Things are afoot, the AGM of 1893
Summer, 1893 was a hot one, continuous dry spells had meant a drought in Yeovil , resulting in "repugnant smells offending the good citizens of Middle St". Sporting events were held where sufficent prize money to the winners was on offer, held at Pen Mill stadium. Two fit men of the town , on a £2 wager, competed in a walking race from Yeovil Town Hall to Sherborne Town Hall, as many lined the streets and hill.
As for the Football club, things seemed slightly out of place, highlighted in a pointed letter sent to the Western Gazette in July, penned by someone calling themselves 'AN INTERESTED ONE'
"Sir-I would like to call attention to the backward state of tbe Football club and the arrangements for next season. We have not yet had the annual general meeting. I think it is time we had it, for the election of officers. and arrangement of matches, or what type of fixtures we will see on the card when the season commences. I believe the time for entering for the County Cup Competition is past, and I hear that the secretary has not written to say whether our "Socker" team will play in it or not!
I think it is time he has a-Rose
The Shakesperesque play on the word 'a-Rose' was clearly aimed at the club Secretary Mr.Rose who in his defence took the unpaid responsibility against his will a year before. Also the amusing use of the term Soccer as 'socker'. However, more telling being that the AGM which for the past few years had always taken part in late summer, either September or October, something the mysterious 'Interested one' would have been aware. It would seem, to me anyway, someone within the Association part of the club wanting to push for an AGM earlier than usual.
Could it have been that the Association boys,witnessing the explosion of football, not just throughout the town, but in the country as a whole. Thus, giving them a feeling of wanting to not be treated as the minor part of the club anymore?
'Interested one' had to wait for his AGM, it came in late September.
A change of venue for the 1893 AGM, the Three Choughs Hotel. In fact in the days before football clubs had offices and full time officials, a hotel or Inn was delegated to collect the telegrams and letters. An errand boy would then be sent to distribute the communication to the appropriate person. Yeovil's HQ was previously the Half Moon Inn, located in a Silver St, now long demolished but roughly situated where the entrance to The Quedam is. However in 1893 it had changed to the Three Choughs.
Apart from the mandatory election of officers, there was really only one topic of conversation amongst the more than usual attendees, and it wasn't the smell of the drains in Middle Street.
The Chairman raised the subject of some, obviously within the Association football element, wishing to separate the clubs and to go their own way. Mr. Read, the captain of the Rugby team voiced that it would be a very sorry thing if it were to happen. One of the attendess a Mr. Walter mockingly exclaimed that the Association team would not survive alone, with the Rugby team the biggest earner of the two. Obviously lacking the awareness of firstly rugby playing more games, meaning more revenue and the desire for more association football in the town.
The Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Bradford, spoke of his biggest concern of the two clubs, football and rugby, playing on the same day in the town which would financially affect one or both of them.
He then put the idea across of having two grounds, one for each representation of the club. A very ambitious idea when taking into the account the clubs problems of even gaining one field in previous years. The rugby element it seemed were the ones, voicing all the content, the association boys sitting back listening.
Argument and counter-argument went back and forth, until it was decided to have one overall secretary of the club and two sub-secretaries, one for each sport. This was agreed, with the committee of thirteen men arranged, six from the rugby team and six from the Association football team. With one gentleman neutral.
This club with equal representation was again another sign that Association was on the rise, before represention on the board had always been a majority rugby one.
So, apart from a couple of small issues, concerning travelling expenses to players and club colours - still maroon and white, the meeting was finished. Apart that is if Mr Bradford suggesting the players have a weekly run to heighten the effenciency of the players and bring them together. Unfortunately he added he as far too busy to join them.
For now they would stay as one all under the umbrella of Yeovil Football club , but for how long? The writing was clearly on the wall, they didn't know it then, but it was to be one of the last seasons as a collective.
I am sure somewhere in the room the 'Interested one' looked on knowingly.
Happy days.
* for more seasons and stories check the archive
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