EVERGREEN BUILDING SERVICES

BRECKLAND & DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE

RULES

 

2007 - 2008

 

 

 

NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

 

1 (a) This Competition shall be designated the Breckland and District Sunday Football League and shall consist of not more than 36 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs or Probationary Member Clubs.

All Clubs newly elected to the Competition at the Annual General Meeting shall be granted probationary membership for the first season in the Competition and their full membership shall be confirmed or their probationary membership withdrawn at the next Annual General Meeting by a majority vote of the Clubs competing in the same Division as the newly- elected Club/s. This does not invalidate rule 17. 

 

    (b) All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to a recognised County Football Association and shall have grounds and headquarters within a radius of 20 miles of Thetford Town and their names and particulars shall be listed annually by the appointed date on Form ‘D’ issued by the Norfolk County Football Association. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Norfolk County Football Association to whom it will be affiliated and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 12 in number or less than 7 in number. Not withstanding the above in the event of a figure less than 16 Clubs or Teams making application for membership they may be grouped in one division. 

 

    (c) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have the power to decide or adjust the constitution of the Divisions at their discretion, subject to para (b) of this Rule. When necessary, this Rule shall have precedence over Rule 12.

 

    (d) Clubs who have accepted Membership of this Competition may not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competition (with exception of the County FA Cup Competitions) nor may they play any game of Football except League and Cup fixtures on a Sunday without written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition. 

 

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

 

2  (a) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary not later than the 30th April and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £20.00 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.

 

    (b) At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee will still apply.

 

    (c) When Rule 12(b) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.  

 

    (d) The Annual Subscription shall be £50.00 per team payable by Clubs at, or prior to, the Annual General Meeting failing which they shall be find £15.00. A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee and Annual Subscription have been paid.  

 

OFFICERS

 

3  (a) The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, (Vice President), Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Registration Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Referees Secretary (as appointed by Norfolk County F.A.) and league representatives to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (NB Auditors are not Officers). Additional positions may be crated to administer specific administration tasks at the sole discretion of the Management Committee.

 

    (b) Life Members not exceeding ten in number may be elected to the Management Committee. These positions to be created and filled at the sole discretion of the Management Committee.

 

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

 

4  (a) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules, Regulations and Practice of the Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and elected Representatives of the Member Clubs who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

 

    (b) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Management Committee Members shall be nominated in writing by two members to the Secretary not later than 30th April in each year. Names of those nominated shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination, in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting.

 

    (c) The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

 

    (d) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.

 

    (e) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated officers.  

 

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

 

5  (a) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees.

 

    (b) Subject to the permission of the Norfolk County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet the deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6 (e)).

 

    (c) Each member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings, (including Life Members) and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or the Club so represented. In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee).

 

    (d) The Management Committee shall have the powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule must be normally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with FA Rules.

 

    (e) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.  

 

    (f) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.     

 

    (g) The Management Committee, as is deemed necessary, shall have the power to fill, in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.

 

    (h) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee. 

 

    (i) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose in addition to those set out in para (j) of this Rule.

 

    (j) Failure to pay fines by the due date will result in the fine being double and failing due in a further 7 days. Should the fine remain unpaid 21 days after the original notice being issued, the Club fixtures will be withdrawn until the full amount is paid. The Club will be liable to the full consequences of failing to fulfil any fixtures as detailed in Rule 10 (c) and (f). The fine should be paid direct to the League Treasurer. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this rule shall be liable to such further penalties as the League Management Committee thinks fit to impose.

 

    (k) Clubs found guilty of a second and third repeats of the same offence shall be liable to have the amount of the fine doubled on each occasion. Clubs found guilty of a fourth repeat of the same offence will have their fixtures suspended immediately until the club can prove to the disciplinary committee that their administrational issues have been resolved. Clubs would also be fined for failing to fulfil fixtures.    

 

    (l) Any Club found guilty of bringing the League into disrepute shall be find a minimum of £50.00.

 

    (m) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of such order or within fourteen days of the operative date specified in that order, shall not be allowed to take part in the business of the Competition until such order has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the Secretary, who shall submit it to the Management Committee for their adjudication.

 

    (n) Clubs who fail to return acknowledgement forms and monies owed to the league by the due date may have additional fines levied by the league and/or have their affiliation to the league suspended. Cheques returned to the Treasurer endorsed ‘Refer to Drawer’ will incur a £5.00 administration charge. 

 

    (o) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the dates of the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.         

 

    (p) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses refunded by the Competition.

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

6  (a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the last week in June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least two thirds of Members are present and entitled to vote:-    

 

        (1)       Adoption of Standing Orders.            

        (2)       To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.

        (3)       To consider any business arising therefrom.

        (4)       To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.

        (5)       Election of Officers and Management Committee.

        (6)       Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee).

        (7)       Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season.

        (8)       Appointment of Auditors.

        (9)       Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given). Any proposed alterations must not contravene the Standard Code Of Rules which are compiled for the use of Competitions and are mandatory for all sanctioned Competitions at Level 4 or below of the National League System. As from Season 2004/2005 Competitions seeking sanction must draft their Rules in conformity with this code. 

        (10)     Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of the playing season.

        (11)     Other business of which due notice shall be given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.

 

    (b) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting.

 

    (c) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Norfolk County Football Association within 14 days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.

 

    (d) Each Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Member Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Probationary Member Clubs shall be entitled to the same votes. No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club or Probationary Club. Not less than fourteen days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.  

 

    (e) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.

 

    (f) All voting shall be conducted by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.

 

    (g) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £25.00. All Clubs must, prior to the Meeting, deposit with the Secretary the names of their members present.

 

    (h) Officers, Management Committee members, including Life Members, shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.                

 

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

 

7      The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition Secretary together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.

 

        We, A            of             (Chairman) and B           of             (Secretary) of the                                 Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Breckland and District Sunday Football League do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.    

 

Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Norfolk County Football Association, (Suffolk County Football Association as appropriate), Competition Secretary and all Member Club Secretaries within 14 days of the change taking place. Failure to comply may incur a fine not exceeding £25.00.   

 

QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

 

8  (a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. (A contract player is one who has entered into a written contract with a Club in membership with the Football Association or an Affiliated Association). Any person found guilty of signing a Registration Form on behalf of a player shall be liable, at the discretion of the Management Committee, to suspension from any activities with the League.

 

    (b) Any bona-fide Member of a Club shall be eligible to play for that Club in this Competition (subject to other relevant clauses in these Rules) provided he has not, in the current season, played for another Club in the Competition or previously signed for another Club in the Competition. If he has so played or remains on the Competition register of players, permission for transfer must be obtained from the Club to which he is attached (see clause (h)).  

 

    (c) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-

Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by the Secretary of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registrations Secretary. An updated registration list must be sent to the Club for who the player was registered within 7 days of receiving the registration form of the player concerned.   

 

    (d) The Management Committee shall decide on all registration disputes. In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.  

 

    (e)  A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player’s signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which he played last.

 

    (f) It shall be a breach of Rule for a player:-

 

                                    (1) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.           

                                    (2) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer.

                                    (3) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had willfully neglected to accurately or fully complete.

 

    (g) The Management Committee:-

 

                                    (1) Shall have the power to accept the registration of any player.

                                    (2) Shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player, at their discretion, who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16)

                                    (3) Shall have the power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct, (Subject to Rule 16). .

                                    (4) Shall have the power to refuse any person applying to join the Competition whose previous behaviour has been judged undesirable, (Subject to Rule 16).

                                    (5) A player may not register for a Club or transfer to another Club in the Competition, after the 31st March. Players who have not played in a game controlled by the Competition may have their registration canceled at any time prior to the 31st March.  

 

Note: Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident or repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.  

 

    (h) Subject to The Football Association Rule (see County Handbook) dealing with players when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registration Secretary accompanied by a transfer fee of £5.00. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registration Secretary and the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon failure to give written objection within seven days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision. Application for transfer will only be accepted after the 1st November.       

 

    (i) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee. Clubs will be invoiced on or immediately after the 31st March at the total rate of £1.00 for every player registered in excess of 25 per team.   

 

    (j) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with date of registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary and shall be open for inspection of any duly appointed Member Club Representative at all meetings or at other times mutually arranged with the Registration Secretary. Registrations shall be valid for one season only.

 

    (k) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players:-

 

                                    (1) Shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total.

                                    (2) Shall be liable for a fine of not less than £15.00.

                                    (3) And/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee except the award of goals.

                                    (4) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

                                    Note: For players under the age of 18 years the provisions contained in the Football Association Rules will apply.

 

    (l) A suspended player is not eligible to sign a Registration or Transfer Form. It shall be the duty of the Official of the Club, or others instructed by them, that when approaching a player with a view to registering him, to first ascertain whether such player has signed a Breckland and District Sunday Football League form with the Competition, and the signing of such player, if found to be already registered with the Competition, shall be dealt with under Clause (g (2)) of this Rule.

 

    (m) Any Club, or member of a Club, inducing or attempting to induce a bona-fide player of another Club in the Competition to leave his Club without giving seven days notice in writing to his Club Secretary, shall be referred to the County FA under Bye-Law 20. The approaching Club shall not give notice of intention to approach more than one player of the same Club within 28 days of prior notice.     

 

    (n) A reserve team can only play a maximum of four players who have made 50% or fewer appearances in the expected league games for their representative first teams in any reserve game.

 

    (o) All Clubs participating in the Competition must have 16 players for each team registered with the Competition seven days prior to the commencement of the season. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined the sum of £15.00.

                   

CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME, EQUIPMENT, FINANCE

         

9  (a) Each Club in the Competition shall register its colours with the Competition Secretary by the 1st August who shall decide their suitability. Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee. No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts. 

 

    (b) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must first obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.

 

    (c) Shirts or Jerseys must be numbered on the back with figures of 9” (225mm) height.

 

    (d) All Clubs are responsible for finding their own pitch the dimensions of which must conform to those stipulated in the Laws of the Game. Goal nets, correctly secured, must be used in all games sanctioned by this Competition.

 

    (e) Each team must provide Linesmen Flags, Whistle and First Aid Kit, which will be randomly inspected along with player’s registration by a member of the Management Committee.  

 

    (f) Club’s finances must be held in accounts in the name of the said Club.

 

    (g) Where Clubs have shirt colours that are similar it is the responsibility of the away Club to change its colours. If Clubs cannot agree, both Clubs must change their colours. 

 

    (h)  Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined the sum of £15.00 for each breach.

       

PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY.

TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES.

 

10    (a) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. The Fixtures Secretary shall make all fixtures.

 

        (b) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game, as settled by the International Football Association Board, and shall be 90 minutes duration unless a shorter time (not less than 70 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the Referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of two equal halves. Any league match which, from any causes, fall short of 90 minutes duration may be ordered to count as a complete fixture or replayed in full as the Management Committee may in their complete discretion determine. With the exception of any evening or midweek matches, 10.30 am shall be the latest time of commencing matches. Deviation from this time must first receive the sanction from the Fixtures Secretary. The interval shall not be more than five minutes. Any team not ready to kick-off at the fixed time shall be reported by the Referee to the Fixtures Secretary and if held by the Management Committee to be a fault shall be find not less than £5.00. The home team must provide at least two balls of match quality to the Referee ten minutes prior to the kick-off and the Referee shall make a report to the Fixtures Secretary as to the balls being unsuitable.

 

       (c) Any Club failing to complete their fixtures shall be fined a sum not exceeding £30.00.

 

       (d)  Except by permission of the Fixtures Secretary, all matches must be played on the date originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered subservient. Postponements from any cause shall first receive the sanction of the Fixtures Secretary and must be notified by the Tuesday preceding the game in writing together with a £5.00 administration fee.

 

       (e) The Fixtures Secretary shall have the power to rearrange any fixtures providing Clubs are notified by Tuesday morning preceding the Sunday. Any Club failing to play a re-arranged game shall be dealt with under Rule 10(h).

 

        (f) If, as a result of a Club being suspended during the season, or they are unable to complete their fixtures, they shall be find as per Rule 10 (c). All records will be deleted and the defaulting Club will automatically finish bottom of their respective division.   

 

        (g) The Secretary of the Home Club must give notice by telephone message four days prior to the match, any particulars of the situation of the ground and team colours to the Secretary of the opposing Club, if details are different to those shown in the Breckland and District Sunday Football League Handbook. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of not less than £5.00. 

 

        (h) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. 

 

        (i) In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be replayed in its entirety on a date to be determined by the Competition Fixture Secretary.

 

        (j) The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to be recorded as the result. In all cases where the Management Committee are unanimously satisfied that a game has been abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club Member or Members they shall be empowered to award the points for the game to the opponents and/or take what action they may deem necessary except the award of goals. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams and their Club Members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Associations). 

 

        (k) A Club may, at its discretion, and in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the permission granted by the Football Association, use any three substitutes from a maximum of five players in any match of this Competition. They must be nominated to the Referee prior to the match. Substitutes not so named may not take part in the match. (in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of the Game). 

 

        (l) A nominated substitute who does not enter the field of play and participate in the game shall not be considered to have played in the match. Neither should it be considered as an appearance, when a player participates in a match which is subsequently abandoned, except where the Management Committee declares the result to stand.

 

        (m) Clubs wishing to include schoolboys in their teams shall clear availability of a boy, preferably in writing. (Note: Players may not register until the have attained 16 years-of-age).

 

        (n) Fixtures may, at the discretion of the Management Committee, become Double Header Fixtures. Double-Header fixtures consist of two separate 70-minute (two equal halves of 35 minutes) to be played on the Home ground of the first named team. The result of each separate match must be reported as detailed in Rule 11. Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be paid 1.5 of the fee, plus traveling expenses as detailed in Rule 13 (e). All match expenses to be shared equally between both Clubs. (These are arranged when certain teams start to suffer a back log of fixtures).

Note: A player dismissed in the first game is eligible to play in the second game.  

 

REPORTING RESULTS

 

11    (a) The Competition Registration Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the first and surname of the team players (in block letters) and the players names must correspond with the number on their shirts and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine not less than £10.00 for each separate breach and/or the Club be dealt with as the Management Committee decides.

 

        (b) The Official Match Record Card/Team Sheet correctly completed shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. In the event of the official Post Office postmark on the card (or covering envelope) being later than the Monday following a weekend match or Friday following a midweek match, or if posted, the card/team sheet is sent by other than First Class mail, the club sending the same shall be find the sum of £15.00. If the card/teamsheet is delivered by hand, a club shall be fined if the result card is not in the hands of the Registration Secretary within 48 hours of the end of the match. The Management Committee shall have the power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club and/or individuals who submit a Match Record Card/Team Sheet that is incorrect.

 

        (c) The Secretary of both Clubs must notify the result of the Competition or Cup Match by telephone message to the Fixtures Secretary prior to 2.00 pm, (2.30 pm for all Clubs in County Cup games) on the match day. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine not less than £10.00.

 

        (d) If a Member of the Management Committee has to telephone the Secretary of the Club for any information required by para (a), (b) and (c), in addition to the fine they will be charged £5.00 Administration Fee.

 

DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

 

12    (a) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point awarded for a draw. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.

 

In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings may be decided in any one or more of the following ways:-

 

                                    (1)   goal average

                                    (2)   goal difference

                                    (3)   goals scored

                                    (4)   deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.

 

        (b) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and last two teams in each Division except as provided for herein under:-

 

                                    (1) Should one or more teams withdraw from anyone Division after fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams of those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.

                                    (2) Vacancies occurring after conclusion of the season may be filled on any the following ways:-

                                            (a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s)

                                            (b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below.

                                            (c) election.

                                    (3) The last team in the lowest Division shall retire but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of para (b) 1.

 

        (c) In the event of a Club not completing all of its fixtures for the season, all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting Club shall be expunged from the League Tables.

 

        (d) Promotion will not be denied to a reserve team if their first team will be in the same Division. Fixtures between first and reserve teams shall be scheduled as early as possible in each half of the season.

 

REFEREES

 

13    (a) Registered Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association.

 

        (b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee or in cases where there are no officially appointed referees, the Clubs shall mutually agree upon on a Referee. A Referee thus mutually agreed upon shall, for that game, have full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.

 

        (c) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by two competing Clubs, appoint Registered Referees, if available, as Assistant Referees to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Club shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £15 being imposed on the defaulting Club.

 

        (d) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of the ground, the representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted. If no Referee has been appointed to the game then contact the Referee’s Appointments Secretary for advice.

 

        (e)  Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be paid a fee of £22. Traveling expenses shall be in accordance with the scale detailed by NCFA. The Home Club shall pay the Referee immediately after the game. Assistant Referees (where appointed) shall be paid a fee of £15. Traveling expenses shall be in accordance with the scale detailed by NCFA. Each Club shall pay the Assistant Referee immediately after the game. 

 

        (f) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Official, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Match Official, if he/she attend the ground, their full fee and expenses.

 

        (g)  A referee not keeping his or her engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with which he or she is registered. The Home Club shall report the non-appearance, in writing, (copied to the League Secretary) to the County FA Referees Secretary.

 

        (h) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Match Record Card/Team Sheet provided. Any Club awarding marks less than fifty in total must submit a written report  to the Registration Secretary together with the Match Record Card/ Team Sheet. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine not less than £10.00. 

 

        (i) If a Member of the Management Committee has to telephone the Secretary of the Club for any information required by para (h), in addition to the fine they will be charged £5.00  Administration Fee.

 

        (j) The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and on the form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to the Football Association/County Association.

 

        (k) Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.

 

CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR

WITHDRAWAL OF CLUB

 

14    (a) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of  its fixtures and in fulfillment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify  the Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not  ex