North Eastern Daily Gazette, June 1897.
SPORTS AND PASTIMES
MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL AND
ATHLETIC COMPANY, LIMITED.
The annual meeting of the Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Company Limited,
was held yesterday, Mr R. Forrester in the chair. -- The Secretary (Mr W. H. Winney)
read the report of the directors, which stated that the balance-sheet for the season
just ended compared unfavourably with that presented at the last annual meeting.
They were then able to congratulate the shareholders on a balance of £159 7s, whereas
now they had to acknowledge a loss of £25 2s on the year’s working. In addition to
that actual loss, the assets of the Company were less by £85 13s 7d, owing to depreciation.
The income of the Company, compared with that of the previous season, was £231 less,
whilst the working expenses were only £47 less. Subscriptions showed a falling off
of £22 10s, and the balance of the match receipts over match payments showed a decrease
of £224. During the season attempts were made to persuade them to again adopt professionalism,
and at a directors’ meeting it was resolved that the risk was too great to undertake
unless 2,000 people were prepared to take one share each. The public did not respond,
not one individual intimating his willingness to subscribe. The committee heartily
acknowledge their indebtedness to the players of both teams for their willing services
to the club. The first team, out of 36 matches, won 21, drew and lost 8, and scored
86 goals against 50. The second team, out of 32 matches, won 22, and drew and lost
7. While the record of the first eleven was good, it was impossible to congratulate
them on their performances in the English Cup competitions. To be put out in the
first round was a new and not a happy experience. They had, however, won the Cleveland
Cup for the second year in succession, and were champions of the Northern League.
-- On the motion of the Chairman, the report and balance-sheet were adopted, and
the directors and other officials were re-elected.
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