Friday, September 1 – 1939
Twenty of the Liverpool players joined their Territorial battalion yesterday, but the players will be available to oppose Chelsea to-morrow at Anfield. The commanding officer has granted the men leave to play, but of course future movements depend on the international situation.
As the Football League rules stand, no player, professional or amateur, can play for a club other than the one which holds his registration. But for one snag it would be a simple matter for any player to be temporarily transferred to help another club out of difficulty.
The snag is contained in Rule 41 of the Football League’s regulations, which definitely prohibits any transfer of registration which, in the opinion of the Management Committee, is of a temporary character.
Normally, the League Management Committee cannot change a League regulation without the consent of a general meeting of clubs. But we are not living in normal times just now.
If Liverpool and others do find themselves in the position of being crippled for want of players, then the Management Committee should take the matter in their own hands and suspend Rule 41.
Clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham, and others who have answered the country’s call, which at the time had the backing and appeal of the Football League behind it, should not be penalised for their public-spirited action.
(Liverpool Daily Post, 01-09-1939)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 