1947: when football stars, then being paid the average wage, threatened to take strike action.

 When Newcastle player little Ernie Taylor finally left the navy after his spell as a submariner in WWI he would have no doubt been pleased by the pay rise that had been awarded during the close season. The maximum wage had originated in 1901, and at £4 a week it was substantially less than many of the top players were already earning. In 1906 Manchester City’s breaching of it through under the counter payments had led to the FA sanctions and the subsequent loss of many fine players to Manchester United. As a result It was to be more than two decades before City recovered their place as the best side in Manchester.

By this time the maximum wage has been increased to £5 in 1910 and then 9 pounds in 1920 only for it to be reduced to £8 and £6 in the summer months in 1922. More than a quarter of a century later the figure remained the same. £8 a week meant stars such as Frank Swift were being paid the average working wage in 1947. Little wonder that like other top players he felt they “did not get enough out of football” and wanted a more decent return especially as gates were booming. 

The players union aimed to increase the sums paid by £4 a week and also hoped to raise the minimum wage to £7. They also wanted transferred players to be paid a percentage of the fee and for players to be given a free transfer if not offered a living wage. Union membership had grown considerably in the years after the war, but football league clubs were unmoved.

Twice a strike was threatened, with slight improvements made through the Football League management committee, before the Players’ Union under its secretary, Jimmy Fay, broke the deadlock by urging the Labour government under Clement Attlee to establish a national tribunal, a practice introduced during the war to resolve industrial or trade disputes

Parties to the dispute were the clubs themselves and ‘Workmen: Members of the Association Football Players Union employed as Professional Footballers by the above-mentioned employers.’

Headed by Lord Terrington, the five panel members, after 3 days of hearings, awarded the players an increase to £12 and £10 for the maximum wage and £7, with £5 in the summer, as the minimum. The players’ proposals on transfer fees were rejected.

Swift was pleased to see his and other players wages being increased and believed that they are doing a fine job of work for the professional footballer. The Players’ Union fight was not particularly for the star Player, but rather that the minimum wage should be a living wage, and also that lesser-known and young players should receive some protection.” 

For more on Swift see FRANK SWIFT: MANCHESTER CITY AND ENGLAND LEGEND BY MARK METCALF