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NEXT AWAY GAME - SUPPORTERS XI ARE PLAYING WORCESTER AT MALVERN ON SUNDAY AUGUST 3rd AT 3.00pm

Sunday, June 15, 2014

From the Archive - The Start Of Hereford United (1939) Ltd


The following article first appeared on BN in January 2008. Given the current state of the club, we reproduce it.

It's nearly 69 years since Hereford United Football Club (1939) Limited was formed.

The five directors who set it up were all Hereford supporters living in, or near, the city. They were John Barker - a veterinary surgeon, Ernest Wilde - an agricultural engineer, Thomas Griffiths - a builder, Alfred Mayo - a licensed victualler and Leslie Watson - a local government officer. All had ten shares in the company.

Mayo was at the Royal George Hotel in Widemarsh Street.

The share capital was £1,000. Four Thousand shares were issued at five shillings each (25p).

As well as the five directors three other supporters were noted as purchasing one share at the time. They were Henry Elsley, Percy Arrowsmith and Leslie Morgan.

The secretary was Thomas Price and the solicitors T A Matthews of King Street in Hereford.

At the same time the club published its Articles of Association.

Amidst the paragraphs are rules that there had to be at least three directors of the club and not more than ten. Any director had to hold at least ten shares in the company. And, perhaps surprisingly, no director could be paid.

A Director shall not be entitled to receive any remuneration in respect of his office as a Director or as an employee of the company. The Directors shall be entitled to be paid their reasonable travelling and hotel and other expenses incurred in consequence of their attendance at Board Meetings, and otherwise in the execution of their duties.

Another paragraph revealed that Shareholders could have a discounted season ticket.

A Shareholder may have issued to him a Season Ticket or Tickets, subject to the amount of five per cent from the amount charged to Non-Shareholders.

Hereford United Football Club (1939) Limited was 'incorporated' on July 22nd 1939. Unfortunately the second world war broke out soon afterwards and no football took place for several years.

Those five fore-sighted directors should be thanked for setting up the company which is still in charge at Edgar Street to this day