Committees

[anthony.brown]

From the Beds and Herts Pictorial of 1st May 1923, a century ago.
COMMITTEES
As soon as the football season ends the committee season will begin. The members of successful clubs will be slapping their committee men on the back and saying, "What's yours, old man?", and the members of losing sides will be prowling round, club in hand, to wreak vengeance on the heads of those who have, apparently, mis-managed their affairs. Why do so many men seek to be 'on the committee'? What good do they do anyway? Of course there are 'committee' men and committee 'men' - very many of the former and very few of the latter. The former may be ornamental, but certainly are not useful; the latter are so useful that one does not worry as to whether they are ornamental or not.
There will be, in the next few months, great competition between the 'Would be's' and the 'Are's' for places on club committees. Once there was a club, nameless, where the annual meeting threatened to be very lively. The 'Would be's' had a private meeting at the 'Pig and Whistle', and decided their plans. The 'Are's' held a confab at the 'Dog and Howl' and decided their plans. At the annual meeting the Chairman presently came to "Our next business, gentlemen, is the election of the committee". Up jumped one, "I propose our present committee be re-elected". Up jumped another, "I second that". The Chairman, in one prolonged sentence, without drawing breath, "It has been proposed and seconded that the present committee be re-elected all those in favour say "Aye" the Ayes have it carried unanimously our next business gentlemen is - etc." And the 'Would be's' were so flabbergasted that they sat speechless. It is interesting to recall various types of 'committee' men.
There is the one who parades around the ground clad in much authority and a small rosette; and the one who shouts advice to players with a voice like a foghorn. There is the one who goes 'on the burst' when he travels with the team to an out match; and the one - in Luton - who goes to see the Town play when his own club requires his services. There is the one who insists on his favourite players being picked each week, and the one who will even alter the players' list after the committee has decided the team.
But the committee 'man' is a pearl of price, and lucky is the club which has two or three of him, for they could run the club without further aid. The ideal committee consists of one man, and when this man is a good man, give him a free hand, especially in the selection of the team. If the players have confidence enough in a man to elect him as captain, they should also allow him the same confidence as to the choice of the team. The motto for club members during the coming season should be 'Eliminate figure-heads, dressing room orators, and ground decorations, and concentrate on securing a few efficient workers'.
(By 'LOOKER-ON')

[Chris_N]

What a brilliant find Anthony and a great read.

You sure this was 1923 ??