Denaby Utd – Annual Dinner – Over £60 in hand

21 June 1901

Mexborough and Swinton Times, June 21.

Denaby United Football Club

Annual Dinner.

Over Sixty Pounds in hand.

The President of the Denaby United Football Club had a very pleasant statement to make on Tuesday evening on the occasion of the annual dinner, which was held at the clubhouse, the Reresby Arms Hotel.

There were over 60 members and friends present the club been honoured with a presence of several of the officials of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association.

An excellent meal, was provided by the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs T.Weston, after which a convivial gathering was held in the large club room. Mr W Wright, the president of the club, was voted to the chair, with Mr W. Allen (Rotherham) in the vice-chair. The guests present included Mr J Martin, the President of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association; Mr J. Fox, the secretary of the Association; Mr G.H.Parkin, Mr Lawson, Mr W.Allen (Rotherham), well-known referee; Mr W.S.Pettit (Mexborough) Mr W.I.Gibbs (Denaby)

There were also present Mr H.S.Witty, Mr H.H.Wray, Mrs J. Wattis (the secretary of the Denaby club), Mr George Butcher, Mr E. Sheldon and others.

The chairman at the outset, gave details of the financial position of the club, as shown by the balance sheet. He mentioned that frequent audits were made, a statement, which was met by indications of approval. The club began the financial year, on June 1, 1900, with a balance in the bank, amounting to £20 0s 9d. The total income up to the end of April 1901, amounted to £218 8s 1d. The principal items of expenditure were £30 for fencing of the field, £11 7s 8d cost of the stand, £39 6s 5d, railway and bus fares for players, and £9 10s 8d referee´s fees.

The total expenditure amounted to £150 12s 7d, leaving a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £67 14s 6d, which was regarded as most satisfactory.

The toast of “The King” was honoured at the call of the chair. Mr J Martin speaking a few appropriate words. The Chairman also proposed the “Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Forces.”

Mr H.S.Witty, who is a volunteer officer, holding the rank of Captain, in responding, said the force to which he had the honour to belong had recently done their share to uphold the honour and integrity of the Empire rather, he thought, to the disappointment of some of the heads of the army; possibly they had changed their opinions as to what the volunteers could do. (Hear, hear).

Speaking with a direct local application, Captain Witty suggests that Denaby have been rather backward in forming a volunteer corps, but it was not too late to get together a small number of young men. He hoped some of those present were turned the idea of in their minds, and he thought amongst them. They could arrange some sort of scheme whereby the district could be represented on the Army list. (Applause.)

Mr J. Fox proposed “Success to the Denaby Football Club.” It is only remarks, who recalled a previous visit to Denaby, when he experienced the hospitality and good fellowship of the club. He congratulated the club on the very successful gathering they had that night. The artiness and friendship that existed between the officials and players augured well for the future of the club; in fact he might say such a state of things was the foundation of success. (Hear, hear).

Though they were not at the top of the Sheffield Association League, their position was a creditable one, causing it was the first year of the club in the competition, and they had to meet such old established clubs and almost finished players as Wednesday and United. Mr Fox referred to the stubborn fight made by the Denaby players for the championship of the Hatchard Cup League, and said it showed the players had grit about them. Although the Denaby team were beaten in the match he saw played he must say that not only the players but the officials knew how to take a beating. (Hear, hear). If there was anything next to good winner it was a good loser. (Hear, hear).

After jocularly saying you not wish to persuade them they were all Angels with white wings in Denaby, Mr Fox said there had been one or two cases from the club before the Association, but he ought they would not be downcast on that account because he must tell them the Denaby club compare favourably indeed with most other clubs in the Association. They might think the association in Sheffield had dealt rather severely in one or two cases, but he knew there officials would give the Sheffield Association credit for at any rate, honesty of purpose. (Hear, hear).

He had been delighted to hear the splendid balance sheet read, and he thought there was harder due to all concerned. He wish with all his heart that every other club in the Association could put before their supporters such a report.

The Chairman, responding as the President of the club, said they knew they had good support. He mentioned Mr Buckingham Pope, Mr W.H.Chambers, Mr H.S.Witty, and said the club had almost every official at the colliery at their back. They might depend upon it while they kept themselves right, and kept advancing, though supported would not see them go down. He old the present will be the worst of the club’s days, and that next year, when the Association officials visited them, they would have a better balance sheet, and a better playing report (hear, hear).

At the call of the Chairman, the company drank success to the Sheffield Association.

Mr J Martin responded, and said he thought there was no club in the Sheffield Association that could produce such a balance sheet as that of Denaby. (Hear, hear). There was one point that commended itself to him, and that was the system of having monthly audits. If clubs will find their way, and keep it, and know how they were going on during the season, there would not be as many defunct clubs in the Don Valley. From Rotherham, through Parkgate and Mexborough to Denaby, there were clubs defunct for want of funds. He did not want to say anything disparagingly to the officials of those clubs, but he thought a great deal was due to mismanagement – the launching out in buying and transferring players without thinking where the money was to come from.

There was no doubt the Denaby Club thought they ought to have the South Yorkshire League championship, but the Sheffield Association had to carry out the rules. The competition was not face, and therefore the championship could not be awarded. In other matters the Association had had very few cases from the Denaby club. He refereed in one of the first matches and he was sure a more pleasant game. He was never at. (Hear, hear) the team played a rough blustering game, and he said a good straightforward. Rob was gay was a game to play; a fair charge was a fair thing. (Hear, hear).

Speaking of the English Cup games, Mr Martin said the Denaby team lost the replay match at Barnsley against Hunslet through their wrongful listeners (hear, hear). If they had played the game they would have won but they went for the man instead (a voice: “that’s what we did,” and hear, hear). In conclusion, Mr Martin wish the club continued success.

Mr H.H.Wray propose the health of the visitors, remarked that the club a lot of supporters outside the colliery as well as inside. (Hear, hear).

Messrs Parkin and Lawson responded.

Other toasts followed.

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