North Eastern Daily Gazette, Friday May 15 1885.
MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB.
The fourth annual meeting of the above Club was held last night at the King’s
Head Hotel, Middlesbrough. Alderman S.A. Sadler, president, occupying the chair.
There was a capital attendance.-- The Hon. Sec. (Mr F.Hardisty) read the fourth annual
report, which showed the best result of any year since the Club was formed. The Club
had played 32 matches, won 28, lost 3, and drawn 1. There have been 111 goals kicked,
against 27 gained by the teams playing against the Club, the average number of goals
being over four to one in favour of Middlesbrough. The following players have kicked
goals.-- Borrie 46, Pringle 19, Hardwick 16, Wilson 6, Thompson 6, Fox 4, Cochrane
3, Peel 3, Pickstock 2, Dales 2, Dawes 1, Ewbank 1, Wood 1, and Miller 1. The Swifts
had played 19 matches, of which 11 had been won, 6 lost, and 2 drawn, the total goals
kicked being 52, while 26 had been lost. The Club’s first team journeyed to London,
where they met the Old Etonians in the fourth round of the English Challenge Cup,
to whom they proved formidable opponents, playing a tie, but in the extra half hour
played they were beaten by five goals to two. The Club was complimented on the success
of its team by the Cleveland Association. The Cleveland Challenge Cup had again found
a resting place with them for another season, their old opponents, Redcar, being
beaten in the final tie by three goals to nil. The Club, although entered for the
Sheffield Challenge Cup, were debarred from competing. As the Club was in a good
position financially, he suggested that another portion of the field should be levelled
so as to allow the junior members to practice and play matches, as it was not very
creditable to the Club not to be able to raise a team to compete for the Cleveland
Junior Challenge Cup. Mr Cochrane, the captain of the Club, arranged for a charity
match, the team for which was chosen by the committee, and after a first class game,
over £60 will remain to divide between the North Riding Infirmary and the Cottage
Hospital. The balance at the bank in favour of the Club was £45 14s 3d. -- The PRESIDENT
said it was with pride and pleasure that he moved that the report be adopted, printed,
and circulated amongst the members. He thought no club could possibly show a more
satisfactory or better report than the one they had just heard, as they had unparalleled
success, with one exception. The result of their past season argued well for the
success and future prosperity of the Club, and he had no doubt that had the match
between the Old Etonians and Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the English Challenge
Cup been played on the Middlesbrough ground the result might have been different.
(Hear, hear.) -- Alderman COLLINGWOOD seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously.--
On the motion of Mr R.L. PEEL, seconded by Mr JAMES WATTS, it was resolved that members
during next season be admitted free to all matches except the final ties of the Cleveland
Challenge Cups and charity matches.-- On the motion of Mr COCHRANE, seconded by Mr
Byman, Colonel Sadler was re-elected president. Mr O.H. Cochrane was re-elected captain.,
Mr A. Borrie re-elected deputy captain, Mr F. Hardisty secretary, and Mr W.H. Thomas
treasurer; and a committee having been appointed, the meeting terminated with a vote
of thanks to the Chairman for presiding.
