‘It is pleasing to know that football can be devoted to charitable purposes’: British football and charity 1870–1918

Abstract

Football charity matches and tournaments played a significant role in the development of the sport in Britain, overlapping the era of friendly games and the coming of competitive leagues. The football community prided itself on its contributions to charity, raising more money than any other sport before 1918, and stakeholders within the game – associations, clubs, players and patrons – gained kudos for this perceived altruism. However, the amounts donated, though welcomed by the recipients, were relatively minor sources of revenue for both institutions and individuals. Moreover, the charity match became less important to clubs in an era of growing professionalism and commercialization.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. See, for example, Walters and Chadwick (2009); Sheth and Babiak (2010); Paramio-Salcines, Babiak and Walters (2013).

2. For more detailed information on the Glasgow competition see Vamplew (2008) and Kay (2009).

3. Calculated from SFA Annuals and list of FA-approved competitions in Minutes of FA. These figures are not comprehensive as in the case of Scotland, they were dependent on relevant secretaries forwarding the information to the SFA for publication in the journal and there were obvious gaps in the English data such as apparently no approved charity tournaments in Lancashire.

4. The SFA stated that £200 was handed over to charity and this appears in the [retrospective] official records of the Charity Cup. Where the other £100 came from is unknown.

5. Whether attractive gates against chosen opponents at charity fixtures encouraged the development of leagues is a moot point.

6. Based on a count of those associations cited in Gamage’s Association Football Annual 1912/13.

7. At a smoking concert held in connection with the Mayor of London trophy, he was also presented with ‘a very handsome testimonial, including a valuable diamond ring and a cheque’ (Jackson 1932, 107).

8. Nicholas ‘Pa’ Jackson, sports journalist and publisher, had a significant position in the history of charity football. He claims to have persuaded both Reginald Hanson and Thomas Dewar, respectively, to donate to the Mayor of London Charity Cup (run by the London FA which he founded) and the Sheriff of London Charity Shield. He was involved in the development of the London Football Festivals in the late 1880s and for many years, raised money for charity, especially the Poplar Hospital, by arranging scratch matches, the issue that brought trouble with the FA (Jackson 1900, 65, 153–154, 1932, 61).

9. In 1907, following the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1906, representatives of the Football League, the Southern League and the Scottish Football League established the Football Mutual Insurance Federation, but this comprehensive, self-funded scheme was voluntary and a minority of clubs did not join. In 1912, after national insurance legislation in 1911, a new compulsory scheme was set up, but it applied only to Football League clubs (Taylor 2005, 148–150).

10. Figures calculated from data in FA Balance Sheets; Baron (1906); Wilson (1981, 11); Gamage’s Association Football Annual (1910/11); Minutes of GCCC; Athletic News, September 22, 1880.

11. Calculated from data in Minutes of FA Benevolent Committee.

12. Calculated from figures in Checkland (1980).