Harry Broadhurst had been NBFC secretary in 1961.
He was taken to court after being caught opening lottery tickets in search of winning tickets, and choosing ‘lucky’ winners himself.
Broadhurst defended himself, claiming he did it “for the good of the club”. He was acquitted, but left Nuneaton under a cloud, to become secretary and chairman at Atherstone FC. He was soon ousted, following accusations of irregularities in Atherstone’s accounts.
A Football Association enquiry found Broadhurst guilty of failing to submit audited balance sheets, failing to use an FA loan of £4,500 for the purpose for which it was granted, and guaranteeing a bank overdraft of £200 for an amateur player on behalf of the club.
No criminal action was taken. But the FA banned Broadhurst ‘sine die’ – indefinitely – “from all football activities”.
16 years later in 1987, Broadhurst, claiming to hold 14 shares in NBFC, began to attend shareholder meetings. He claimed the shares were issued prior to 1963, but the share register had gone missing in 1965.
He also applied to the Birmingham County FA to have his lifetime ban from involvement in football lifted. They agreed, “on condition that he has nothing to do with football administration”. Then Broadhurst put his name alongside Shooter’s on the injunction petition, and conspired with Shooter to concoct a pack of lies which would be hurled at me in the High Court.