Amos Brook Hirst

Sir Amos Brook Hirst, OBE (6 December 1878 – 26 November 1955) was an English football administrator and legal professional most associated with Huddersfield Town F.C., who served as chairman of The Football Association (FA) from 1941 to 1955.

Biography Hirst was born in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1878, where he attended Longwood Grammar School and Huddersfield College. Hirst was a keen rugby player in his youth before suffering a shoulder injury, and turned to football as a result. Hirst married Violet Hilda Woolven in 1906, they had a son, Geoffrey, and a daughter, Betty.

Football Hirst helped found Huddersfield Town F.C. and was the club's inaugural vice-president; Hirst was also elected onto the club's board upon its founding as a limited company.

Suffering from ill health, Hirst resigned the chairmanship of the FA in May 1955 and was succeeded by Arthur Drewry. The England national football team wore black armbands to commemorate Hirst at their international friendly against Spain at Wembley Stadium on 30 November 1955, which England won 4-1.

Honours Hirst was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1948 Birthday Honours, and knighted in the New Year's Honours of 1954; his knighthood was bestowed by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at Buckingham Palace. Hirst was appointed a chevalier of the French Legion of Honour in 1953, the honour awarded at the FA's 90th Anniversary dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London.