As my article for the game against Bradford Park Avenue never saw the light of day, here it is:
‘More disappointment for the Tottenham crowd’ was the
headline on a report of a game between Tottenham Hotspur and Bradford Park
Avenue in the Southern League in November 1907. ‘The acquisition of one point by the Spurs
last Saturday was better than defeat, but it was not the result that was
expected after the performance at Portsmouth the previous week. Supporters of the club fully expected to see
them beat Bradford Park Avenue, and they were much disappointed at the goalless
draw, all the more so, perhaps, because the Woolwinders, as the Northerners are
called, gave only a moderate display. On
the form shown by the visitors, the Spurs should certainly have won. We hardly know where to look for success when
they fail to overcome such opposition.
It was a fairly interesting game, although there were not many exciting
incidents. [In other words, it was a
bore draw]. The first half witnessed the
better football. The exchanges were
largely favourable to the Spurs, who deserved to have led by two goals at the
interval, having regard to the pressing they did.’
‘The Northerners played with spirit. On the run of the play, the Spurs should have
won, but their attacks needed to have been more thrustful, although we must
recognise that Bradford had an admirable defence. The effectiveness of the opposition was the
more surprising because both the backs were reserves, the regular men being on
the injured list. The visitors’ halves
had a worrying way with them, and were always on the move. There were 20,000 people at the match,
nearly half of whom came in after the start, which was earlier than it had been
heretofore this season.’
Amalgamation talks were held with Bradford City in 1907, but
got nowhere. Bradford Park Avenue were
confident that they could get into the second division of the Football League,
but the Leeds Mercury (perhaps not the most unbiased source) was not confident
of their chances of success. The paper
commented, ‘Their chances of election this year are not bright. Fulham
, Oldham Athletic and Rotherham are all anxious to take places in the second
division of the Football League and their claims would undoubtedly merit more
consideration than Bradford’s. It is
also well known that the Football League rulers are opposed to having two
league clubs in one town.’ Nevertheless,
they were elected in 1908.
At the beginning of September 1908 Bradford Park Avenue’s
first game as a second division club was played before 13,000 spectators at
home. With the wind behind them, they
opened the scoring in the second minute and this was the only goal. Hull City had their chances in the second
half, but failed to take them.
There were benefactors in football before the First World
War. In 1910 it was reported that the chairman, Mr
Harry Briggs, had generously wiped off a loan of £5,000 advanced by him for
transfer fees, leaving the club entirely free of debt. This would be just under £600,000 at today’s
prices according to the Bank of England.
The total income was £5,370, the net gate receipts being £4,085 and
subscriptions £1,207. Players’ wages
absorbed £3,518 (somewhat over £400,000 at today’s prices) and travelling and
training £716. The profit on the season
was £85 (£10,000 in 2019).
