THE FINANCE OF FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 10

THE FINANCE OF FOOTBALL

How Rugby football is financed in Wellington and what an important business it really is, the report of the honorary treasurer (Mr. G. F. W. Jackson) to the Wellington Rugby Union is an interesting reminder. Last year on a turnover of some £7000 the net credit balance was only £10 16s, which, at least, disproves the allegation, sometimes heard, that the union is making money out of the players. On the contrary Mr. Jackson contends that over £5600 out of the revenue of £7000 was spent directly for the benefit of the players, and the balance of the season's expenditure, including representative ex-

penses and other items connected with the administration of the game, was incurred more or less directly for the same purpose. To run the game for the players is, of course, the reason for the existence of the union, and the lirst call on funds naturally is for the provision and upkeep of grounds. This, with all that it entails in the way of overhead, capital charges on loans, rates, insurance, salaries of staff and officials, and the rest, is the most serious item on the debit side of the balancesheet, covering £4725, or considerably more than half of the season's expenditure. Players are : more directly affected by the provision made in the accident fund, the expenditure last year being £621. Clubs themselves contributed by way of subscription £208 Bs, and the balance has to be drawn from the general fund of the union. There are also refunds of fares to lower-grade players called on to travel, amounts distributed to clubs from special matches and expenses connected with school football. In this way the union does valuable work for the encouragement of Rugby. Its main source of revenue is the gate receipts at Athletic Park, and in these last year there was a big drop in both club and representative games. There were special circumstances last season, mainly the lack of interest in football after the All Black trials, but it is a question whether the decline has not been accentuated by the harm done to Rugby as a spectacle by alterations in the rules. Old patrons of the game, w.ho are the backbone of support at Athletic Park, have yet to be convinced that the quality of football has not deteriorated in consequence.