Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 06 December 1922

Football Sensation.

Wath Team Request an Extra Bonus on Morning of Cup-Tie.

Settlement at Meeting of Club Committee and Players

Quite a sensation was caused in the Wath district yesterday by the news that the Wath Athletic players had handed a letter to the hon. secretary of the club on Saturday morning, asking for £4. for a win or draw in their Cup-tie with Mansfield Town and £3 irrespective of the result in the shape of a bonus.

The letter was not couched in terms of an actual demand, but ” the exceptional circumstances of our proceeding so far in the F.A. Cup  ‘ warranting some additional consideration.

This was handed to the officials on the platform at Wath preparatory to the journey to Mansfield, and, as it was not possible to consider the request before the match it was regarded by the management in the light of an ultimatum.

Club Bound By Rules.

All sorts of rumours have been flying around regarding what action the club would take in the matter, and, as a matter of fact the officials took up a stern attitude from the beginning, pointing out to the players that they were not allowed to pay more bonus than is allowed in the Midland League, even in Cup-ties.

A meeting of the club committee was held last evening, Mr. W. Jaques presiding, and at the close the following official statement was given to our representative:—

“At a meeting of the club committee the players who were invited to meet the club, adopted a very reasonable attitude. They said that they did not wish the committee to regard the letter in the light of a demand; they were simply asking for something they thought they had earned by their Cup successes They were content to leave the whole matter in the hands of the committee and passed a vote of confidence in that body.”

Action Soon Regretted.

The hon. secretary. Mr. G.W.Johnson concluded by saying, ‘ The matter is absolutely ended.” Some of the players may have been led away by others, but whatever happened, they all regretted their action afterwards, for they have always received a fair deal at the hands of the club . Mr. Johnson told our representative that if any player’s were anxious for a change, they had only to apply in writing to the club, and they would not stand in their way. It was stated that the club had always fulfilled its agreements with the players, although it had usually meant running the club at a loss. Before the Mansfield match the club was something like £79 in debt, but that had now been reduced to about £15