Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVE IR their responsibilities, not only with regard to their own .fixtures, but in connection with the speculative affairs that were becoming far too common -meetings promoted by clubs without substance, and even by indi– viduals, merely for gate money purposes. Already an Association had been formed in the North, and there was talk of one in the South, where the" gentleman amateur" definition had given offence to some provincials whose entries for certain Metropolitan sports had been returned, with an intimation that the clubs to which they belonged were not recognised. It was perhaps this particular view that was responsible for two District Associations being formed before the A.A.A. itself. There had been some criticism that the Birmingham Athletic Club– which had just held its thirteenth annual meeting, had a membership of 2 80, and possessed a ground of its own, complete with a cinder track– had not moved as might have been expected of the leading club in Birmingham, and this resulted in the issue on February r4th, r 880, of a circular signed by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Frank Smith, requesting clubs in the Midlands "who have held athletic sports" to be represented by " one or more representatives " at a meeting in the Gymnasium, Bingley Hall, Birmingham, on Monday, March rst, r88o, "to consider the advisability of forming a Midland Counties Amateur Athletic Union." The meeting was attended by representatives of the Birmingham A.C., Moseley H., Birchfield H., Moseley F.C., Calthorpe F.C., Dudley C. and F.C., Edgbaston H., Walmley H., Burton F.C., North Warwick– shire B.C., Speedwell B.C., Handsworth C.C., and Edgbaston Crusaders– to the number of thirty-three. Mr. John Anderton (Birmingham A.C.), presided. Discussions over, Dr. J. W. Moore (Moseley H.) proposed, and Mr. Davis (Speedwell B.C.) seconded, "That an Association be formed of the Athletic Clubs in the Midlands, to be called the Midland Counties Association ofAmateur Athletic Clubs." The proposal was duly carried, Mr. Frank Smith elected Hon. Secretary pro tem, and a Sub– committee elected to draw up suitable rules, to be submitted to a later meeting. The Sub-committee was as follows: Messrs. John Anderton (Birmingham A.C.), H. M. Oliver (Moseley H.), A.H. Rowdon (Burton F.C.), H. C. Brettell (Dudley C. and F.C.), T. A. Davidson (North Warwickshire B.C.), and J. R. McClelland (Walmley H.). The rules were duly produced, presented to a meeting held on Monday, March 22nd, 1880, at the Gymnasium, Bingley Hall, Birmingham, at which Mr. John Anderton occupied the chair, and adopted. The objects of the Association were declared as follows :- " That the objects of the Association shall be to improve the management of Athletic Meetings, to promote uniformity of Rules for the guidance of Committees, and to deal repressively with the abuses now prevalent in Athletic circles." On Monday, April 5th, I 880, the Association met to confirm the rules passed at the previous meeting, to elect the officers and committee, and 68