September 17, 1898
Of recent years the position of secretary to a big football club has become a much more important office than it was wont to be. Anciently the call upon a man’s time made by his office was not a very serious matter; but nowadays, the duties are of so very onerous a character that the secretary must give to his work practically all his care and attention. It does not follow because one hears a great deal about this man and the other, that he is necessarily the best of his class.
Some of the cutest men in football club management one very seldom hears about. Mr. J.H. Addenbrooke, the secretary of Wolverhampton Wanderers, is one of these last mentioned. He shares with Mr. Ramsey, of the Villa, the distinction of being the only man to continue as secretary of a club from the time of the foundation of the League up to present.
To the general public his name is little known, because he has not been observed paying big transfer fees for this or that professor, or figuring in exciting player-poaching expeditions. The Wolves have had only seven Scotchmen, and have played but five of them in all their history. One remain with them to-day – George Fleming.
They manage to get together good teams for the Black Country club from the Black Country’s players. And it has been in the securing of these capable locals that Mr. Addenbrooke has been of such value. He signs practically all new men. In the team that played last Saturday they had Joe Blackett, who hails from Newcastle, Harry Davies from Newport, Salop, and Fleming from Broxburn. The rest were all Black Country or Pottery men.
His quiet, unostentatious, but successful method of discharging his duties saves the club hundreds of pounds in transfer fees and other expenses, and it is not surprising that amongst those who know him and his work, he is very highly esteemed and admired. As a business man he not easily outshone, while as one’s companion with an hour of leisure, he is genial, interesting and complaisant.
He is landlord of the Molyneux Hotel at Wolverhampton, but is much more like a professional man than the typical Boniface. He is as unassuming a man as one could meet, but one would imagine that he is not the sort of man with whom players would attempt to take liberties. His agreeable presence and pleasant manner makes him a favourite with the men, but he has a quiet, dignified way with him that will command respect as well as king.
(Source: Lancashire Evening Post: September 17, 1898)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 