DID you know Town's first yearly wage bill was estimated at £2,496?

Or that a covered stand to hold 2,000 people was budgeted for at just £600?

Those were the figures revealed when plans to form a professional club in Huddersfield were first put in place exactly 100 years ago.

While the centenary is not until 2008, this week marks the first recorded meeting about the creation of "an association" club (see below).

February 7, 1906, to be precise, although the idea had been mooted at least two years earlier and not taken off.

This time, a group of 13 men pooled ideas at the Imperial Hotel - where the current Arcade is - and decided a total of £5,000 would be needed to put everything in place.

Among these founding fathers was Amos Brook Hirst, who was a Huddersfield solicitor.

He was to become an original director of the club and was chairman of the Football League from 1941 to 1955.

He received the OBE in 1948 and became Sir Amos Brook Hirst in 1954.

He died in 1956 and is buried at Salendine Nook Baptist Chapel.

Interestingly, it was suggested right from the very first meeting that the club would play at Leeds Road, on land which had previously been used for the Yorkshire Agricultural Show.

An existing branch tram line would be ideal for getting spectators to and from the ground, it was said.

It was believed the local public would support the venture and that the English Association "was desirous of fostering Association football in the West Riding".

Against the costs, it was estimated that 20 gates of £150 in addition to having 2,000 members paying 10 shillings (50p) each would cover the bulk (£4,000).

It was thought at the time that £800 would be necessary for player transfers and that a squad of 16 would need to be created to play at League level.

The meeting also heard that if they paid £2 to £3 a week per man in the summer and £2.50 to £3.50 in the season, they could build a team which was capable of holding their own in the Second Division.

On the proposal of Sgt Major Topps, seconded by Amos Brook Hirst, it was decided to form a committee "to deal with the whole subject" of forming a club.

Interestingly, 18 months beforehand, it was thought the formation of a football club might kill off the rugby club at Fartown.

My how times change!

ON WEDNESDAY night a meeting, which had been called by circular, issued by the Huddersfield and District Association, was held at the Imperial Hotel, to consider the formation of a company for the promotion of association football in Huddersfield. Mr D Dickinson presided, and he was supported by Dr Whitehead, Sergeant-Major Topps, and Messrs J H Blackwell, A B Hirst, N Robinson, C E W Hallas, H A Nelson, F W Reeder, L H Gill, G Milnes, F Bates and J Hall.

The Chairman, in introducing the subject for the consideration of which the meeting had been called, said the matter had been talked over at two private meetings, at which Mr J H Blackwell had volunteered to act as correspondent for the association pro tem, and endeavour to obtain particulars with regard to the probable cost of the formation of a company for the promotion of first-class Association football in Huddersfield.

A fortnight ago something had appeared in the press with regard to the matter, leading people to think it was an official movement, and those officials of the Association who were not present at those meetings might have the impression that the secretary of the Association, himself, or Mr Blackwell had omitted to invite them, but he begged to say that it was not so. He might say that 18 months ago he mentioned the matter, and then said that Association football would have to come in Huddersfield, and at that time Rugby football was not doing its best. He gave it up then simply because he did not wish, and had never wished, to kill one sport for the sake of another. He thought that both Rugby and Association football could be run in Huddersfield, and he would only have been too glad if the Fartown club had taken over Association and run it on the lines he and others desired. Mr Blackwell had received certain particulars from reliable sources, and on the basis of that information it was estimated that they would require a capital of £5,000. The expenses to begin with would be £175; a covered stand to hold 2,000 people would cost £600; dressing rooms and offices £150; boarding, etc, £100; transfers £800; wages £2,496 (for one year, taking an average of £3 a week all the year round for 16 players); £100 for field, rent, rates, and taxes; salaries of manager and officials £260; and travelling expenses £500. That took the whole of the £5,000. Against that they estimated 20 `gates' of £150 each, which would bring in £3,000. In addition to that they might have 2,000 members at 10s cash, which would yield £1,000, and that would bring the first year's income up to £4,000.

Mr Blackwell gave particulars of some correspondence he had had with certain gentlemen interested in first-class football clubs. One correspondent said that if they paid from £2 to £3 per man in the summer and from £2 10s to £3 10s in the playing season they would get a team that would hold its own in the Second Division of the League.

In reply to a question from Dr Whitehead, the Chairman said that they could probably secure the ground on Leeds Road which was used for the Yorkshire Agricultural Show.

In the course of conversation which ensued, it was stated that so far as could be gathered public opinion in Huddersfield would be favourable to the scheme, and that the English Association was desirous of fostering Association football in the West Riding, and would in all probability encourage an application for admission to the Second Division of the League.

Mr A B Hirst said that up to now the English Association had supported Association football in the district, and, with reference to the proposed ground on Leeds Road, he said that the existing branch tramline would facilitate traffic to and from the ground.

On the proposal of Sergeant-Major Topps, seconded by Mr A B Hirst, it was decided to constitute a sub-committee, and that Messrs A B Hirst, D Dickinson, J H Blackwell, C E W Hallas, H A Nelson and N Robinson be appointed to interview several influential gentlemen, who are interested in Association football, with the view of obtaining their support.

The officers of the Association are as follows: President, Mr D Dickinson; vice-presidents, the Revs W Rutner, R G Johnson and J Kaye, Drs Coward, Kennedy, Whitehead and Robinson, Sergeant-major Topps, Messrs H Worthington, J H R Appleyard, C Dean, C E W Hallas, J H Blackwell, W G Scott, H Noble jun, J Spittle, D France, W L Hardcastle, F Bates, A Brook Hirst, S Holland, G W Heaton, J Hall, A Larard, N Robinson and E Shaw.