FOOTBALL PAY DEMAND

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 6

FOOTBALL PAY DEMAND

(Own Correspondent-

English Players' Case lor Higher Wage

"P00RER CLUBS"

— By Air Mai\.)

LONDON, Aug. 24. On the eve of the new Association football season, which opens on Saturday, the Association Football Players' and Trainers' Union, meeting at Manchester to-day, has decided to ask for better wage conditions. Mr James Fay, the secretary, stated after the meeting that he had been instructed to write to the Football League asking for eoncessions. "We are prepared to inake a definite stand," said Mr Fay, "and all over the country indignation is growing at the sliding scale which clubs have lately introduced. Not 10 per cent. of the League clubs pay a flat rate of wages. Players are given a certain wage, but it is dependent on their being in the first team. As soon as they drop out of the first team their wages go down, probably by £1 a week. This is considered unfair. "At to-day 's meeting our mernbers pointed out that the speeding-up of the game had shortened the eareers of players., but they had been given practically nothing to compensate them for their shortened period of usefulness. "I am instructed to ask for a general increase in the rates of pay, with an extension of the maximum of £8 a week in winter and £6 in summer. Another thing we want altering is the divergence between tbe -Football Associatiou and the League rules concerning the minimum wage at which players may be retained. The F.A. gives the minimum as £208 a yedr, but the Leagoe merely refers to a "reasonable wage." We want both bodies to put the minimum at £260.

£500 a Year Players. "One League club last year offered 13 players u wage of £2 a week in summer and £5 a week in winter, with an extra 30/- a week when in the first team. That is the sort of sliding seale we are fighting againste" The pay of players in the Football League varies from about £500 to £220 a year, aceording to the man's ability and club. The Players' Union 's request for a revision of the present retaining wage of £208 a year will meet wltn a inixed reception. Some of the bigger' clubs may support it and a number of the smaller ones will cry poverty. A League player said last night: ' ' The League has increased the earnings of the higher-paid players this season by reintroducing talent money, and they can now earn up to £500 a year from football alone, plus a benefit after five years of anything up to £650. "But in helping theso mernbers of teams which finish in tho leading poaitions in the League and Cup competitions, the League has done nothing for the players at the other end of tlie tablc. "I hope the football authorities will hold a sympathetic investigation into the question of the £208 retaining wage, as, in the Third Division, among the poorer clubs, there are certainly hardsliips. ' '