Hertfordshire County Football Association
| Formation | 1885 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Football association |
| Headquarters | County Ground Baldock Road |
| Location | |
| Vicki Askew | |
| Website | hertfordshirefa.com |
The Hertfordshire County Football Association, also simply known as Hertfordshire FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Hertfordshire, England. The Hertfordshire FA was founded accidentally in 1885 after the existing teams (then numbering around 20) agreed to hold a meeting to discuss their position, and ended up affiliating.
In the early 1880s there were already 20 clubs operating in Hertfordshire and with interest continuing to grow, the Secretary of St Albans F.C., Mr R Cook called a meeting in 1885 which was to have been held at The Football Association's Headquarters, then at 51 High Holborn in Central London but on arrival they found the offices closed. An alternative venue was found for the meeting at the nearby The Farringdon Pub in Holborn.
In its first season 20 clubs affiliated and numbers substantially increased year on year. Today the number stands close to 2,500 teams.
Key dates in the development of Hertfordshire County FA are detailed below:
1885 – Association formed with 20 member clubs
1894 – Under the guidance of Mr.H.W. English, a master at Hitchin Grammar School and Secretary of the Association from 1894–98 a scheme to control the Association's affairs by a council was introduced. The initial scheme, albeit developed and improved still forms the basis on which the administration of the Hertfordshire FA is conducted today.
1901 – Huge difficulties facing the association until a man of the moment, George Wagstaffe Simmons stepped in. During Wagstaffe Simmons 18 years as Secretary the Association's fortunes were transformed. When he took over there were less than 40 clubs with funds available under £20. When he handed over to his successor the membership had grown, over 200 clubs affiliated and had assets of £500-£66- an enormous sum on money in those days, coming at the end of The Great War.
1924 – Wagstaffe Simmons appointed Chairman of the Hertfordshire FA Council and also represented the Hertfordshire FA on the Council of The Football Association, positions he held until 1951. During his time with The FA he became Chairman of the International Selection Committee and established reputation, not only as an eloquent speaker on all subjects relating to the game, but as authority on its laws and admissions.
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