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History » A Football Ground
At a public meeting on 9 July 1920, the then Halifax Town chairman Dr AH Muir stated: "Speaking from inside information I know that if, in February 1921, we can produce a ground that will meet league requirements, and if we can show financial backing that is worthy of a town this size, our position as members of the English League with all that means, is absolutely secure."
In that same speech Dr Muir announced that the Town directors were to meet members of the Corporation's Improvements Committee with a view to the leasing of the Shay, so that they could prepare it in time for the 1921/22 season.
Halifax Town, formed in 1911, had earlier played at Sandhall Lane and then Exley - a totally unsuitable venue.
On Wednesday 4 August 1920, this recommendation was put to the committee:
"That the council be recommended to let for a period of seven years a portion of the Shay Estate to the Halifax Town AFC Ltd, subject to a formal lease to be prepared by the town clerk on the following terms and conditions: That a rental of £10 be paid for the first year, £75 for the second year, and £100 for each successive year..."
The recommendation was passed and the Halifax Courier set up a fund to help get the Shay ready. £2,000 was the target and though this was never reached, £391 15s 3d was raised and timber was delivered to the Shay for work to begin on Saturday 16 October 1920. An appeal was made in the Courier that night for people to help on the following Monday. Fans, players and directors worked together to get the ground ready, and on 7 December the first grass sods were laid on the playing pitch.
It was a successful venture, for in March 1921 Halifax Town were elected to the Football League, and along with clubs such as Accrington Stanley, Ashington, Durham City and Nelson, became founder members of the newly formed Third Division (Northern Section).
So the people of Halifax waited eagerly for League soccer. It arrived at the Shay on 3 September 1921 when Halifax Town, in front of 10,000 spectators, rose to the occasion and defeated a Darlington side 5:0 (avenging a 2:0 defeat by the same club the previous Saturday).
And thus the Shaymen were born.
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