Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

ATHLETICS IN THE NORTH BY J. W. TURNER Hon. Secretary, Northern Counties A.A. IN the early seventies it became apparent to those who were re– sponsible for the management of the various athletic meetings that some definite means of administration must be adopted in order to put the sport on a fair and clean basis. The ever-growing menace caused by a small percentage of competitors had to be quelled. The honest amateur athlete was entitled to some protection, and with this end in view a meeting was called. The following extracts from the Minute Books provide interesting details of the founding of the Northern Counties A.A. over fifty years ago. The first Meeting of the Association was held on June 14th, 1879, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Southport. Representatives from Widnes, Stoke-on-Trent, Bradford, Huddersfield, Otley, Ilkley, Southport, East Lancashire and Preston were in attendance. Mr. J. D. Weaver was appointed Chairman, and in opening the meeting he stated that the object in calling the representatives together was, firstly, the better government of the sport and to form a Committee which would exercise a censorship over athletics generally with power to disqualify any competitor found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct; secondly, the establishment of a Northern Championship Athletic Society, with a: view to holding an Amateur Championship Meeting; thirdly, to determine the definition of an amateur in relation to Athletics. Mr. H. C. Faram, of Stoke-on-Trent, pointed out the great necessity for a society of this kind for the checking of many abuses which had, unfortunately, crept into Athletics. Mr. T. M. Abraham, of Crewe, spoke very pointedly of the necessity of immediate action being taken in reference to various malpractices which existed. Dr. Morley, of East Lancashire, referred to the urgent need there was for the provinces to look after their own interests in the matter of a Championship Meeting, and commented strongly on the lack of authority which at present existed. Mr. Walter Platt, of The Field, spoke favourably of the proposed Association and Championship Meeting, and after considerable discussion the following resolution was passed:- " That in the opinion of this Meeting it is imperatively necessary that the various Athletic Societies in the orth should form them– selves into a 'Northern Counties Championship Athletic Society.'" 62