Football Stand at Higham
Opening Ceremony by the Mayoress
An Acquisition to the Town

The Higham Ferrers new football stand, erected by Mr. Arthur Sanders, builder of Rushden, for the Higham Sports Ltd, was opened on Saturday by the Mayoress of the Borough, Mrs. F. Walker, in the presence of a large influential and enthusiastic gathering. The Mayor (Mr. Frank Walker J.P.) presided at the opening ceremony and he was supported by Messrs. Owen Parker C.B.E., M.P., W. W. Chamberlain (Deputy Mayor), Aldermen C. W. Perkins, J. H. Johnson, F. D. Brazier, Councillors A. E. Walker, W. E. Powell, J. Bates, W. H. Gadsby, Messrs. A. E. Lloyd (Surveyor), E. L. Brightwell (treasurer, N.F.A.), the Rev. H. Graham Payn (Wesleyan) and others. Apologies for their inability to be present were received from Messrs. G. H. Shakespeare, M.P., T. Patenall, H. R. Patenall, W. Beeby, L. Swain, J. Allen, Charles Thurston (a shareholder, the Mayor said), J. W. Westmorland (chairman N.F.A.) and A. J. Darnell. In regard to the latter, Mr. Walker said they looked on Mr. Darnell as one of the leaders of football in Northamptonshire. Mr. Westmorland’s message expressed congratulations to the team on the grand success of the last season, which, he wrote, had brought honour to the ancient borough and was an honour also to the county. With a bit more luck, the team would have got further in the English cup. (Applause.)

Testimony like that, the Chairman said, spoke well for the football club. He regarded the stand as a fine structure, very comfortable for the people who used it to watch the games, and efficient in its equipment for players and officials. Higham Ferrers had long felt the need of a good ground for Football and a grandstand for spectators. Thanks to Mr. Flintham and Mr. Browning, they had had a field for the games but they wanted to own a field so that there would be no fear of being turned out. Two public meetings were called, with the result that the Higham Sports Company Ltd. was floated, with a nominal capital of £2,000. Already a ground had been secured, and a football pitch laid out, the vendors allowing the company to choose whatever part of the field they wanted to stake out. (Applause). The levelling and returfing and the erection of all the iron fence had been done by three-parts voluntary labour. It was a great credit to the workers. (Hear, Hear.) The opening of the track to bring a water main along had also been done chiefly by voluntary labour. It spoke well for the sporting enthusiasts that they should give up their evenings for the purpose. He would specially mention Mr. P. Smith in that respect. (Hear Hear). The company wanted to provide for tennis and bowls, so that the young and old and people who had other interests besides football were looked after on future summer evenings. To do that they wanted more capital – another £500 to run the company successfully. All the money so far subscribed had been spent, and the field had not yet been nearly developed. Football had been given a start; now other sports must be catered for. It would not be fair to devote their whole energy to one section. Whatever Higham Ferrers took in hand, they always made it a success. Some day they hoped to have an enlarged stand. They had had the stand built so that it could be added to easily. He expressed thanks to Mr. A. Sanders for his great interest and advice in the matter, also to Mr. Lloyd for overlooking the work (Applause).

Mrs. Walker, in declaring the stand open, said she was delighted to have been given the privilege. She believed that that was the first sports ground that had been opened in Higham Ferrers in that manner. She had inspected the work, and was sure it was a very strong and substantial building. It would prove a good shelter for those who wanted to watch either winter or summer games. She had asked her husband where the mothers came in, and he had replied that they would be welcome to get teas. Neither football nor cricket was new to her. When her little boy came home and dinner was not quite ready she sometimes played with him. (Laughter.) She had much pleasure in declaring the stand open, and she hoped that the townspeople and visitors would reap great benefit from it. (Applause.)

Mr. Chamberlain moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress for their attendance there that afternoon. He (the speaker) had worked with the Mayor on that and other duties in the interests of the town, and not a better man could be found for wholehearted support of anything for the betterment of Higham Ferrers. (Hear Hear.)

Theirs would be one of the finest stands and rounds in the county, and when the whole ground was fully developed their sports facilities would be a very valuable acquisition to the town, not only to the young participating, but to the elders to watch. And the ladies to provide teas. (Laughter and applause.)

Alderman Perkins seconded, and said that although he was not at that moment a shareholder in Higham Sports, Ltd., he should immediately apply for shares and try to induce others to do the same. (Applause.)

The Mayor responded for Mrs. Walker and himself.

The Higham Ferrers Wesleyan Silver Prize Band, under the conductorship of Mr. W. Harris, had paraded the town to the ground before the meeting. After the opening of the stand they played selections until the time for the match to start.

The stand is made to seat about 320 people on ten rows of seats each side of the centre opening. At the back and beneath are two dressing rooms and two other rooms, one of which is used for refreshments and the other for the officials. The ends of the stand are to be glazed, the work last Saturday not having been completed.