Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|English and Welsh association football trade union}} {{About|the English and Welsh football trade union|the Australian football trade union|Professional Footballers Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox union | name = PFA | location_country = England and Wales, United Kingdom | affiliation = [[Trades Union Congress|TUC]], [[General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)|GFTU]], [[Federation of Entertainment Unions|FEU]], [[FIFPro]] | members = {{increase}} 5,457 (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Professional Footballers' Association Form AR21 for year ended 30 June 2022 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150971/266T_2022.pdf |website=GOV.UK |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-date=26 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726113620/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150971/266T_2022.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> | full_name = Professional Footballers' Association | image = | native_name = | founded = 1907 | dissolved = | merged = | headquarters = 20 Oxford Court, Bishopsgate, Manchester | key_people = {{ubl|[[Maheta Molango]] (chief executive)|[[Omar Beckles]] (chairman)}} | website = {{URL|http://www.thepfa.com/|thepfa.com}} | footnotes = }} The '''Professional Footballers' Association''' ('''PFA''') is the [[trade union]] for professional [[association football]]ers in England and Wales. Founded in 1907, the PFA is the world's oldest professional sport trade union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The PFA |url=https://www.lfe.org.uk/the-pfa/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=League Football Education (LFE) |language=en-GB |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904202305/https://www.lfe.org.uk/the-pfa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The union has a membership of approximately 5,000 current professional players each season, made up of professionals and professional scholars from the [[Premier League]], [[English Football League|EFL]] and [[Women's Super League|Women’s Super League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PFA: About Us |url=https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/your-membership |access-date=5 September 2023 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905074130/https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/your-membership |url-status=live }}</ref> Nearly 50,000 former members retain access to services and benefits including education grants, coaching courses and wellbeing support. <ref>{{Cite web |title="I Think Some People Underestimate The Power Of The Players Voice." |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2021/9/17/maheta-molango-athletic-business-of-sport-podcast |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904145210/https://www.thepfa.com/news/2021/9/17/maheta-molango-athletic-business-of-sport-podcast |url-status=live }}</ref> The current CEO of the PFA is [[Maheta Molango]], who took over the position from longstanding Chief Executive Gordon Taylor in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=2021-03-16 |title=PFA appoints Maheta Molango to replace Gordon Taylor as leader |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/16/pfa-appoints-maheta-molango-to-replace-gordon-taylor-as-leader |access-date=2023-09-04 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904201536/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/16/pfa-appoints-maheta-molango-to-replace-gordon-taylor-as-leader |url-status=live }}</ref> The current Chair of the elected Players' Board, which represents members and communicates their views to the union's leadership team, is Leyton Orient defender [[Omar Beckles]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=New PFA chairman Omar Beckles determined to be 'voice for the voiceless' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/gary-lineker-matt-hancock-bbc-premier-league-alan-shearer-b2305686.html |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904201536/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/gary-lineker-matt-hancock-bbc-premier-league-alan-shearer-b2305686.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The leadership team of the PFA, which has offices in London and Manchester, is also supported by an Operational Board of non-executive directors who are responsible for advising on and scrutinising the governance of the union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operational Board |url=https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/operational-board |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904202255/https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/operational-board |url-status=live }}</ref> ==History== ===The Players' Union=== [[File:Outcasts fc 1909 postcard.jpg|right|thumb|"Outcasts FC" photograph taken before the 1909–10 season.]] The PFA was formed on 2 December 1907 as the '''Association Football Players' and Trainers' Union''' ('''AFPTU'''; commonly referred to at the time as the [[Players' Union]]). On that date, [[Charlie Roberts]] and [[Billy Meredith]] (who had been involved in the AFU), both of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], convened the Players' Union at [[Manchester]]'s Imperial Hotel.<ref>Harding, John. Football Wizard, The Story of Billy Meredith. Empire Publications (2014) https://www.empire-uk.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928163451/https://empire-uk.com/ |date=28 September 2023 }}</ref> This was the second attempt to organise a union of professional footballers in England, after the [[Association Footballers' Union]] (the "AFU"), formed in 1898, had been dissolved in 1901. The AFU had failed in its objectives of bringing about a relaxation of the [[retain and transfer system|restrictions on the movement of players from one club to another]] in the [[Football League]] and preventing the introduction of a maximum wage of £4 per week for players in the Football League. Like the AFU before it, the Players' Union intended to challenge the maximum wage and the restriction on transfers, in the form of the [[retain and transfer system|"retain and transfer" system]]. ===Threatened strike action in 1909=== When the Players' Union made its objectives clear in 1909, [[the Football Association]] withdrew its recognition of the Union, which at that time was seeking to join the U.K.'s [[General Federation of Trade Unions (United Kingdom)|General Federation of Trade Unions]] ('GFTU'). In response, the Union threatened strike action. The Football Association in turn banned players affiliated with the AFPTU before the start of the 1909–10 season. The ban saw membership of the Union fall. However, players from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] refused to relinquish their membership. League clubs turned to amateur players to replace players that had been banned, but Manchester United were not able to find enough replacements, risking the cancellation of their opening fixture at home to [[Bradford City]]. The Manchester United players were called "[[Outcasts FC]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/oct/21/manchester-united-outcasts-fc|title=A forgotten part of Manchester United's history|first=Ian|last=McMillan|date=20 October 2009|website=The Guardian|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222132331/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/oct/21/manchester-united-outcasts-fc|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Harding, John. Football Wizard, The Story of Billy Meredith. Empire Publications (2014) https://www.empire-uk.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928163451/https://empire-uk.com/ |date=28 September 2023 }}</ref> The deadlock swung in favour of the Union when [[Tim Coleman]] of [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] came out in support of the Union. Coleman's intervention resuscitated support for the Union, which regained its strength of numbers. Agreement was reached on official recognition for the Union in exchange for allowing bonus payments to be made to players to supplement the maximum wage. The maximum wage remained for more than another half century.<ref>[http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2140210.ece How players won football's 100 years war] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153618/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2140210.ece |date=30 September 2007 }}, Independent.co.uk</ref> ===Continuing battles with the Football League=== The 1910s saw the Union backing a challenge by [[Herbert Kingaby]] against the [[retain and transfer system]] in the courts. Kingaby brought legal proceedings against his former employers, [[Aston Villa]], for preventing him from playing. The Players' Union funded the proceedings. Erroneous strategy by Kingaby's counsel resulted in the suit ending disastrously for the Union.<ref name = webjcli>{{cite web|url=http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2000/issue2/mcardle2.html#Heading7|title=Web JCLI Index|website=webjcli.ncl.ac.uk|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301021524/http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2000/issue2/mcardle2.html#Heading7|archive-date=1 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Union were almost ruined financially and membership fell drastically. Although membership increased from 300 in 1915 to well over 1000 by 1920 this did not herald a new era of radicalism among the rank-and-file. Widespread unemployment heralded declines in attendance at Football League matches at a time when many clubs had, once again, committed themselves to expensive ground improvement programmes in the expectation that the post-war spectator boom would continue indefinitely. Inevitably, this caused financial difficulties at many clubs. Clubs believed their problems were due to players' excessive wages rather than over-expansion. In the spring of 1922, they persuaded the League authorities to arbitrarily impose a £1 cut to the maximum wage (£9 a week at that time) and force clubs to reduce the wages of players who were on less than the maximum. Legal proceedings backed by the Players' Union this time established that clubs could not unilaterally impose a cut in players' contracted wages.<ref name = webjcli/> Between 1946 and 1957 the Chairman of the Union was former [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] captain [[Jimmy Guthrie (footballer)|Jimmy Guthrie]]. His book ''Soccer Rebel'', published in 1976, documents his chairmanship and the struggle of the Union to improve the lot of professional footballers in the years preceding the abolition of the maximum wage. In 1955, the union affiliated to the [[Trades Union Congress]] (TUC).<ref name="marsh">Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, p.326</ref> ===Modernisation=== In 1956, [[Jimmy Hill]] became secretary of the Players' Union. He soon changed the union's name to the Professional Footballers' Association (the "PFA"), changing a blue collar image to one in keeping with the new wave of working-class actors and entertainers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-history/from-meredith-to-powell-100-years-of-pfa-chairmen|title=From Meredith to Powell: 100 years of PFA chairmen|access-date=5 June 2010|work=Professional Footballers' Association|archive-date=29 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529083340/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-history/from-meredith-to-powell-100-years-of-pfa-chairmen|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1957, Jimmy Hill became chairman of the PFA and campaigned to have the [[The Football League|Football League]]'s £20 [[maximum wage]] scrapped, which he achieved in January 1961.<ref>{{cite book |last= Harding |first= John |title= Behind The Glory 100 Years of the PFA |year= 2009 |isbn= 978-1-85983-682-8 |pages=141–145|publisher= DB }}</ref> His Fulham teammate [[Johnny Haynes]] became the first £100 player. The PFA also backed [[George Eastham]] in his legal action against the retain and transfer system, providing him with £15,000 to pay for his legal fees. The case was brought against his former club, [[Newcastle United]], in the High Court. In 1963, The Court held that the [[retain and transfer system]] was an unreasonable [[restraint of trade]].<ref>Harding, John (2009). Behind The Glory 100 Years of the PFA. DB. pp. 141–145. ISBN 978-1-85983-682-8.</ref> From 1960, the union began representing trainers, and for a time was known as the "Professional Footballers' and Trainers' Association".<ref name="marsh" /> The union decided to register under the Industrial Relations Act 1971, something the TUC opposed. As a result, it left the TUC in 1973, finally rejoining in 1995.<ref name="marsh" /> ===Sexism controversy=== In 1997 some [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] players invited their agent, [[Rachel Anderson (football agent)|Rachel Anderson]], to the annual awards dinner.<ref name="www1.skysports.com">{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9161156/anderson-backs-women-in-sport|title=Anderson backs women in sport|website=skysports.com|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092502/http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/9161156/anderson-backs-women-in-sport|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson was turned away by then PFA Deputy Chief Executive [[Brendon Batson]] because she is a woman.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/apr/27/rachel-anderson-pfa-football|title=Agent of change Rachel Anderson gains entry to a man's world – the PFA|first=Anna|last=Kessel|date=27 April 2013|website=The Guardian|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323220136/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/apr/27/rachel-anderson-pfa-football|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, when [[West Ham United F.C.]] player [[Julian Dicks]] invited Anderson to attend the dinner,<ref name="theguardian.com"/> Anderson contacted the PFA to find out what their reaction would be.<ref name="www1.skysports.com"/> On receiving a response that she would indeed be banned Anderson decided to go public and take the PFA to court.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> As a result, the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport|Minister for Sport]], [[Tony Banks, Baron Stratford|Tony Banks]], and the Chief Executive of [[The Football Association]], [[Graham Kelly (football administrator)|Graham Kelly]] boycotted the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-banks-and-kelly-boycott-menonly-date-1153800.html|title=Football: Banks and Kelly boycott men-only date|date=1 April 1998|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925204016/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-banks-and-kelly-boycott-menonly-date-1153800.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson won in court and the financial cost to the PFA was considerable, Anderson suggests "over £200,000",<ref name="www1.skysports.com"/> of which she received £7,500 for "hurt feelings" and an undisclosed amount for "reasonable costs".<ref name="theguardian.com"/> In 2013 the PFA instituted awards for the [[PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year]]. [[Kim Little]] was the recipient in the first year.<ref name="thepfa.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/winners|title=PFA Player of the Year Past Winners|first=The|last=PFA|website=www.thepfa.com|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914121528/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/winners|archive-date=14 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> === Dispute with Ben Purkiss === In November 2018 it became public that [[Ben Purkiss]]' eligibility to be Chairman was in dispute.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46241496|title=Ben Purkiss: PFA disappointed 'dispute' has become public knowledge|date=2018-11-16|access-date=2019-03-27|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195735/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46241496|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 200 players wrote an open letter calling on chief executive [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]] to stand down.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/18/more-than-200-footballers-endorse-call-gordon-taylor-step-down-pfa-chief-executive|title=More than 200 footballers endorse call for Gordon Taylor to step down at PFA|last=Conn|first=David|date=2018-11-18|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-03-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327185341/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/18/more-than-200-footballers-endorse-call-gordon-taylor-step-down-pfa-chief-executive|url-status=live}}</ref> Taylor wrote an open letter in response<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/gordon-taylor-open-letter-pfa-members-review-response/|title=Gordon Taylor's open letter to PFA members – in full|last=Bartlett|first=Evan|date=2018-11-21|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-27|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327185340/https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/gordon-taylor-open-letter-pfa-members-review-response/|url-status=live}}</ref> promising a full and open review of the union's structure and operation. At its 2018 AGM, held in Manchester in March 2019, it was agreed that Taylor, Purkiss and the entire management committee would stand down following the completion of a "full and open review" into the PFA's finances and its presentation at the 2019 AGM,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47691299|title=Gordon Taylor: PFA chief executive to step down after 38 years|date=2019-03-27|access-date=2019-03-27|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195756/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47691299|url-status=live}}</ref> Following internal and external criticism, the PFA committed to reform and modernise, adopting new governance rules in 2020 and a new chief executive in 2021, but later that year sparked protest when it decided not to publish an independent review.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burt |first1=Jason |date=21 December 2021 |title=Gary Lineker and Kevin Keegan among 190 footballers demanding PFA publish report of independent review |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/12/21/gary-lineker-kevin-keegan-among-190-footballers-demanding-pfa/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222231338/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/12/21/gary-lineker-kevin-keegan-among-190-footballers-demanding-pfa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ==PFA Awards== In 1974, the PFA created three awards to be given to players – or people who have contributed a lot to the game – every year.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} * '''[[PFA Players' Player of the Year|Players' Player of the Year]] award''': Given to the player voted the best of the season by his fellow players. * '''[[PFA Young Player of the Year|Young Player of the Year]] award''': Given to the young player voted the best of the season by the PFA. * '''[[PFA Merit Award|Merit Award]]''': Given to the person who has contributed the most to football over the season, as voted for by the PFA. In 1974 they introduced the first team based award: * '''[[PFA Team of the Year|Team of the Year]] award''': Given to eleven players in each league (forty-four players in total) who are deemed the best of the season by the PFA. In 2001, they created another award:{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} * '''[[PFA Fans' Player of the Year|Fans' Player of the Year]] award''': Given to the player voted the best of the season by the fans. In 2013 and 2014 respectively, the PFA instituted the first female awards: * '''[[PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year]] award:''' Given to the female player voted the best of the season by her fellow players.<ref name="thepfa.com"/> * '''[[PFA Young Women's Player of the Year]] award:''' Given to the young female player voted the best of the season by the PFA.<ref>http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/martha-harris-wypoty {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828181801/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/martha-harris-wypoty |date=28 August 2014 }},</ref> At this time the ''PFA Player of the Year'' award was renamed ''Men's PFA Player of the Year''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/luis-suarez-poty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503043805/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/luis-suarez-poty |access-date=24 July 2014 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |title=Men's PFA Player's Player of the Year: Luis Suarez - PFA Awards - PFA - the PFA }}</ref> and the ''PFA Young Player of the Year'' was renamed ''Men's PFA Young Player of the Year''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/eden-hazard-ypoty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503043755/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/eden-hazard-ypoty |access-date=24 July 2014 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |title=Men's PFA Young Player of the Year: Eden Hazard - PFA Awards - PFA - the PFA }}</ref> In 2020, the PFA added another award for the women: * '''[[WSL PFA Fans' Player of the Year|Fans' Women Player of the Year]] award''': Given to the player voted the best of the WSL season by the fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://shekicks.net/miedema-wins-pfa-bristol-street-motors-fans-player-of-the-year-award/|title=Miedema wins PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans' Player of the Year Award|date=24 August 2020|access-date=21 February 2021|first=Wilf|last=Frith|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022095108/https://shekicks.net/miedema-wins-pfa-bristol-street-motors-fans-player-of-the-year-award/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Present day objectives== In association with other football bodies, the PFA are the managing agents for the "Football Scholarship Programme" and the "Football in the Community Programme". It is a member of the Institute of Professional Sport and [[FIFPro]] – the confederation of international football players' unions – as well as the [[Trades Union Congress]] (TUC). At the 2023 TUC Congress, the PFA moved a motion calling on trade unions to support its campaign to ensure female professionals have the same conditions and contract protections as players in the men's game. The motion was passed by Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=PFA demands equal rights for England's women |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38384816/england-women-equal-rights-football-pfa-tuc |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913193110/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38384816/england-women-equal-rights-football-pfa-tuc |url-status=live }}</ref> The PFA also fund various education programmes for ex and current players. The oldest is a link with the [[University of Salford]] which has been running since 1991 and which by 2007 had seen over 70 players complete degrees in [[Physiotherapy]]. Additionally players complete [[Sports Science]] degrees from [[Manchester Metropolitan University]] and Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting degrees at [[Staffordshire University]],<ref>[http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-news/hats-off-to-our-super-students Hats off to our super students] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611125846/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-news/hats-off-to-our-super-students |date=11 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.educationalsportsforum.co.uk/downloads/Feature_sport.pdf|title=www.educationalsportsforum.co.uk|website=www.educationalsportsforum.co.uk|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215357/http://www.educationalsportsforum.co.uk/downloads/Feature_sport.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> in addition to other programmes including fitness training, training to become driving instructors and various other initiatives. From 2001/02 season, the PFA worked closely with the Press Association as part of the [[Football Live]] project, to manage a team of up to 80 ex-professional footballers to provide statistical information live from all English Football Matches. This agreement switched to OPTA when they successfully took over the supply of data from 2012/13 season. The PFA also funds a residential rehabilitation scheme that allows any injured member to attend the Lilleshall Sports Injury Rehabilitation centre for physiotherapy and sports injury treatment free of charge to the player or club. The scheme is designed to complement the medical care available at the players own club. Many club Physios refer their players to Lilleshall with the intention of providing a change of environment. This helps to maintain the motivation & interest of long term injured players. The free sports injury and physiotherapy services are based at the [[Lilleshall Hall]] [[National Sports Centres|National Sports Centre]] in [[Shropshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lilleshall.com/content/pfa-rehabilitation-scheme|title=Lilleshall Sports Injury Rehab Limited - Rehab Program Provider|website=lilleshall.com|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030959/http://www.lilleshall.com/content/pfa-rehabilitation-scheme|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turn2us.org.uk/charities/p/pfa_accident_insurance_fund.aspx|title=Please login - Turn2us|website=www.turn2us.org.uk|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017224739/https://www.turn2us.org.uk/charities/p/pfa_accident_insurance_fund.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Centenary== 2007 brought along the 100th year since the foundation of The Players Union, and to commemorate the centenary year, the PFA launched their "One Goal One Million" campaign. The campaign involved a whole year of celebratory fund-raising activities with the aim of raising £1 million to fully fund a new children's rehabilitation and physiotherapy unit at the University Children’s Hospital, [[Manchester]]. Throughout the year the PFA ran a number of high-profile events involving current and former players and managers with the sole purpose of reaching the £1 million target.<ref>[http://www.givemefootball.com/pfasection/pfaintro.html The Professional Footballers' Association – Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217185550/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfasection/pfaintro.html |date=17 December 2007 }}</ref> Events included a pro-celebrity golf event, race days and initiatives involving younger supporters. On the day that the PFA was formed in 1907 – 2 December – there was a match between an England Legends XI – captained by [[Alan Shearer]] and managed by [[Terry Venables]] – and a World Legends XI – captained by [[Gianfranco Zola]] and managed by [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] – culminating in a gala dinner in the evening involving a host of top entertainers. In December of the centenary year, the PFA issued [[PFA Fans' Favourites|Fans' Favourites]]; a list of the favourite players at each [[The Football League|Football League]] club. In making the selection, the PFA canvassed the opinions of the supporters of present, and some former, League clubs about their favourite player.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/19/sfnfan119.xml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220132918/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/19/sfnfan119.xml | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 December 2007 | title=Best footballers: Shearer a hero on two fronts | work=The Daily Telegraph| location=London | first=Martin | last=Smith | date=19 December 2007 | access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> ==Key personnel== ===Players' Board<ref>{{Cite web |title=Players' Board |url=https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/players-board |access-date=6 September 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906074815/https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/players-board |url-status=live }}</ref>=== *[[Omar Beckles]] ('''Chair''') *[[Peter Vincenti]] ('''Vice Chair''') *[[Danielle Carter (footballer)|Danielle Carter]] *[[Peter Clarke (footballer)|Peter Clarke]] *[[Alex Rodman]] *[[Kevin Ellison (footballer)|Kevin Ellison]] *[[George Friend]] *[[Katie Zelem]] *[[Tom Heaton]] *[[Chris McCready]] *[[Wes Morgan]] *[[Marvin Sordell]] ===Chairs=== :1907: [[Harry Mainman]]<ref name="redhead">{{cite book |last1=Redhead |first1=Steve |year=1984 |title=The legalisation of the professional footballer |publisher=University of Warwick |location=Warwick |url=http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/34789/1/WRAP_THESIS_Redhead_1984.pdf |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025132156/http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/34789/1/WRAP_THESIS_Redhead_1984.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> :1910: [[Evelyn Lintott]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1911: [[Colin Veitch]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1919: [[Charlie Roberts]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1921: [[Jimmy Lawrence]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1922: [[Jimmy Fay]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1929: [[Howard Matthews]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1930: [[Arthur Wood (footballer, born 1894)|Arthur Wood]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1931: [[David Robbie (Scottish footballer)|David Robbie]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1936: [[Albert Barrett]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1937: [[Sammy Crooks]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1946: [[Jimmy Guthrie (footballer)|Jimmy Guthrie]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1956: [[Jimmy Hill]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1961: [[Tommy Cummings]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1963: [[Malcolm Musgrove]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1966: [[Noel Cantwell]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1967: [[Terry Neill]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1970: [[Derek Dougan]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1978: [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1980: [[Alan Gowling]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1982: [[Steve Coppell]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1984: [[Brian Talbot]] :1988: [[Garth Crooks]] :1990: [[Brian Marwood]] :1993: [[Pat Nevin]] :1997: [[Barry Horne (footballer)|Barry Horne]] :2001: [[Nick Cusack]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/1678981.stm|title=Cusack in the PFA chair|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2001|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912145403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/1678981.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> :2002: [[Richard Jobson (footballer)|Richard Jobson]] :2003: [[Dean Holdsworth]] :2005: [[Chris Powell]] :2010: [[Clarke Carlisle]] :2013: [[Ritchie Humphreys]] :2017: [[Ben Purkiss]] :2021: [[John Mousinho]] :2023: [[Omar Beckles]] ====Chief Executives==== This position was originally named "secretary". :1907: [[Herbert Broomfield]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1910: Albert Owen<ref name="redhead" /> :1913: [[Harry Newbould]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1929: [[Jimmy Fay]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1953: [[Cliff Lloyd]]<ref name="redhead" /> :1981: [[Gordon Taylor (footballer)|Gordon Taylor]]<ref name="redhead" /> :2021: [[Maheta Molango]]<ref name="redhead" /> ====Deputy Chief Executives==== * Not Applicable ==See also== *[[Football Writers' Association]] *[[Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland]] *[[The Players' Union]] *[[The Football Association]] ==References== {{Reflist}} == Further reading == *{{cite book | author=Jimmy Guthrie | title=Soccer Rebel: The Evolution of the Professional Footballer. | publisher=Pentagon Books | year=1976 | isbn=0-904288-08-0}} * John Harding (2014) ''Behind The Glory The Official History of the Professional Footballers Association'' DB Publishing {{ISBN|978-1780913865}} * Jimmy Hill (1961) ''Striking for Soccer'' Peter Davies, London & Sportsmans Book Club, London 1963 * John Harding, Football Wizard, The Story of Billy Meredith. Empire Publications (2014) https://www.empire-uk.com/ ==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.thepfa.com/}} {{PFA awards}} {{Trades Union Congress}} {{FIFPRO members}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:1907 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Association football trade unions]] [[Category:Football organisations in England]] [[Category:Trade unions established in 1907]] [[Category:Trade unions in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Trade unions based in Greater Manchester]] [[Category:Trade unions affiliated with the Trades Union Congress]]'