/JQ
Van de brug
De
No. 1
©it is de Schakel, die komt binden,
©e oude club aan d'oude vrinden.
35e Jaargang
Redacteur: J. Tj. Steensma, 2e v.d. Helststraat 50. Amsterdam, telefoon 718567
Administrateur: O. J. v.d. Heul, Gerrit v.d. Veenstraat 118. tel. 714194
Typografie: Drukkerij Joh. Meijer Zoon, Kanaalstraat 132. Telefoon 80710, Amsterdam-W.
Augustus 1956
ke milde, natte
winterdagen
die ons deze zomer
in zo ruime mate
worden toebedeeld,
bieden o.a. een
mooie gelegenheid
de geschiedenis
van onze club eens
te bestuderen. Bij
het doorsnuffelen
van vele papieren vond ik een circu
laire van Wim Staats d.d. 1 Augus
tus 1952, waarin opgenomen een ar
tikel van Mr. G. Wodehouse, in dat
jaar een der Directors van de
Queenspark Rangers, Member of the
Board van de Middlesex Wanderers
en chairman van de Eastcote Cricket
Club, een vooraanstaand man dus
in het Engelse sportleven, een vriend
van meerdere A.F.C.-ers en A.C.C.-
ers, bovendien iemand die A.F.C. een
bijzonder goed hart toedraagt. Be
doeld artikel is toen om bepaalde
redenen, die thans niet meer ter
zake doen, niet opgenomen in ons
clubblad, maar niettemin acht ik dit
ook thans nog van voldoende belang
om het hier (met toestemming van
Wim Staats op wiens verzoek
Mr. Wodehouse de bijdrage schreef)
in extenso te doen volgen, onder het
motto „een gewaarschuwd man telt
voor twee."
Dear friends,
During my many years in sport I
have been connected with a number
of Amateur Clubs, Football, Cricket,
Tennis etc., etc.
I have also a connection with
Professional Football. As far as the
latter is concerned the affairs of the
Club are decided by the Board of
Directors, of which I am a member,
and their constructions are given to
the Professional Secretary and
Manager etc., to be carried out. They
are paid to do the job and if they
fail they may lose their living. There
fore they will work hard not only
for the Club but to substantiate their
position.
With the Amateur Club it is
altogether different. The officials of
the Club are elected at an Annual
General Meeting of the members and
having been elected they are entitled
to the full support of all members.
They are expected to carry on the
affairs of the Club without payment,
just for the benefit of the Club and
its members.
What do we find in most Amateur
Clubs The Committee has been
selected well let them get on with
it Yes, this is what is thought
by members of most Clubs and this
is where all the trouble starts. Mem
bers get together and criticise the
people who are doing the work and
these criticisms are very seldom
helpful or constructive.
It is a different matter if a mem
ber has some criticism or suggestion
to make and offers this to the Com
mittee and at the same time would,
if asked, be prepared to assist in
carrying out the suggestion. It is the
members who get together and
criticise among themselves behind
the backs of the Committee that do
untold harm to the progress and har
mony of the Club.
It is a remarkable fact that where
you find a happy Committee or Board
and members, you find a successful
Club.
An outstanding example are the
Middlesex Wanderers, who's Com
mittee has remained practically the
same for the last thirty years. Youn
ger members are elected to the Com
mittee from time to time to replace
those who either leave London or
who pass away.
A Meetings Policy has to be decid
ed, and often a vote is taken and
seventy five percent are for and
twenty five percent against. The
Chairman keeps the discussion open
for a few minutes, and when he
asks for another vote it is always
one hundred percent for. Those who
vote against accept the majority
decision, and do all in their power to
help make the proposition a success.
What is more every member of the
Committee will take on any job he
is asked to do, or will help any of the
officers to carry out their duties.
The Club is always first in our
minds, as individuals we do not
count. This outlook and the friend
liness of the Committee is reflected
in the conduct and the play of the
team.
I have a great affection for the
Amsterdam Football Club and I
claim a number of the officers and
players as intimate friends.
You are going through a bad time,
but do not let that worry you. You
have some very fine men looking
