HISTORY OF THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 The Amateur Athletic Association was founded on 24^th April 1880 at the Randolph Hotel, Oxford to coordinate and govern amateur athletics in England and Wales and thus became the world’s first national governing body for athletics and probably the first for any sport. 

In 1948 the Association became incorporated as a non-profit company limited by Guarantee and without a share capital and was licensed to omit the word “limited” from the title. 

In 1992, amalgamation with the Women's Amateur Athletic Association (founded in 1922) took place and the name was changed to Amateur Athletic Association of England involving the adoption of amended Memorandum and Articles of Association. 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Association in 2007, the Members of the Association passed a resolution to change the name of the Association back to the original title of Amateur Athletic Association. 

At the same time, a further resolution supported the adoption of a revised and up-dated Memorandum and Articles of Association, comprising and giving effort to a modernised and re-structured body reflecting the traditional aims of the AAA and the preservation of its heritage, whilst looking forward to further involvement, promotion and development of the sport and the interests of athletes and the volunteer sector. 

Affiliation and Membership of the AAA is open to all Clubs, Bodies and Associations affiliated to the governing body for athletics in England, as defined in the latest Memorandum and Articles of Association.  

                                                                        Walter Nicholls.