NEWS HEADLINES FROM 1920 (in date order) Page 1 of 1:-

At a meeting, convened by the Reconstruction Committee of the Amateur Athletic Association, held on 27th May 1920 at the Guildhall, Guildford the Surrey County Athletic Association was formed.

The Meeting discussed what should form the county area. The opinion was expressed by representatives of southern suburban clubs that the geographical county area should be recognised, so as to render eligible men who looked upon themselves as being Surrey men, though they were in the metropolitan area. Lord Ashcombe's opinion was that the association could not possibly deal with the South London boroughs with their teeming populations. He pointed out the difficulty there would be in getting into touch with people in places like Wandsworth and Battersea, and said General Sir Edmund Elles agreed with him that the administrative county, with the county borough of Croydon, should be adopted as the county area.The following officers were elected:-
President: Lord Ashcombe (Lord Lieutenant); Chairman: Maj. R W Barclay; Secretary (pro tem) Mr S A Ingrey. A further 18 were elected to form a committee.

A London club representative pointed out that the Surrey administrative area was liable to be reduced. Lord Ashcombe replied "They will have to go over our dead bodies to do that." A Battersea representative asked what was to become of the members he represented - numbering 1000 - if they were debarred from Surrey as there was no London association. He was born in Surrey, but did not live in the county now, though he had not changed his house! An amendment that the area should be the geographical county was lost (5 votes for and 18 votes against). Mr Otway (hon secretary of the AAA's Reconstruction Committee) promised to do what he could to promote the formation of a Metropolitan association to meet the needs of the southern suburban clubs.

The General Committee held its first meeting at the "Bullo" Restaurant, 108 High Street, Guildford on the 7th June 1920 at 7pm. It was pointed out that a body called Surrey County Athletic Association already existed. After discussion it was agreed that the new Association should merge into the old Association and that the Committee and Officers of the new Association should join the management of the old Association. It was agreed that the annual subscriptions and voting powers for clubs applying for membership should be:

At a meeting of the Emergency Sub-Committee held at the Southampton Hotel, Surbiton on 21st June 1920 it was proposed "That any person from within the geographical county of Surrey should be eligible to compete in the County Championships of Surrey provided they do not compete in any other Championships".

At a General Meeting held at the Plough Inn, Surbiton on 30th September 1920 the Draft Rules submitted by the Emergency Committee were approved. In these rules Surrey was defined as the Administrative County of Surrey including the Borough of Croydon. To qualify for County Championships competitors must be Amateurs (as defined by the A.A.A.) and be born in Surrey or have been continuously resident for at least 12 months prior to the closing date and not to have competed after the 1st January 1920 in any Championship in respect of a County other than Surrey.

The Minute Book mentions the following clubs: Ashcombe AC, Guildford AAC, Surrey Walking Club and Weybridge AC.