6 April

Matches

1901: After three drawn matches in the Lanarkshire Cup, Acas finally overcame Royal Albert 8-3 at Broomfield.

1953: A friendly was played against Brantwood FC from the Irish League.

Events

1885: A Special Meeting was called for in Gibson’s Halls at 8pm. Business--Re-consideration of the Sports Question.

1954: Players Retained were; Alex Stott, Joe Houston, Johnny Martin, Tommy Todd, George Scott, Bobby Shearer, George Brown, Joe Young, Bobby Walker, Harry Hunter, John Brownlie, George Falconer, Andy Barlow. Open to transfer, Jim Ritchie, Syd Bathgate, Willie Young, Ian Rae and Bobby Cunning.

Players freed; Jocky Johnstone, Charlie Ferguson, Bobby Wilson, John Waddell, John Lindsay, Danny Stillie, Sandy Logan, Andy Jackson, John Scott, Tom Simpson, Willie Blaike and John Gallacher.

1959: Letter received from Canadian FA regarding Johnny Woods and Tommy Barrett.

2000: The Hamilton Advertiser carried a report regarding the players strike. A statement was issued by Scottish Professional Players Association in which the players reasons for not turning up were outlined. The statement said that following late payment of wages in February, they were assured that their wages for March “plus a special compensation payment” would be paid by 31st March. “This did not happen,” the statement said, “and this was the fifth time in six months when wages were not paid on time. On the Friday prior to the Stenhousemuir game, the players indicated that unless cleared funds were available as normal they were not prepared to play. Players refused cheques as some had bounced the previous month and they had therefore no trust in their ability to be honoured.”

Chief Executive, Bill Sherry admitted on 5th April that players had been paid late on several occasions. He blamed it on having been relegated to the Second Division. He said, “On Friday, there was sufficient money to cover all the players who bank at the same bank as the club. The rest of the cheques would not be cleared until the Tuesday. I explained this to the players and told them to take their cheques and put them in their banks. They refused because of the position they had been put in previously. The players who refused the cheques on the Friday were later given amended cheques which they could cash on the Monday.” He added,” I sincerely hope this situation doesn’t arise again. By the time we get round to the next pay cheques, we should have planning permission for the stadium deal which will generate extra income.”

In the same edition an article also revealed that senior South Lanarkshire Council officials were furious about the turn of events. The previous week they had met with club officials to discuss the stadium planning application but were not aware of the players action until they had read about in the papers. One source had commented, “The capital seems to be there to build the new ground, but the estimates for income seem to be extremely ambitious. There is a worry that the club will not survive the 12 months following the construction of the stadium.”

2002: Nightclub owner, Jim Mortimer was reported as having made a donation of £10,000 to the club to allow the players to be paid, thus averting a repetition of the events of April 2000. It was also stated that he had ploughed £40,000 of his own money into the club but was not prepared to do so again unless there were major changes in the boardroom.

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