The cult of celebrity had another important knock-on effect; the rise of player power. In the early 1960s players became aware of their worth, and realised that they were being sorely undervalued. Before 1960 even the sport’s greatest names reaped litde financial reward for the pleasure they brought to millions of fans. After hanging up their boots there was no life of luxury. The lucky ones found alternative employment. Tommy Lawton and Hughie Gallacher both ended up on the dole, the latter committing suicide by throwing himself under a train in 1957. In that same year the Players Union got a new chairman, Fulham’s Jimmy Hill. Hill led the campaign to end the wage cap which stood at ?20 a week, ?17 during the close season.
Haynes becomes first ?100-a-week footballer
It took Hill four years to garner the support he needed to act. This was because the Players Union had been emasculated by mass resignations over the same issue more than 30 years earlier. In the depression of the 1920s the Union had been unable to prevent clubs from reducing the maximum wage to ?8 a week. In the intervening years the Football League hardly condescended to meet with players’ representatives. But in January 1961 the threat of strike action made the authorities sit up and take notice. In June of that year the maximum wage was abolished. England captain Johnny Haynes became the first ?100-a-week footballer, his chairman Tommy Trinder declaring that he was delighted at finally being able to properly reward his star performer, who was worth every penny to the club.
Opposite below left: Tottenham stars Jimmy Greaves and Danny Blanchflower leave to play Benfica in the semi-final of the European Cup in March 1962. After losing 3-1 in Lisbon, Spurs played in a thrilling second leg and were narrowly defeated by 4 goals to 3.
Opposite below right: Fulham’s Jimmy Hill and Parker of Everton find themselves in the net while the ball sails past in January I960.
Above: Blackburn goalkeeper fails to save and Deeley scores a second goal for Wolves in the 1960 Final. Blackburn fans were disappointed when left-back Wheelan broke his leg forcing their team to play more than half the match with only 10 men. The game ended in a 3-0 win for Wolves.
Opposite above: Johnny Haynes, who succeeded Billy Wright as England captain, leads his team out of the tunnel.
World History
