These were standard football league contracts with spaces for the clubs to fill in the details.
Note how the Ts and Cs mention national service, something that wouldn't have impacted on Leary as a South African but did on every other player when they reached the age of 18.
Unusually, Leary was paid per match, rather than per week.
All the players got less in the summer but usually only £1 or £2 less. Leary only gets £1 a week in the summer, £5 less.
The reason for both may well be that he was playing cricket for Kent in the summer and so we were weren't going to pay him when he wasn't available, especially as the season's would have overlapped.
The maximum wage then was £20 so he was still, despite being a top flight footballer (we were in Division 1 then) on less than he could have been (£15 tops).
But there was no freedom of movement then and although the contract was for only one year the club, any club, could renew it without the player having any say in it.
Jimmy Seed was both team manager and secretary, something @JamesSeed tells us he was keen to remind people of, as the same time.
Leary is living in Bexleyheath in what appears to be "digs" over what was then a greengrocers and is now a tea room.
Mike Bailey possibly stayed there too at some time.
Only the best for Seed’s lads!
Yes, manager and club secretary. My mum always said he was proud to have had both roles. He was involved in transfer dealings as well of course. I’m not sure how many other clubs combined all these roles. Wasn't Herbert Chapman another secretary-manager though?
Looking at the dates , 1/7/1955 - 30/6/56 it looks like he was on £1 a week for the whole season but paid £6 per appearance upto a max of £15 pw. I bet he didn't miss many games
Looking at the dates , 1/7/1955 - 30/6/56 it looks like he was on £1 a week for the whole season but paid £6 per appearance upto a max of £15 pw. I bet he didn't miss many games
A piddling amount - 50 games? £300 plus £12 for close season - so average £6 a week.
Looking at the dates , 1/7/1955 - 30/6/56 it looks like he was on £1 a week for the whole season but paid £6 per appearance upto a max of £15 pw. I bet he didn't miss many games
A piddling amount - 50 games? £300 plus £12 for close season - so average £6 a week.
At today's value that's about £128 a week!
He supplemented his Charlton wages by working in the greengrocers after training and on Saturday mornings before a game.
Seems odd to combine the roles of manager and secretary, when the latter is more of an admin role, and involving tedious meetings with the various levels of the FA etc
Seems odd to combine the roles of manager and secretary, when the latter is more of an admin role, and involving tedious meetings with the various levels of the FA etc
Seems odd to combine the roles of manager and secretary, when the latter is more of an admin role, and involving tedious meetings with the various levels of the FA etc
He had to find time for the fans forum meeting as well !
Looking at the dates , 1/7/1955 - 30/6/56 it looks like he was on £1 a week for the whole season but paid £6 per appearance upto a max of £15 pw. I bet he didn't miss many games
A piddling amount - 50 games? £300 plus £12 for close season - so average £6 a week.
At today's value that's about £128 a week!
3 hours on a Saturday and 10 hours of training a week works out at about minimum wage
A great trip down memory lane for me. I grew up living in the late 50´s and early 60’s in Hollingbourne Avenue which leads onto The Pantiles. Knew the Greengrocers well from running sundry shopping errands. If memory serves correct Eddie Firmani lived in digs in Norfolk Gardens which was an adjacent cul de sac.
Thanks to Paul , one of our trustees , Leary's playing record - Just checked Leary’s record. From 57/8 – 61/2 he played 41, 40, 41, 41, 40 matches!! That's one way of keeping a player out of the treatment room.
Comments
Note how the Ts and Cs mention national service, something that wouldn't have impacted on Leary as a South African but did on every other player when they reached the age of 18.
Mike Bailey possibly stayed there too at some time.
All the players got less in the summer but usually only £1 or £2 less. Leary only gets £1 a week in the summer, £5 less.
The reason for both may well be that he was playing cricket for Kent in the summer and so we were weren't going to pay him when he wasn't available, especially as the season's would have overlapped.
The maximum wage then was £20 so he was still, despite being a top flight footballer (we were in Division 1 then) on less than he could have been (£15 tops).
But there was no freedom of movement then and although the contract was for only one year the club, any club, could renew it without the player having any say in it.
Jimmy Seed was both team manager and secretary, something @JamesSeed tells us he was keen to remind people of, as the same time.
Yes, manager and club secretary. My mum always said he was proud to have had both roles. He was involved in transfer dealings as well of course. I’m not sure how many other clubs combined all these roles. Wasn't Herbert Chapman another secretary-manager though?
At today's value that's about £128 a week!
Just checked Leary’s record. From 57/8 – 61/2 he played 41, 40, 41, 41, 40 matches!!
That's one way of keeping a player out of the treatment room.