A BRIBE TO LOSE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 3

A BRIBE TO LOSE

Aston Villa’s Goalie Fred Biddlestone, the first team goalkeeper of Aston Villa Football Club, said recently that lie hud been offered £lOOO to let his side lose. “The offer w.ts contained in an anonymous letter, posted in Belfast,” said Biddlestone. The letter read :— “Dear Biddlestone, —As .goalkeeper of Aston Villa you occupy a vital position. and- if you are inclined to listen to reason your salary can lie considerably augmented. As one of a syndicate, it is our intention to bring about a few shock results. Our experience is that it is the shockers that upset the football coupons. The plan is to simply arrange for the leading clubs to lose at home to the lower clubs—the lower the better. For every match you are prepared to lose at honia jve aje pre-

pared- to pay you £750, with a further £250 by way of a bonus, if everything comes out" O-K. ‘“This letter is anonymous, and we made a special journey to Ireland for the sole purpose of posting it so as to cover up our tracks in case inquiries are set going. In the course of a few days a certain party will sound you as to whether you are agreeable or not. If this proposition has uo appeal to you, we would ask you, as a favour, to kindly destroy this letter, but. we think you would be very foolish to let. such an easv wav of making money slip past you. It is when the Cup-ties come round that we intend to reap a rich harvest with a few sensational results.’’

As soon as he received the letter. Biddlestone handed it to the club officials. He was told that the club had every confidence in him and that there was uo need for him to worry.