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The Colombian Connection

In recent years, we have seen players at the end of their careers make big money
moves to the more distant reaches of the footballing landscape. China, the USA,
and the Middle East have all proven alluring temptations for celebrated heroes
(who, let’s be honest, have already made a fortune) to finish off with one giant pay
packet. But rarely has this move been made at the pinnacle of a player’s ability. This
hasn’t always been the case.
In the period following the Second World War, England, along with most other
footballing nations, had strict pay restrictions that limited their players income to a
level broadly similar to the fans in the stand. Halcyon days, some might think,
compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported half a million a week. But while £20/week
(the maximum wage) was only slightly higher than the average at the time, in the
few nations that did not impose a pay cap, there was the potential of vast fortunes
to be made. One of those nations was Colombia, and one of their clubs –
Independiente Santa Fe – used this to their advantage.
When Charlie Mitten joined Manchester United on a tour of South America, it
dawned on him that the club were making significant money out of his ability, and
he questioned whether he should be getting more. The club, of course, didn’t pay
much attention to this, so Luis Robledo saw his chance. The Cambridge-educated
businessman believed that football could bring to an end his country’s civil war, and
would pay any sum to try to achieve it. Mitten was offered £40/week, double the
English maximum wage, and a signing bonus of £5,000. Obviously, he accepted.

Robledo wasn’t finished there, however. He made use of his connections back in
Britain to approach two players plying their trade for Stoke City. One, George
Mountford, was a talented winger, but the other, Neil Franklin, was perhaps the
best defender of his generation. Strong in the tackle, good in the air, and as Stanley
Matthews put it, “all the guile and intelligence of the most cerebral of inside
forwards”. He declined participation in the 1950 World Cup to move to Bogota and