Players' Union
Encyclopedia
The Players' Union was the popular name for the Association of Football Players’ and Trainers’ Union in the United Kingdom
; the original association
that became the Professional Footballers' Association
.
This was the second attempt at the unionisation of professional football players after the failure of the Association Footballers' Union
which dissolved itself in 1901.
The Players' Union was formed at a meeting on December 2, 1907 when Charlie Roberts
and Billy Meredith
(who had been involved in the AFU) convened the organisation of the Association of Football Players' and Trainers' Union (‘AFPTU’) (which the press called "The Players' Union") at the Imperial Hotel, Manchester.
This Union was formed because the Football League had ratified a maximum wage for footballers in 1901 at £4. This severely limited the opportunity to earn wages that allowed the best players in the country to forgo the need to take paid employment outside of football. Until then, individual clubs had set their own wage policies throughout the country.
The Union, basically, led from where the previous AFU had left the situation: that is by challenging the introduction of a maximum wage and the restraint on transfers. Their objectives were made clear in 1909 and it was this which caused the Football Association
to withdraw their recognition of the Union which at that time was seeking to join the Federation of Trade Unions (‘FTU’).
The Union threatened strike action but the Football Association responded by banning those affiliated with the AFPTU sine die
.
The Manchester United
players continued to strike but the lack of resolve elsewhere would have led to the failure of this movement if it had not been for Tim Coleman
of Everton
breaking ranks with his colleagues and striking in support of what the press had classified as The Outcasts F.C. at Manchester United Coleman's intervention resuscitated support for the cause and the Union, having regained its strength of numbers, settled for official recognition and the allowing of bonus payments in order to supplement the maximum wage. These were essentially conciliatory gestures; the maximum wage remained a yoke under which players suffered for the next 60 years.
. His book Soccer Rebel, published in 1976, documents his chairmanship and the struggle of the Union to improve the lot of professional footballers in the years preceding the abolition of the maximum wage.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
; the original association
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
that became the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
.
This was the second attempt at the unionisation of professional football players after the failure of the Association Footballers' Union
Association Footballers' Union
The Association Footballers' Union , formed in England in 1898, was the first attempt by football players in the United Kingdom to organize themselves into a union....
which dissolved itself in 1901.
The Players' Union was formed at a meeting on December 2, 1907 when Charlie Roberts
Charlie Roberts
Charles "Charlie" Roberts was an English footballer.-Playing career:Born in Darlington, Roberts started his football career with Bishop Auckland, but soon moved to Grimsby Town....
and Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
(who had been involved in the AFU) convened the organisation of the Association of Football Players' and Trainers' Union (‘AFPTU’) (which the press called "The Players' Union") at the Imperial Hotel, Manchester.
This Union was formed because the Football League had ratified a maximum wage for footballers in 1901 at £4. This severely limited the opportunity to earn wages that allowed the best players in the country to forgo the need to take paid employment outside of football. Until then, individual clubs had set their own wage policies throughout the country.
The Union, basically, led from where the previous AFU had left the situation: that is by challenging the introduction of a maximum wage and the restraint on transfers. Their objectives were made clear in 1909 and it was this which caused the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
to withdraw their recognition of the Union which at that time was seeking to join the Federation of Trade Unions (‘FTU’).
The Union threatened strike action but the Football Association responded by banning those affiliated with the AFPTU sine die
Adjournment sine die
Adjournment sine die means "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing". To adjourn an assembly sine die is to adjourn it for an indefinite period...
.
The Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
players continued to strike but the lack of resolve elsewhere would have led to the failure of this movement if it had not been for Tim Coleman
Tim Coleman
John George "Tim" Coleman was an English footballer.Coleman was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and first played for local non-league sides, Kettering Town and then Northampton Town in 1901...
of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
breaking ranks with his colleagues and striking in support of what the press had classified as The Outcasts F.C. at Manchester United Coleman's intervention resuscitated support for the cause and the Union, having regained its strength of numbers, settled for official recognition and the allowing of bonus payments in order to supplement the maximum wage. These were essentially conciliatory gestures; the maximum wage remained a yoke under which players suffered for the next 60 years.
Jimmy Guthrie
Between 1946 and 1957 the Chairman of the Union was Jimmy GuthrieJimmy Guthrie (footballer)
Jimmy Guthrie was born James Wallace Taylor Guthrie in Luncarty, Perthshire, Scotland on June 6, 1912. He played for Luncarty City Boys, Perth Thistle F.C. and Scone Thistle before joining Dundee for the 1932/33 season...
. His book Soccer Rebel, published in 1976, documents his chairmanship and the struggle of the Union to improve the lot of professional footballers in the years preceding the abolition of the maximum wage.