The Football League Jubilee Trust

In our latest look at Spurs in ‘minor’ competitions we find a good pre-season story that actually moves away from the competitive and focus on two 'friendly' encounters Tottenham played under the banner of the ‘Football League Jubilee Trust’ just before World War 2.

The Football League said ‘It was concerned about the after care of our league players’ and what would become of them after their playing days were over ‘whether by accident or age’  

---

Although some sources suggest they had to be ‘encouraged’ to act. The Jubilee Fund was set up to with three objectives – To educate young players in the arts and sciences of association football, this would thereby improve the quality of our competition. To equip league players for  adequate occupations  and livelihoods and to assist those incapacitated or necessitous eligible players and their dependents.

In 1938 the Football League instructed each club to play a game to raise funds.  Local derbies were arranged so as to attract a larger gate. Arsenal would entertain Spurs at the start of the 1938-9 season.

Left - sorry for picture quality only copies I could uncover. Percy Hooper watched by Bill Whatley in action 1938.

---

On the 20th August Second Division Spurs won away 2-0 at their First Division rivals, the goals coming from Morrison and Lyman. The gate was 41,997 and more than two thousand pounds was submitted to the fund.

Right - The 1939 game and Hooper saving a penalty.

---

Left - Again this is the 1939 game and England international Ronnie Dix has just signed for Spurs.

The following season the League instructed the games be repeated and on the same grounds.
The Tottenham Directors however decided that their own fans would welcome the opportunity to see the game thus the return was at White Hart Lane.

---

The League issued the programme for these games and used the same cover for the more than forty games played under the Trust's banner. The home team did have some input to the contents.

Right - The line ups from the Spurs game '39.

On the 19th August the clubs met again this time at White Hart Lane. 32,702 watched Arsenal gain revenge with the only goal of the goal.

Below - The programme from the 1938 match.

---

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f - https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/keith_harrison.html

---

Other 'minor' competitions can be found at 
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-archive