monday afternoon last in order to persuade Black and McKnight to return to Middlesbrough.
The same afternoon Stockton played the Canadians and several persons went from Middlesbrough
to Stockton by the same train as Mr Dodds left by -viz, the 2.13pm. Mr Dodds' errand
was known, no secret being made of it. At 4.40, or immediately after the Stockton
v Canadians match a telegram was handed in at the Stockton office, addressed to the
secretary of the Football Club, Hurlford, Ayrshire purporting to be from a person
named Gordon. The text of the message was, "Black and McKnight left here this morning.
Committee man left this afternoon to bring them back. Make it hot for him. Make it
public." The person who sent the message has proved himself to be a Middlesbrough
man by the fact of his having said: "Black and McKnight left here." The message was
handed in at Stockton and it is clear on the face of it that the sender, in his great
jubilation at having a chance of getting a Middlesbrough Club man into trouble, forgot
that he was not at Middlesbrough. The mischief worker failed in his object. On Black's
arrival the Hurlford secretary handed him the message, and later it was given by
Black to Mr Dodds
North Eastern Daily Gazette, Friday May 20, 1892.
Football.
-----+-----
A Y E A R' S W O R K B Y T H E
MIDDLESBROUGH CLUB.
INCREASED RECEIPTS AND A DEFECIT.
The annual general meeting of the Middlesbrough Football Club is fixed to be held
on Monday night week. The Executive, in their report on the work forthe past year,
say: -- The performances of the first eleven have been as follows: Played 43 matches,
won 26, drawn 3, and lost 14, scoring 92 goals against 58. This we think is a very
creditable record. The performances of the team, however have been much more satisfactory
when playing away than when at home, as out of the large number of matches played
out of town only 3 of them have been lost, while not a single Northern League match
has been lost or drawn when playing out of the town. These two performances are probably
a record, as usually the play is better when at home than when playing at a distance.
In our case, however, it is the reverse, and perhaps to a very considerable extent
accounts for the opinion expressed by some of the members and the outside public
that the team has not displayed good form and has not had a good season, they probably
taking into account only the matches they have seen, whereas taking them all together,
they bear very favourable comparison with other clubs. We may note, in passing, the
team has been much weakened at various times by the numerous accidents which the
players received, and when important matches were close at hand. We again take second
place in the Northern League. The winners have a lead of 3 points over us, and it
may be noted here that 4 points were taken by them against us. The club has again
been selected by the Football Association amongst the 18 clubs for exemption in the
qualifying rounds of the English Cup ties. The constitution of the team for next
season has been receiving constatnt attention, and most of the present players have
again been retained; in addition, negotiations are proceeding with other players,
as it is highly necessary other three or four new players should be secured. The
Swifts have had a very successful season, carrying off the Tees-side League championship.
Their record reads:-- Played 36 matches, won 22, drawn 4, lost 10, scoring 112 goals
against 54. Financially, the club cannot be said to be in any serious difficulty,
and the year's receipts have pretty well covered the ordinary expenditure. As will
be noticed, a very large sum has been spent on capital account by increasing the
stands, &c. Taking this item the deficit at the commencement of the season, and the
item for next season's players, it will be seen that they practically amount to the
present deficit, and that the year's working has cleared itself. As, however, the
rate of expenditure will, in view of the present high wages, be considerably increased
next season, it will be for the general meeting to say how best this can be met,
especially if it is considered desirable, as no doubt it is, to further improve the
team, which means a considerable additional outlay. It will be noticed that the receipts
show a great increase on previous years, notwithstanding the opposition in the town,
£330 more being received than last year, and £850 more than the year before. The
gate receipts is the main item of increase, these amounting to about £260 more than
last year. The balance-sheet shows subscriptions received for the season from ladies
and juniors £30 17s 6d. Voluntary subscriptions amounted to £53 10s. Receipts at
matches amounted to £1,765 8s 3d. The expense at matches were £635 18s 9d, of which
£354 12s went to visiting teams. Professional expenses, including bonuses, wages,
obtaining players, insurance, trainer, and groundsman are put at £1,455 13s 11d.
Amounts paid on account of next season’s expenditure for players £90 15s 6d. The
cost of fitting out players was £63, and cost of erection of additional and alteration
to stands and boarding for advertisements £131 2s 4d. An adverse balance is shown
of £310 10s 3d, and is made up as follows:-- Balance due at end of last season, £86;
less last year’s subscriptions received, £13 2s 6d; amount paid on capital improvements,
£136 2s 4d; amount paid on account of next season’s expenditure £ 60 15s 6d, balance
being exces of ordinary expenditure over actual ordinary receipts £40 6s 8d. A balance
deficit of assets over liabilities is shown of £209 14s 9d. Against this are the
whole of the stands, fencing, recreation room, pay boxes, turnstiles, etc, upon which
no money value is placed in the statement. The auditors, Messrs G. Lang and Job Holland,
attach their signatures as to the correctness of the balance sheet.
THE PROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF THE
MIDDLESBROUGH CLUBS.
In the annual report of the Middlesbrough Club published to-day the committee
say:-- As doubtless most of the members are aware, negotiations have been taking
place between the directors of the Ironopolis Club and your Executive with a view
to seeing whether a feasible scheme for the amalgamation of the clubs could be worked
out, and if such a scheme could be framed, then both parties proposed to lay the
same for consideration before the general body of their members. At the time of writing
nothing has been finally settled, but it may be that a scheme can be drawn up, in
which case it will be laid before you at the general meeting; failing this, probably
some other scheme will be submitted for your consideration.
-------------
Last night W.C. Campbell, the inside right wing forward of the Middlesbrough
Football Club, signed an agreement to play with the Darwen Football Club next season.
North Eastern Daily Gazette, 10 June 1892.
Football
THE PROPOSED MIDDLESBROUGH
FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC COMPANY.
Since the annual meeting of the Middlesbrough Football Club Mr A. Borrie, the
secretary, has been in communication with Mr Alcock, secretary to the English Association,
with reference to the registration of the new company. It will be remembered that
at the annual meeting it was stated that the Association had refused to allow two
limited liability companies to run in Nottingham, and opinions have since been pretty
freely indulged in that the Middlesbrough Club would not be allowed to reconstruct
the club on limited liability lines. The Emergency Committee of the Association have
had the matter under consideration, and have given their permission to the club being
reconstructed as agreed upon at the annual meeting. The players already signed on
will follow the other effects into the new company. The meeting of members and supporters
to form the company will be held in the Co-operative Hall on Monday at eight o’clock.
Mr J. V. Cooper will preside. Representatives from the club are away in Scotland
with a view to securing first-class players, and, if possible, the names of any new
players that may be secured will be given at the meeting. No money is to be spared
in getting together a first-class team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Athletic News, 13 June 1892.
Permission has been granted to the Middlesbrough old club (by the English Association)
to form a company, and the players already signed on will be turned over with the
other effects to the new company. A meeting is to be held to-night (Monday), to carry
into effect the resolutions passed at the general meeting held some short time ago.
Everything seems to be going on very merrily, and without doubt a bright future is
in store for the Linthorpe-road people.
Also - Athletic News, 13 June 1892.
Mr. Borrie, the secretary of the Middlesbrough club, writes to say that our
Northern correspondent was under a wrong impression when he blamed the Middlesbrough
club for not accepting the terms of amalgamation with the Ironopolis all on account
of the name. It appears that the Ironopolis owe a great deal more money than Middlesbrough;
but the latter were quite prepared to amalgamate on equal terms as “Middlesbrough
and Ironopolis United,” and it was decided to apply for admission to the League.
But during the week the Ironopolis secretary wrote intimating that his directors
would only amalgamate on condition that the new company was called Middlesbrough
Ironopolis Football Company Limited, and the old club could not stand the offshoot
having all their debts taken over and retaining their full name to the extinction
of the other. And so the matter ended.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Eastern Daily Gazette, 23 June 1892
Football
------- --------
THE MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC COMPANY.
The prospectus of this Company was issued today. It states that the Company has been
formed for the purpose of acquiring and taking over as a going concern all the goodwill,
property, estate, and interest of the Middlesbrough Football Club, and the premises
of such club situate in Middlesbrough, and the grand and other stands, buildings,
erections, fixtures, fittings, apparatus and effects of the same, and to carry on,
develop and work the said club, and also for the purpose of providing, maintaining,
or laying out the grounds of the said club, or any other grounds at or near Middlesbrough.
By the Memorandum of Association provision is made not only for the carrying on of
the Middlesbrough Football Club on its present ground, but also for purchasing, or
taking upon lease, or otherwise, any other lands or grounds, and also for the promotion
not only of football but also of all manner of athletic exercises and competitions,
sports, galas, pastimes, festivals, and entertainments. Mr A. Borrie will be in attendance
at the Football Ground on June 28 and 30, and July 4 and 6, from seven to eight o'clock
to receive applications. Mr F. Hardisty has been appointed chairman of the Company,
and the registered office is 5, Albert-road.
=========================
