100 years ago

A MEETING of the Football League Clubs had been held in Manchester for the purpose of taking into further consideration the scheme put forward on behalf of the special sub-committee appointed to devise means for assisting clubs financially handicapped as the result of reduced gates consequent upon the war.

Mr Sutcliffe, secretary to the League, submitted in detail terms of the scheme which provided for the contribution of 2½ per cent of the gross receipts from football League matches of each club, and the contribution from the players ranging from 15 per cent down to 5 per cent in proportion to the wages received.

This proposition was cordially received and agreed to without dissension. Intimation was given that the scheme would involve an estimated sum of over £8,000, and the hope was expressed that the necessity for any form of levy would not exist after December 31.

 

50 years ago

THE Archbishop of York, Dr Donald Coggan, had hit out at suggestions, to be made to the Government, that religious instruction should be dropped in county schools, as well as collective worship in schools.

The suggested ending of collective worship in schools and the removal of religious instruction from the curricula of county schools – “this is the programme which the National Secular Society will be presenting to the Government,” said the Archbishop. If his gardener came to him, told him that he had cut all the roots off the fruit trees, and wished him a good crop of fruit the following year, he would consider the gardener mad.

“If people say ‘cut the roots of religion from education in our schools’ how do you expect to have any sort of moral standards in your country?” he asked.

 

25 years ago

SOCCER fans were virtually certain to have to carry identity cards the following season after the Football Spectators Bill completed its passage through the Commons.

The news was greeted with a chorus of horror and derision from the region’s teams. The chairman of York City, Mr Michael Sinclair said: “It threatens the viability of all small clubs. We are convinced the mechanism is not going to work. The financial implications are horrific – there are predictions of a 25 per cent reduction in gates.”

The Scarborough secretary, Mr Andrew Jenkinson, said the Bill would do nothing about their hooligan problem because they did not have one. “Our big problem is getting people in through the gates, not having to chuck them out again,” he said.