BUYING PLAYERS

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1926, Page 3

BUYING PLAYERS

BIG MONEY INVOLVED AT HOME. ','For sale or to lease, in splendid condition, Warranted fast in harness; no vice, and a sure gate attraction.” 1 Although not publicly advertised, jno doubt something similar to the ) above, finds its way through the busij ness organisations of the English Association clubs with a man wanting to transfer (“Offside” writes). Twenty j years ago leading players were reeeiv ing wages averaging from £4 to £6 per week all the year round. The conditions generally were that a player was not expected to turn out to more than two matches per week during the season, apart from training time. As the demand for class players in l creased with the formation of so many clubs wages increased in sympathy until today players command from £8 to £l2 and percentage on transfer "fees, and a benefit after four or six seasons’ play generally guaranteed to return from £6OO to £IOOO. About the first transfer of note was when Aston Villa paid £IOO to West I Bromwich Albion for Groves and £4O for Reynolds. These fees gradually crept up until again Aston Villa paid to Burnley £250 for Crabtree. . A few years following Newcastle United gave in the vicinity of £4OO for New Crombie, Sunderland’s International. It appeared then that the climax was reached when Middlesborough obtained Alf Common for £IOOO, and steps ■were taken the association to limit transfer fees to £350. Ways and means were found whereby this limit could be edged around. About 1913 Derby County transferred to Manchester City, Horace Barnes for £2500. Since the war transfers have been made which have more than doubled these figures. Sunderland about 1921 invested £14,000 in three men. Aston Villa last year discharged a player for misconduct w r ho had cost them £4OOO a few months previous. The last and perhaps the most sensational exchange was for Hugh Gallacher, transferred to Newcastle United from a Scotch club, the exchange costing them £7OOO.

It would make interesting reading to be able to peruse tho books of a first league club. Their gates average from 7000 to 20,000 per match. League clubs usually sign on from 20 to 30 players for their first team. Each player is insured against injury and in addition there is a large clerical, ground, and training staff, apart from the administration officials. So that now football is more of a business concern than any other sport, excepting perhaps, baseball as played in America.