June 22, 1945
Three of the shareholders of Liverpool Football Club out of the 20 odds who attended last night’s annual meeting wanted only one year’s dividend instead of the two years proposed by the directors. They will get the two years just the same.
Never before have I known an amendment against a dividend, and the three votes for it came as an even greater surprise at a meeting lasting only 30 minutes under the masterly guidance of Mr. Stanley Ronald Williams, vice-chairman, taking over because of the absence in America of the chairman, Mr. William McConnell.
Only the shareholders who made the strange proposal had any comments on a balance sheet showing a profit on the year of £1,880, and carrying forward a balance of £14,558. Mr. Williams paid high tribute to the loyalty of the players, staff and supporters, all of whom contributed so much to make it a highly-successful season.
The club, he said, had now cleared all liabilities in benefits to players up to the start of the war, and the only outstanding dividend is for 1942, which he hopes, would be cleared next year if the coming season is the success they anticipate.
Messrs. Walter Henry Cartwright, Richard Lawson Martindale, and William Harvey Webb, the retiring directors were re-elected for three years unopposed, and Messrs. Simon Jude and West were re-elected auditors.
At a board meeting earlier arrangements were completed for Liverpool to use the Prescot Cables ground for their “A” team for many years to come. I mentioned this some time ago, of course.
(Source: Evening Express: June 23, 1945; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited
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