Home of football statistics and historyThe Scottish F.A. and The Football Association of Wales were both well aware that in England there was a strong movement afoot to legalise professionalism. They didn’t like it. They did not care for professional footballers and they detested the English clubs which, by offering inducements, were robbing Scotland and Wales of some of its best players.
When The Football Association in London decided to recognise professionals, without even bothering to consult the other national Associations, the Scots were furious. Since the whole business was of such vital concern to the other three countries, London should surely have discussed the matter before taking a step likely to transform the face of British football. So the Scottish F.A. invited the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales to a meeting in Liverpool for 24th September 1885. The Irish wrote back saying that although they did not favour professionalism and although they did not distrust Scotland’s initiative, they had no idea what might be on the agenda for the Liverpool meeting and anyway, they required more notice than the few days the Scots had given them. The Welsh turned up, but without the support of Ireland the meeting was jut a talking shop and it was adjourned without achieving anything.
Back home the Scottish Association issued an order forbidding any of its member-clubs to play against any English clubs employing professionals. The leading Scottish clubs replied that they regretted this ban. They asked permission to be allowed at least to fulfil engagements already fixtured before the order was made.
In between times, the Amateur Athletic Association put out an instruction clarifying the position for athletes under its rules. This was to the effect that they would not lose their amateur status by playing with or against professional footballers, providing such matches had no connection with an A.A.A. meeting.
On 9th January 1886 the Scottish Football Association sent a letter to London proposing discussions to take place in Belfast on 19th January. London replied saying ti would consider the invitation. The Scots immediately wrote back to point out there was not time for “considering” anything; if the 19th did not suit, what about the 29th? The English F.A. said it was impossible to make dates like that; besides, they did not know what it was all about. Balked at every turn, all the Scots could do was to make an agreement with the Welsh for recognition of suspensions of players deemed to be professionals to be effective in either country.
In the first season of professional football in England, the amateur South waited with some unease to see what the effects would be. When nothing much happened, some were relieved, some were disappointed … for predictable reasons.
It was the treasurers of professional clubs who felt the first impact of change. Now that taking money for football was legal and proper, some players wanted more of it. The West Bromwich Albion players asked for a raise and were told they couldn’t have it; so they went on strike. The Albion management reacted quickly by sacking the ring-leader and suspending three other players. But later, West Brom followed the lead of most clubs by putting a little extra in the pay-packets of selected players.
It became very clear that running a professional football club was something of an expensive business. The main source of income, the “gate”, had been fairly important for a long time; now it was a vital concern. Attractive fixtures were eagerly sought, while opponents who failed to draw the crowds were dropped from the eagerly sought, while opponents who failed to draw the crowds were dropped from the list. Aston Villa cancelled a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers because the Wolves, being engaged in a Birmingham Cup tie the same day, could not guarantee to send their best XI. So the clubs might have saved themselves a little bit of expense on that day. The Villa was not so lucky on 21st November. Having been fortunate enough to have choice of ground in the second round of the F.A. Cup versus Derby County, the Villa waived that right in order to entertain the celebrated Queen’s Park at Birmingham, the inference being that the visit of the famous Glasgow side would be the more lucrative. So the cup-tie was re-arranged to take place at Derby on the 14th. Villa’s dismay at being beaten was evident by the nature of a protest made to the Cup Committee, – that the referee was a Derby man.
Worse followed, for on the day appointed for the visit of Queen’s Park, the Scottish club sent word that it was unable to travel. Thus, Aston Villa lost the Cup-tie, lost the cup-tie gate, lost the Queen’s Park gate and had to be content with a hastily arranged match against a local club, St. George’s.