Liverpool F.C. balance sheet 1906-07

June 1, 1907
The balance sheet of the Liverpool F.C. an Athletic Grounds Company, Limited, presents satisfactory reading on the whole, for it must surely be pleasing to record a profit of £1,923 on the late season’s working, whilst the directors will, at their annual meeting, recommend that a dividend of five per cent, be made on the paid-up capital.

The gross income has passed the twelve thousand mark, and this is a most commendable total when we recollect the sorry manner in which the Liverpool played throughout the closing two months, during which only two of their last 11 League matches were won, in addition to which public interest had nothing to sustain it, the club being out of the running for the championship and not exactly in danger of relegation.

Again, although the fourth stage of the Cup Competition was reached, the gates v. Birmingham and Bradford were interfered with through the presence at home of Everton on the same dates in more attractive matches.

Yes, had Liverpool finished stronger in Cup and League, the Anfield organisation would have had a brilliant financial return, for even as matters stand, I repeat that the income is very good. Proceeds of matches played away have assisted the exchequer to upwards of a thousand pounds, the result in chief of the Cup ties at Owlerton, where £1,327 was taken, and as their share of the £600 taken at Oldham.

Players’ wages absorbed a trifle under £5,000, and this, I suppose, is about the average for First Division expenses, although I know some people will say the players did not always earn it. But I have yet to learn of the professional footballer who has refused part of his wages because he did not earn or deserve them.

Gate division to visitors and benefit matches carried away £1,096, this total including Billy Dunlop’s guarantee in the Sheffield Wednesday match. Travelling expenses £1,634 – were heavy, spite of the fact that the men failed to reach the Palace, and the big sum of £678 for rent, rates, and taxes shows what an expensive thing it is when you are not your own landlord.

Clothing material did not run away with a big sum, thanks to the ignoring and final deletion of the rule as to covering the knees. In the club assets I notice “Premiums account (transfer fees) as on April 30^th, 1906, £3,392.” I suppose this sum will require some little modifying a year hence, seeing that there is likely to be a general all round reduction in transfer fee valuations with the coming into operation of the £350 maximum transfer fee on January 1^st 1908.

The Company’s annual meeting will be held at the Carlton Hall, Eberle Street, on Monday evening. The retiring directors this year are: Mr. John Fare, Mr. John James Ramsay, and Mr. William Robert Williams, who offer themselves for re-election. Subjoined are statistics: –

REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING 30^TH APRIL 1907.

EXPENDITURE.

INCOME.

(Cricket and Football Field: June 8, 1907; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited

The report and statement of accounts of the Liverpool Football and Athletic Grounds Company, Limited, stated that the income during the year amounted to £12,064 19s. 8d., of which £10,711 0s. 6d. was from gate receipts, and £1,009 8s. 6d. proceeds of matches played away. The expenditure was £10,141 17s. 10d. Some of the items were players’ wages £4,846 15s, gate division to visitors and benefit matches £1,096 3s. 7d., travelling expenses, etc., £1,034 9s. 7d. The amount of income in excess of expenditure was £1,923 0s. 10d. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital.
(Derby Daily Telegraph: June 3, 1907)