Inside Track: Jimmy had a hill to climb but he got there

It all happened in the world of soccer around this time in different years gone by, from the abolishment of the maximum wage to Preston North End’s disqualification from the FA Cup and the great Garrincha’s death at 49.

Jimmy Hill, a Fulham player and TV personality, would turn in his grave if he knew what wages today’s players are getting. At the same time, he wouldn’t want them to be restricted in their earnings in a way their forerunners once were.

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In addition to the above, the moustachioed one was also president of the Professional Footballers’ Association, and in this role was largely responsible for getting rid of the rule which decreed that £20 was the most an English League player could earn in a week.

It wasn’t back in the dark ages that club owners saw the ones who were providing sport for thousands upon thousands on Saturdays as mere helpers in making them vast amounts of money.

When Hill and his PFA colleagues had the stipulation scrapped, the 1960 decade had only taken off.

They argued that had it remained, more and more players would – like two of the great players in their day, Welsh International John Charles and Jimmy Greaves – take off to the continent.

A players’ strike was called for, but the threat of this and pressure from bookmakers, whose Pools business would suffer if the strike went ahead, forced the League to cave in.

A Score is what today’s players are probably giving the boot-boys for cleaning their Adidas, or, some of them, putting on the plate on a Sunday.

“THE LITTLE BIRD”

One of Brazil’s greatest, in no way overshadowed by the presence of Pelé alongside him, Garrincha won the first of his two World Cups in 1958.

Staged in Sweden, this renewal of soccer’s premier competition is remembered in these parts for all British and Northern Ireland teams qualifying for the finals. The Republic just missed out.

Having failed to impress in their first two games, Brazil gave Garrincha his debut in the meeting with Russia.

Within 20 seconds, “The Little Bird” had the ball in the net after skinning a couple of defenders down the right. Vava got another, and Brazil were through to the final, in which they easily beat the host country.

Garrincha got his second medal four years later after putting on a one-man show. It was needed, because Pelé sustained an injury early on, causing him to miss most of the tournament.

Brazil’s attempt at the hat-trick was foiled in 1966 – like most others on the team, Garrincha was the target of some roughhouse treatment. Their elimination left the way clear for an England victory.

A genius on the field, but a heavy drinker off it, Garrincha failed to succumb to one particular monstrous binge and died around this time, 43 years ago.

PRESTON PAY FOR PAYING PLAYERS

Back to money, but in this case, a pittance when even compared to what Jimmy Hill fought against. But then, we are back in January of 1884, just one year since organised English soccer celebrated its 20th birthday.

A strict amateur rule was in place, the hierarchy contending it was only a game, and no one should be paid for playing. Preston North End disagreed. They claimed that players who had taken time off work had to be compensated.

Included in their ranks were top-class Scottish players. The club said these couldn’t be lured south of the border if they weren’t going to be compensated.

The row, which had been raging for a while, reached crisis point after Preston were held to a draw by Upton Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

However, before the scheduled replay, Upton complained to the FA that Preston were paying their players. It was said that Preston were spending more than £1,000 a year on wages.

An investigation was held, and although it couldn’t be proved that Preston had transgressed, they were thrown out of the competition.

The FA then introduced a residency clause, designed to stem the flood of ‘imports’. Preston and other clubs in the north of the country, who, at the time, were benefitting more than many other parts of the country from the Industrial Revolution, had lots of money and were up in arms. They threatened to set up their own association.

For the first time in their history, but not the last, the FA relented, and a year later, 1885, professionalism was introduced.