Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING Before I refer to events in the history of the Association, references based upon a comprehensive search in the Minute Books occupying a couple of days, I might mention one of the biggest changes in the policy of the Association. In the early years it was the practice of the Association to hold its Championship Meetings in the North, Midlands and South in turn. But when the new Stamford Bridge ground came into existence in 1905-and I would like to say in passing that the disappearance of the dear old Stamford Bridge ground was one of the most melancholy events I have ever known, a ground full of memo– ries of great runners and splendid friends-it began to be accepted as a settled policy that every Championship Meeting should be held in London. Financially, it was inevitable, and it was also an advantage to have the same conditions as regards the track and arrangements year after year. But the old system of visiting the big provincial cities, and using their tracks, was given up with genuine regret by many followers of the sport. It was, in the old days, an "adventure" to journey to the North and Midlands, and the holding of the Championships in new dis– tricts must certainly have encouraged the development of the sport, in addition to providing exc;iting races for those who would not otherwise ever see a Championship. Turning to the complete series of Minute Books of the Association, I propose to mention, as far as space will permit, the principal events in its history. It is difficult to make a selection which will please every one. Different people are interested in different subjects, but I will endeavour to refer to matters which I think will be of interest to many readers. l 880-1890 It was an interesting moment when I opened the first page of the first Minute Book, and read: AMATEUR ATHLETIC AssocIATION Minute Book 1880 M. Shearman, Hon. Sec. These words were in the writing which, in a slightly different form, became familiar to us in the later days of the Association. In those far-off days money was not wasted upon appearances. It was interesting to see the price marked in pencil in the left-hand top corner: " 1/6." Think of it! Eighteen pence for the first Minute Book of an Association consisting to-day of hundreds of clubs, controlling thousands of athletes, an Association recognised all over the world, with assets amounting to some thousands of pounds.