Robert Guérin (1904–1906)
The French journalist was secretary of the football branch of Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques. He oversaw the signing of FIFA's foundation act and agreement of the first FIFA statutes.
Daniel Burley Woolfall (1906–1918)
Mr Woolfall accompanied Frederick Wall as FA representative to the FIFA 1906 conference at Berne.Woolfall, from the great footballing town of Blackburn, served as president of FIFA during a period of great expansion, with the numbers of members rising from 10 to 25 in 1918. The Football Association's Laws of the Game were made the standardized rules for all competitions, and the first international tournament was held (Olympic Games, London 1908).
Here is Mr Woolfall's obituary from the Blackburn Times, October 26th 1918:
DANIEL BURLEY WOOLFALL –
Mr D.B. Woolfall, Hon. Treasurer of the Football Association and president of the Lancashire Football Association, died at his residence,on Azalea Road on Thursday morning. He was 66 years of age. Mr. Woolfall was clerk to the Commissioners of Income Tax for the extensive district of East Lancashire, and was a prominent member of St. John’s Church. He had a long and close connection with football. Originally he was associated with the Blackburn Rovers and served on the committee for some time but was not a playing member of the famous club. He was a representative of the Rovers on the Lancashire Football Association, to the Council of which important organisation he was elected a member no fewer than 37 years ago. He subsequently became a vice-president and in May, 1901, was selected as president of the L.F.A., a position he held at the time of his death. In all matters concerning the great winter pastime Mr. Woolfall evinced the keenest interest. The last time he was out on June 5th, which was the date of the annual meeting of the L.F.A. but the state of his health did not permit him to attend the gathering. His wide experience and ripe judgement were of inestimable value. He was thorough in all he did, while urbanity of manner, courtesy, and tact enabled him to deal successfully with difficult problems.
Mr. Woolfall rendered important service to the Football Association, of which he was appointed Hon. Treasurer in 1900. When he accepted the position the system relating to the F.A. accounts was anything but ideal, but he set to work to reorganise them and after much patient labour accomplished his great task. He inaugurated the system which is now in operation, and which works quite smoothly. Up to the beginning of the war he seldom missed a meeting either of the F.A. or the L.F.A. He was an international jurist in connection with the Olympic Games inStockholm in 1912, and was president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association instituted at Paris in May, 1904
Mr. Woolfall sat on many of the most important commissions during the last two decades, and was one of the selectors of England’s international teams. He is the fifth members of the L.F.A. who has been taken away by death during the last two years. In his young days he was secretary of the East Lancashire Cricket Club. The deceased gentleman, who was a widower, leaves a son, Mr. B. Woolfall, assistant electrical engineer to the Northampton Corporation; and a daughter, Mrs. Smalley, who resides at Fairfield.
Jules Rimet (1921–1954)
(through football) men will be able to meet in confidence without hatred in their hearts and without an insult on their lips. Jules Rimet
M. Rimet founded the multi sports club Red Star Club Français ( which, unlike similar contemporary organizations, did not refuse members on the grounds of class) when he was 24 years old. He became President of the French Football Federation in 1919. Jules Rimet was the driving force behind the creation of a World Cup tournament, whic, as we know, came into fruition in 1930.To the end of his life , Jules Rimet predicted that international football would re-create the spirit of medieval "chivalry". Sport - and above all football - would be the means to teach the world's masses to appreciate the Christian virtues of hard work, honesty, obedience to rules, comradeship and fair play.
The Independent June 5th 2006
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