WEARSIDE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
GENERAL RULES SEASON 2007-2008.
1.NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION.
This Competition shall be designated as the Wearside League and shall consist of not more than twenty Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form “D” to the English and Durham County Football Associations. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be the Counties of Durham, Cumberland, Northumberland and North Riding.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the English and Durham County Football Associations and the constituent member Clubs shall be grouped in one division.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions ( with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have the power to decide or adjust the compilation of the division at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.
2.ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT.
(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be made in writing to the Secretary.
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.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £ 125.00 per Club payable on or before the First day of August in each year or be fined £ 25.00 per month, or part month, until the full debt is recovered. New Clubs shall be admitted as Associate Members for One Year.
3. OFFICERS.
The Officers of the Competition shall be President, Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, Registration Secretary and Referees Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Auditors who are not Officers to be appointed by the Management Committee.
4. MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION.
(A) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and Seven members to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting by the Member Clubs and Life Members.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of Clubs two Member Clubs, not later than 14th May in each year. Names of the candidates for election 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 monthly 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 special 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.
5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT.
(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. The decision of such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Durham 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 any deficiency at the end of the season.
(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee.)
In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
(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 formally 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 F. A. 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 the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Management Committee.
(G) The Management Committee, as it may deem 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.
(J) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.
(K) Any Club not represented at a Management Committee Meeting when instructed in writing to do so, by either their Secretary and/or Chairman, or any person instructed to attend a meeting of the Management Committee, and failing to do so without reasonable excuse shall be fined the sum of £50.00 in addition to any fines imposed. In the event of any Club or Person failing to attend a meeting of the Management Committee, the Committee shall have the power to deal with the matter in his/her absence.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least Ten members are present and entitled to vote.
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the proceeding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising there from.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies.(as recommended by the Management Committee.)
(v) Constitution of the Competition for the ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.
(vii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).
(viii) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of the playing season.
(ix) Carry out the draw for internal cup competition/s.
(x) Other business of which due notice shall have been 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, and to the Durham County Football Association.
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Durham County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven 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.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.
(I) Officers shall be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED.
The Chairman and Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.
“ We .......................................of...................................Chairman and
................................................of....................................Secretary of the
...........................................................Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Wearside Football League and its Associated Cup Competitions and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, if accepted into Membership, to conform to these Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition/s, 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 County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS.
(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules are permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-(1) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registrations Secretary and whose completed registration has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(2) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink on a match day prior to playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and shall be witnessed by an Officer of the Opposing Club, This registration form shall be submitted to the Registration Secretary within
THREE days ( Sundays excluded) subsequent to the match.
(C) Premiership, Football League and Conference Clubs with Reserve and/or “A” Sides shall be allowed to enter the Competition and then only with the approval of the Management Committee.
Any Club so accepted for membership shall submit the names of their best TWELVE players for the first team on the first day of each month for approval by the Management Committee. None of these named players shall be eligible to play for the reserve and/or “A” side in any fixture associated with the Competition during that month.
(D) 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 financial 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 the player last played.
(E) A fee of £ 1.00 shall be paid for each player registered.
Registration forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary.
(F) The Management Committee shall decide 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 Registration Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(G) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to :-
(i) Play for more than one club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) 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.
(H) (i) The Management Committee shall have the power to accept the registration of any player. The Management shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. ( Subject to Rule 16 )
(ii) The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. ( Subject to Rule 16 )
(I) Subject to the Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract 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 fee of £2.00. ( Where a Club requests that a Second Transfer be considered as a matter of urgency, i.e. other than at the normal scheduled monthly meeting of the Committee, on written application accompanied by a fee of £ 10.00 the League Secretary shall arrange for the matter to be dealt with by special consideration of the Management Committee).
Transfers shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon its 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 from such date. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
(J) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 31st March in any season.
(K) A Club shall keep a list of players it registers and a record of the games in which they played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
(L) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Club Representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged.
(M) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total.
(ii) In addition the team shall have three points deducted from its total and shall be fined an amount to be decided by the Management Committee.
(iii) 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.
(N) Any player who has played for a Wearside League Club in a League game or League Cup tie in the current season and is registered with that club after the 31st March, will be automatically registered with that club for the forthcoming season. Each Club Secretary will be supplied with a list of players with his Club as at the 31st March. This form shall be returned to the Registration Secretary on or before 21st May, indicating the players who are remaining with the Club for the forthcoming season and indicating any changes in circumstances.
A player registered under this Rule may during the MONTH OF JUNE each season write to the League Secretary requesting that his registration with his Club be cancelled. The Secretary on receipt of said application shall confirm to the player and the Club concerned of the cancellation of the registration.
9. CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME.
(A) Every Club must register its first and second choice of colours with the League Secretary before the 15th June in each season. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule to be fined the sum of £ 20.00.
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.
Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least Seven days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the referee , two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined the sum of £ 25.00. Shirts shall be numbered 2 - 11 with the substitutes numbered 12 - 17 except when the substitute is a goalkeeper.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
10. PLAYING SEASON.
TIMES OF KICK OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES.
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuring season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Secretary must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have the power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have the power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 70 minutes) is mutually agreed 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.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £ 50.00 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used and the playing area must have a fixed touchline barrier.
(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the League Secretary.
(D) The Secretary of the home club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the Secretary of the opposing Club and the Match Officials at least FIVE clear days prior to the playing of the match.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £20.00.
(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team in all matches in the Competition. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be charged with bringing the League into disrepute.
In the event of a team playing in a match with less than ELEVEN players they shall be fined £ 10.00 for each missing player. A minimum of SEVEN players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F)Home and Away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall inflict a minimum fine of £ 150.00, and deduct 3 points from the defaulting Club, and shall have the power to 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.
Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay ( by the given 48 hours prior to the match by the Club) to the League Secretary, Referees Appointment Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be agreed by the Management Committee.
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in cases 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 abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or 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 Association.
(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use :
Three substitutes in any match in this Competition who may be selected from Five players.
The referee shall be informed, in his dressing room, of the names of the substitutes, not later than FIFTEEN minutes before the start of the match.
A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of the Competition.
(H) The half time interval shall be of FIFTEEN minutes duration, excepting for bad light when the half time interval may be altered with the consent of the referee.
11. REPORTING RESULTS.
(A) The Registration Secretary must receive within 72 hours (Sundays not included) of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters), the details of substitutes whether used or not, and also the Referee markings required by Rule13, and any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £ 20.00 plus a further £ 5.00 for each additional day of late receipt and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match, along with details of all goalscorers to the League Secretary within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the match or be fined a sum of £ 20.00.
(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have the power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.
12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP.
(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with THREE points to be awarded for a win and ONE point for a drawn match. The team gaining the highest gaining of points at the end of the season shall be adjudged as champions. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team ranking will be decided on goal difference. In the event of goal difference being the same the team with the highest number of goals scored shall take first place.
(B) (i)Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season shall be filled by election.
(ii) The last TWO teams in the Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meting.
(C) In the event of a team not completing all but TWO of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table.
(D) The Champion Club providing they meet the accepted ground grading will be eligible to make application to the Northern League via the North Eastern Section of the Pyramid of Football at their Annual General Meeting. Should the Champion Club not wish for promotion, or alternatively, not have the necessary ground grading then the Second placed Club shall be eligible under the same conditions.
Clubs wishing to make application to be considered for promotion to the Northern League shall notify the Secretary of the Wearside League not later than the 21st November in each year. The Secretary of the Wearside League will by the 30tht of November in each year advise the Secretary of the Northern League of those Clubs considered to be eligible for promotion on the basis of League position and ground grading. To qualify for promotion all major works to grounds and facilities MUST be completed by 31st March of that year. In all cases a Clearance Certificate will be required in respect of debts to the Competition and other matters. Any club relegated from the Northern League shall not be regarded as a probationary club in the Wearside League.
13. REFEREES.
(A) Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Associations.
(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge. In cases where there are no appointed Assistant Referees the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) The appointed Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and his decision shall be final.
It shall be the duty of the Home Club to establish in advance with the Match Referee that, in the event of a pitch inspection being necessary, the referee will be available to carry out such inspection by 10.00 a.m.( 1.00 p.m. for midweek fixtures).
If as a result of the inspection the fixture has to be postponed the information is to be conveyed to the League Secretary and the Secretary of the visiting Club by 11.00 a.m. (2.00 p.m. for midweek fixtures). The Match Official who conducted the Pitch Inspection to confirm with the League Secretary the postponement.
Should the referee indicate that he is unable to attend for a pitch inspection then the Home Secretary must arrange with the League Secretary to have an alternative approved Official standing by to carry out an inspection.
In the case of fixtures either in Cumbria or against Cumbrian Clubs ground inspections must be carried out by 5.00 p.m. on the day prior to the match.
(D) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 25 pence per mile together with the following match fees. Referee £ 24.00, Assistant Referees £ 16.00.
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses, in their dressing room, within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the match.
(E) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, 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 Officials, if they attended the ground, their full fee and expenses.
(F) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association with which he is registered.
(G) 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 form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined £ 20.00 in each case.
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(s.)
(H) The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team, details of dismissals and cautions issued and the time of kick-off to the League Secretary within three days of the match.
(I) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
(J) Match Officials shall report to the Home Club at least 45minutes before the advised kick-off time.
(K) The League Secretary shall notify all match officials of appointments, time of kick off etc. and Officials MUST REPLY BY RETURN OF POST, to the Referee’s Secretary, stating acceptance or otherwise. Failure to do so could result in appointments being cancelled and the facts reported to the Official’s County Association.
14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR RESIGNATION OF A CLUB.
(A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to resign from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the League Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a minimum fine of £ 400.00. Any club resigning membership of the league shall forfeit all rights to sponsorship awards at the end of the season. In addition the administration fee paid for by the Leagues sponsors may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Mangagement Committee when a clubs penalty points for field offences exceeds 45, (Based on 2 points per dismissal and/or misconduct of club officials and 1 point per caution. Clubs exceeding 45 penalty points to be fined an additional £2.00 per point in excess of 45).
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw its team from the Competition after the Annual General Meting for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine of a minimum £600 and not exceeding £815.00 and shall be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B) as well as its share of the premium for the League Insurance Scheme.
(C) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Members pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS.
(A) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints ( which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the League Secretary within THREE days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the League Secretary a sum of £50.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have the power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received Seven days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
16. BOARD OF APPEAL.
Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee of the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Football Association, including a fee of £ 50.00 for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with F.A. Rules.The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.
A copy of the appeal must be forwarded to the League Secretary for information.
17. EXCLUSION OR CLUBS, OR TEAMS. MISCONDUCT, CLUBS
OFFICIALS, PLAYERS.
(A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either misconduct, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
18. TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS.
(A) A Competition Cup shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Season awards shall be made to the winners and runners up if the funds of the Competition permit.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup.
We A...................................................... and B..........................................the Chairman and Secretary of ........................................................F. C. members of and
representing the Club, having been declared the winners of ...........................................
..................... Cup, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup to the Competition Secretary on or before 30th April................. If the Cup is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.
(B) All Clubs must ensure that all League Trophies that may be on public display have extra insurance cover and this cover must be paid by the Club concerned. The Club must liaise with the League Secretary regarding the cover required before the Trophy(s) are put on display.
19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
Upon receiving a requisition signed by two- thirds of the Clubs in membership the League Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least SEVEN days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member shall be empowered to send TWO delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to ONE vote only. Not less than SEVEN days notice shall be given of any meeting.
Any Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason given shall be fined £ 50.00.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
20. ALTERATION TO RULES.
Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.
Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the League Secretary by 1st May in each year. The proposals and proposed amendments shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if a majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association FOURTEEN days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
21. FINANCE.
(A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure in excess of £ 250.00 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.
(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 14th May.
(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet of the Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable persons who shall be nominated by the Management Committee and their appointment confirmed at the Annual General Meeting.
22. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
A.) POOLING OF MATCH FEES.
For League matches only the fees and expenses of Match Officials shall be pooled, each Club rendering on the Match Return details of all payments made. (Expenses paid in respect of abandoned or postponed matches to be included).
The League Secretary shall at the conclusion of the season divide the total cost of Officials by the total number of Clubs and where the total payment made by the Club is less than the average equal share of the pool the Club shall pay the difference. Where the sum of money is more than the average equal share of the pool the League will reimburse the Club accordingly.
B.) CLUB REQUIREMENTS.
All Clubs shall have enclosed grounds and dressing accommodation which, at least, conforms to the standards required for entry into the Durham County Challenge Cup Competition.
Clubs must provide suitable refreshments to visiting teams and officials and match officials at half time and full time for all games within the League. Clubs not complying will be fined a minimum of £25 for all Offences. Visiting Clubs must return for after match refreshments with a minimum of 10 persons, unless prior notification has been given to the home club 48 hours before the game. Clubs not complying will be liable to a fine of £25 per offence.
Clubs must provide toilet facilities at their grounds for spectators.
Clubs must provide Trainer Boxes, failure to do so will result in a fine of £ 25.00 with an additional fine of £ 5.00 per week being levied until these are provided. Trainers Boxes are to be situated at the side of the field and are for the exclusive use of Manager/Trainer/Coach and substitutes who shall remain therein until their presence is required. Substitutes unable to use the Trainers Box shall position themselves behind or at the side of the Trainers Box outside the boundary of the touchline barrier.
All Clubs will play under Floodlights when requested for the benefit of the League.
A Technical Area as described in Law 3 may be provided in front of the Trainers Box Area. The Technical Area shall extend for 1 metre on either side of the Designated Trainers Box and forward to within 1 metre of the Touch line and be clearly marked. Two persons only, the Manager or Coach and Physiotherapist shall be allowed within this area. Only one person to convey tactical instructions and he must return to his position after giving these instructions. The manager and other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area except in special circumstances, for example a physiotherapist entering the field of play with the referees permission to assess an injured player. The Manager and other occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner.
Any Club not having registered 13 (thirteen) players SEVEN days before the commencement of the season shall be fined £ 20.00.
C. LIFE MEMBERSHIP.
League Officials with more than twelve (12) years service shall be eligible for Life Membership and have the power to vote. Life Members may be considered for election to the Management Committee.
D. COMPLIMENTARY PASSES.
Ten (10) complimentary passes will be issued to each Club for use by Committee members of the Club in any League fixture involving their Club in order that those Committee Members may have free entry to the ground in the League and entrance into any refreshment rooms. These passes to be produced on demand.
E. ADMISSION CHARGES.
Clubs must charge for admission to all matches. The minimum charge for admission shall be for Adults £ 1.00 O.A.P.S and Children £ 0.50.
F. LEAGUE INSURANCE SCHEME AND PUBLIC LIABILITY.
All Clubs shall be members of the League Insurance Scheme or of an approved alternative Insurance Scheme providing a minimum weekly benefit of £ 40.00. All premiums to be paid on or before 14th July in any year or on a date to be decided by the Management Committee.
All Clubs must provide Public Liability Insurance Cover at their grounds.
G. FIRST AIDER.
Clubs must have a suitable first aider in attendance for all League and Cup matches. Details of his/her qualifications to be submitted to the Management Committee on or before 1st September in each year.
H. CORRESPONDENCE.
All correspondence between Clubs and the League must be dealt with by the Club Secretary or in his absence by an approved deputy.
Clubs must enclose a stamped addressed envelope with all correspondence requiring a reply. i.e. completed registration and transfer forms etc., and requests for same.
Clubs not complying with this Rule shall be fined the sum of £ 2.00 in each instance.
One week before the start of the season each Club must forward to the League Secretary ten (10) First Class Stamps. Clubs failing to comply with this instruction shall be fined the sum of £ 20.00.
23. RULES BINDING ON CLUBS.
Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct.
