Who Gets Meat for Tea?

At the start of the 1947/48 season, the Club Committee were informed that Mrs Goddard was unable to carry on providing teas. However, Mr Middleditch, a committee member, reported that Mr Outridge had made an offer to cater each Saturday during the season. His charge would be £7/10/- for 55 persons for a Meat Tea, and £5 for Plain Tea with cakes and sandwiches. The committee decided to accept the offer of £5 teas, and only on exceptional occasions, at the discretion of the committee, to give the £7/10/- meal.

Apparently Cardiff was regarded as an exceptional case, since the Meat Tea was first offered after the match with them on 11th October 1947. It must have gone down well, because Leicester were also awarded a “full meat tea” three weeks later. By 15th November, the full tea was also to be provided after United matches.

However, teas proved to be an irritant between the Club and County. Tea was provided for the Glos & Somerset v Australia match at Kingsholm on 30th September 1947, but the County Secretary complained about the number charged for by the caterer. This was apparently due to the Australian players not being informed that tea was provided. However, the County responded by saying tea was not required after the Glos v Wilts & Dorset match – the Gloucester Club decided to provide them anyway at their invitation (and cost).

By December the teas were so popular that the tea room was becoming overcrowded, and players who came in late went short – close supervision was introduced on persons entering without tickets.

Despite this popularity, Mr Outridge did not get his contract renewed – catering was taken over by Mr Redfern of the Welcome Café, Commercial Road.

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