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RULES OF THE NORTH BERKS
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
This Competition shall be designated the NORTH
BERKS FOOTBALL LEAGUE of which the NORTH BERKS CUP, NORTH BERKS CHARITY
SHIELD, NORTH BERKS WAR MEMORIAL CUP, NORTH BERKS LEAGUE CUP, A G KINGHAM CUP
and NAIRNE PAUL CUP shall be subsidiaries and shall consist of not more than
forty four (44) Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such Member Clubs shall 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 Berks & Bucks
County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership
shall be restricted to those Clubs who have their registered grounds situated
within a twenty five (25) miles radius of Steventon Green.
Any Club competing and also having a team or
teams playing in another League shall designate the team entered in the North
Berks League as either its; First Team, Reserves or 'A' Team.
This Competition shall apply annually for
sanction to the Berks & Bucks Football Association and the constituent Teams of
Member Clubs may be grouped in Divisions, each not exceeding fifteen (15) in
number.
If more than 75 Teams are entered there shall be
a minimum of six (6) Divisions. Clubs may be represented in more than one
Division and the Team in the highest Division designated as the First Team, the
team in the next highest the Reserve Team and, if a third Team is entered, the
‘A’ Team. The Top Division shall be limited to a Club’s First Team and no Club
shall be allowed to have two Teams in the same Division.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their Teams
playing in the Competition in more than one (1) other Saturday Competition (with
the exception of FA and County FA Competitions) except with the written consent
of the Council of the Competition.
(A)
Application by Clubs for admission and by existing Clubs for an
additional Team(s) shall be made, in writing, to the General Secretary by
1st May and shall be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £10.00 per team, which
shall be returned in the event of non-election. 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 shall apply.
New applicants for membership shall be
admitted at the Annual General Meeting providing a majority of votes is
obtained. Grounds, facilities, playing records and Balance Sheets of Clubs
seeking membership shall be inspected by at least two members of the Council
before the Annual General Meeting.
Providing details from new applicants are
circulated to Member Clubs for their opinions, the Council shall have the
authority to accept new Clubs/Teams to enable them to give sufficient notice
of withdrawal from the League of which they are members. The Council shall
have the right to recommend to the Annual General Meeting to refuse the
entry of any Club/Team if they deem such a course desirable.
(B)
The Annual Subscription shall be £25.00 per Team payable on or before
the 15th August in each year.
(C)
Each Club shall within seven (7) days of election pay a deposit of
£50 which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided
they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the
Council.
(D)
A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee,
Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(E)
Clubs shall advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 30th
May of its County Football Association affiliation number for the
forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined a sum not exceeding
£15.00. Clubs shall advise the General Secretary in writing, or on the
prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and other
information required by the Competition.
(F)
At the Council's discretion the Treasurer of the League shall pay,
where applicable, the Affiliation and Cup Entry Fees due to the Berks &
Bucks Football Association from Member Clubs. Clubs shall repay these fees
to the League within fourteen (14) days on demand by the Hon. Treasurer.
(A)
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President,
Vice-President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary,
Assistant General Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees' Secretary,
Fixtures Secretary, Disciplinary Secretary and Ground Inspection Officer(s)
to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
(N.B. Auditors are not Officers).
(B) A member, having served on the
Council for 25 years, shall become a Life Member.
(A) (i) The Competition shall be
governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Football
Association by a Council comprised of the Officers and twelve (12)
Representatives of Clubs who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(ii) The Representatives shall be divided
into three (3) Groups of four (4) with each Group representation serving the
Council for a period of three years. The Groups shall be designated as
Groups A, B and C. Representatives of one Group only shall be elected each
year, i.e. A, B and C by annual rotation.
(B) (i) Retiring Officers shall be
eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other
candidates for election as Officers or Council Members shall be nominated to
the General Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member
Clubs, not later than 1st May in each year. Names of 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.
(ii) In the event of more than the required
number of Representatives being nominated in any Group, the General
Secretary shall, within six (6) days of the close of nominations, send a
list of the nominated candidates and a voting paper to the Clubs.
The Secretary of each Club shall complete the voting paper as required and
return it to the General Secretary to reach him by the specified date.
Every Club shall be entitled to cast a total number of votes equal to the
number of vacancies but not more than one vote per candidate. For elections
under this Rule, the Council shall appoint two (2) members to count the
votes as soon as is practicable. All candidates shall be given notice of
the count and have the right to attend.
(C)
The Council shall meet monthly
as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. On receiving a
requisition signed by two thirds of the Members of the Council the General
Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Council.
If a member of Council has been absent from
three (3) Council meetings in a season, without good reason, the member
shall be removed from Council. As a consequence the Council shall decide to
either elect a Representative or invite nominations from Clubs. If more
than one nomination is received an election shall be held in accordance with
paragraph 4(B) (ii). The person elected shall fill the vacancy until the
next normal retirement of Representatives in that Group.
(D)
Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be
addressed to the General Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of
the Competition and keep record of its proceedings.
(E)
The members (including any Life
Members) of Division VI of the Berks & Bucks Football Association Limited
shall be 'ex-officio' Members of the Council without having
the right to vote.
(A)
The Council may appoint such other
Sub-Committees as they consider necessary and may delegate such of its powers as
they deem necessary to such Committees. The decisions of all such Committees
shall be reported to the Council for ratification.
(B)
Subject to the permission of the
Berks & Bucks Football Association having been obtained, the Council 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 Council shall be
entitled to attend and vote at all Council 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 Council shall have 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 by 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 shall be formally charged in writing and given an opportunity
to present their case before the Council. 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 Council shall
be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance
with Rule 16. Decisions of the Council shall be notified in writing to those
concerned within fourteen (14) days.
(F)
Five (5) Members of Council shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Council and five (5)
Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any
sub-Committee of the Competition.
(G)
The Council, as it may deem
necessary, shall have power to fill, in an acting capacity, any vacancies that
may occur among their number.
(H)
A Club having failed to comply with
an order or instruction of the Council, or failing to satisfactorily attend to
the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, shall be liable to be
fined a sum not exceeding £60.00 or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the
Council.
If the Council is dissatisfied with the manner in
which a Club is conducting its affairs, it shall have power to call Officers of
that Club before it to seek explanations and provide necessary guidance. Any
Club failing to comply with a directive to attend shall be fined a sum not
exceeding £60. A Club suspended by the Association to which it is affiliated
and so unable to fulfil a fixture or fixtures shall be liable to pay any
expenses incurred as a result and shall be fined a sum not exceeding £60.00.
(I)
All fines and charges shall be paid
within fourteen (14) days of the date of posting the written notification. For
non-payment within fourteen (14) days a fine not exceeding £15 shall be imposed
unless an appeal has been lodged in accordance with Rule 16. A Club failing to
pay fines, of at least £30.00 within fourteen (14) days of notification shall be
reported to the County or Service FA to which it is affiliated.
Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a
breach of this Rule shall incur such penalties as the Council may impose and
shall be ordered to pay costs incurred by the Council up to a maximum of £20.00.
(J)
A member of the Council appointed
by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred
refunded by the Competition.
(K)
The Council shall have the power to
fill any vacancy that may occur in their membership of the Competition between
the Annual General or Special Meeting called to decide the constitution and the
commencement of the Competition season.
(A)
The Annual General Meeting shall be
held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following
business shall be transacted provided that at least 75% of Members are present
and entitled to vote:-
i.
To receive and confirm the Minutes
of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
ii.
To consider any business arising
therefrom.
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 Council of the Competition).
v.
Constitution of the Competition for
the ensuing season.
vi.
Election of Officers and result of
election of Council Representatives under Rule 4(B).
vii.
Appointment of Auditors.
viii.
Alterations of Rules, if any (of
which due notice has been given).
ix.
Fix the date for the commencement
and conclusion of playing season.
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 (14) days prior to the meeting, and to the Berks & Bucks Football
Association.
(C)
A signed copy of the duly audited
Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Berks & Bucks
County Football Association within fourteen (14) days of its adoption by the
Annual General Meeting.
(D)
Each Full Member Club shall be
empowered to send up to two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club
shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen (14) days notice
shall be given of any Meeting.
(E)
Clubs who have withdrawn Membership
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 is demanded by at least one third 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 a sum not exceeding £25.
(I)
Officers and Council
Representatives shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General
Meeting.
The Chairman and the 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, A _________ of ________ (Chairman) and B
________ of ________ (Secretary) of the _______________ Football Club, have been
provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the North Berks Football
League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, if
elected or accepted into Membership, conform to the Rules and Regulations and to
accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Council 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 shall be notified to the County Football Association to
which the Club is affiliated and to the General Secretary of the Competition.
Note: The spaces above are intended
for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members.
(A)
Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not
permitted in this Competition.
(B)
A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other
respects eligible, has signed a fully and correctly completed in BLOCK CAPITALS
Competition registration form, in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club,
and who has been registered with the Registration Secretary 72 hours prior to
playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the
Club prior to playing.
(C)
A player who has played after the 1st March of the current
season for the First Team of a Club entered in the Berks & Bucks Football
Association Senior Cup, Senior Trophy or the Senior Cup of another County or
Service Football Association shall not be eligible to play in a Competition game
except with the prior consent of the Council. If, however, a Club also has a
Team competing in another League it may play, after 1st March, no
more than two (2) players, who have played in no more than five (5) First Team
Competition games for that club and who would otherwise have been disqualified
under this Rule.
(D)
No Club shall play in any North Berks Football League match more than two
(2) players who, during the current season, have each played for Club or Clubs:
1.
more than two thirds of the total League games which could be played
during the current season in a higher Division of the League, OR
2.
a total number of games in higher Divisions which is greater than two
thirds of the number of games which can be played in the higher Division with
most Teams.
The number of games played by a transferred
player before and after transfer shall be included in his total games played for
the purpose of deciding the restrictions in (1) and (2) above.
(E)
(i) 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 has
played.
(ii) In the event of a Club having its First Team
in another League then any player of such Club, who in the current season has
played more than ten (10) games for the Team which plays in such other League,
shall be classified a ‘restricted player’ and no Club shall play more than two
(2) such ‘restricted players’ in the Reserve or ‘A’ Team during the remainder of
the season in any one match.
(iii) A Club whose Reserves or ‘A’ Team competes
in the League but whose Senior side(s) compete(s) in another League, shall
submit to the Registration Secretary a true list of players representing that
side to reach him not later than the second day after the match (Sundays
excluded).
(F)
(i) A fee of £5.00 shall
be paid for each player registered.
(ii) Registration forms shall be
obtained from the Registration Secretary.
(iii) Clubs shall be invoiced in March,
after the registration deadline, at the sum of £5.00 per player registered.
(G)
(i) The Council shall
decide all registration disputes.
(ii)
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.
(H)
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.
(iii)
Submit a signed registration form
for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately or fully
complete.
(I)
(i) The Council have the power to accept the registration of
any player. The Council shall have 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 Council shall have power to
refuse, cancel or suspend 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).
Note:
Action under Clause (ii) shall not be taken against a player for
misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the
appropriate Association, (and then only in cases of the player bringing the
Competition into disrepute).
(J)
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 North Berks
Football League transfer form to the Registration Secretary accompanied by a fee
of £5.00 for the first transfer and £10.00 for any subsequent transfer. 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 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 Council, transfer the
player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club after receipt of
such transfer.
(K)
In the event of an objection to a
transfer the matter should be referred to the Council for a decision.
(L)
A player may not be registered for
a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 1st
March except by special permission of the Council.
(M)
A Club shall keep a list of players
it registers and a record of the games in which they have played and shall
produce such records upon demand by the Council. Any Club failing to comply
with this rule shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20.
(N)
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 Member club representative at any time mutually arranged.
Registrations are valid for one season only.
(O)
A player shall not be eligible to
play for a Team in any special championship deciding match (as specified in Rule
12(A)) unless the player has played five (5) games for that Team in this League
in the current season.
(P)
(i) Any Team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible
player or players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its
total. Any goals scored in the match shall be deleted from the official records
and the team fined a sum not exceeding £100.00 and/or otherwise dealt with at
the discretion of the Council. If the match included an ineligible player from
both clubs no points shall be awarded to either Team and any goals scored shall
be deleted from the official records.
(ii)
In addition the Team may have a maximum of three (3) points deducted from
its total at the discretion of the Council and may be dealt with in any further
manner, which is thought to be fit.
(iii)
The Council 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.
(iv)
If the Council has doubts as to the qualification of any player taking
part in any match, it shall have the power to call upon such player and/or the
Club for which he has played to prove to the satisfaction of the Council that he
is properly qualified according to Rules.
(The following Clause applies to competitions
involving players in full-time secondary education):
(Q)
(i) Priority shall be given at all times to school and school
organisations activities
(ii)
The availability of children shall be cleared with the Head teachers
(except for Sunday Leagues).
Note:
For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football
Association Rules shall apply
(R) To play in this competition a player shall have reached the age of
sixteen (16) on or before 31 August prior to the current season.
(A)
Every Club shall register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the
General Secretary by 1st May who shall decide as to their
suitability. Goal keepers shall wear colours which distinguish them from other
players and the Referee. No player, including the goal keeper, 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 shall play to its opponents at least five (5) days before the match.
In the event of two Clubs having the same or
similar colours the Home Club shall make the change. Any Club not having a
change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined
£15.
The Secretary of the Competition may request
shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to the lack of
distinguishing colours, and the Council may refuse to permit any shirts or
shorts as they think fit.
The shirts worn by all outfield players shall
have on the back and above the waist, a distinctive and not duplicated number
from 2-17, not less than seven inches from the top to bottom. Clubs failing to
comply shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20.00.
(B)
Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours shall obtain permission
from its affiliated County Association and from the
Council.
(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. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding
date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixture Secretary shall not be arranged
for a date later than seven (7) days preceding the concluding date determined by
the Annual General Meeting.
Whenever possible, at least seven (7) days notice
shall be given to clubs of their fixtures but Clubs shall fulfil all fixtures of
which at least 120 hours (five (5) days) is given.
(B)
All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as
settled by the International Football Association Board.
Clubs shall take all reasonable precautions to
keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on
pitches deemed suitable by the Council. If through any fault of the Home Team a
match has to be replayed, the Council shall have power to order the venue to be
changed.
Should the Visiting Club have any reservations
regarding the safety of the ground, goalposts or bars or any other appurtenances
of the game they shall draw it to the attention of the Referee prior to
kick-off. The Referee, if he or she deems it necessary shall require the Home
Club to correct the cause of the complaint. If possible this should be done
without delaying the kick-off time. Changing accommodation shall be kept clean
and in good condition. Proper accommodation with washing facilities shall be
provided and a separate changing room available for the Referee. Accommodation
shall be open and ready for inspection at least 30 minutes prior to kick-off. A
Club failing to comply with any aspect of this Rule shall be fined a sum not
exceeding £20.00. Each Home Club shall nominate a Club Official to be
responsible for the security of the dressing rooms on match days, including
ensuring that the area is securely locked during play.
Clubs shall keep a supply of sand/soil or other
suitable material together with suitable equipment (e.g. spades, shovels,
wheelbarrow and buckets etc) to enable reasonable ground repairs to be
undertaken.
The Council shall have 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.
A Club shall not change its ground from that
sanctioned by the Council, except with permission of the Council or, in cases of
urgency, by an Executive Committee of not less than three Officers. A club
changing to another ground without the above permission shall be fined a sum not
exceeding £20.00.
When the playing pitch is not enclosed a white
line shall be clearly marked on the ground, a minimum of one yard and a maximum
of three yards behind the goal lines extending at least six feet from each side
of the goal nets.
If through any fault of the Home Club a match has
to be replayed, the Council shall have power to order the venue to be changed.
All matches shall be of 90 minutes duration,
unless a shorter time (not less than 80 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two
team captains in consultation with the Referee prior to the commencement of the
match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
The times of kick-off shall be:-
(i) 2:30pm in September, October and
February onwards.
(ii) 2:00pm in November, December and
January with Cup matches being 1:45pm in November, December, January & February.
Any Club failing to commence at the appointed
time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £15.00 or be otherwise dealt with as the
Council may determine.
Referees shall order matches to commence at the
appointed time and shall report all late starts to the Competition.
Clubs possessing floodlights, the standard of
which having been inspected and approved by the Council, may with the prior
agreement of the Fixtures Secretary and their opponents, commence their Home
matches at a time not later than 3.00pm on Saturdays. The floodlights are to be
switched on after 45 minutes of play or earlier when necessary. Similarly Home
Clubs, whose floodlights have been approved by the Council and with the prior
agreement of the Fixtures Secretary and their opponents, may play midweek
matches wholly or partly under floodlights.
The Home team shall 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 shall be used.
(C)
Except by permission of the Council all matches shall 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 shall
be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with
the consent of the Fixture Secretary.
The Council may arrange up to three fixtures per
team before the first Saturday in September. No League Division games shall be
played after April 30th except in exceptional circumstances and with
the specific permission of the Council or, in emergency, from the Executive
Committee, neither of which shall extend the season beyond 6th May.
(D)
The Secretary of the Home Club shall give notice in writing of full
particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off
to the match officials at least three (3) clear days prior to the playing of the
match.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall
be liable to a fine not exceeding £15.00.
(E)
Every Club shall play its best available qualified Team or Teams in all
matches in the Competition.
Note:
The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal Team selection
by clubs, but to prevent clubs deliberately fielding a weakened Team in order to
unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of
another or lower Team. It is NOT intended that Clubs SHALL field higher Team
players in lower Teams when the higher Team has no engagement. If, in the
opinion of the Council, the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being
disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their
actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Council may determine,
despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed.
In the event of a Club playing in any match with
less than eleven (11) players they may be fined £2.00 for each missing player.
A minimum of seven (7) players shall 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 Council shall have the power to inflict a fine not
exceeding £30.00, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to
the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals.
Insufficient registered players, illness, lack of
transport or injuries to players shall not be accepted as a satisfactory reason
for requesting not to play a fixture.
Any Club with more than one Team in the
Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the
following order of precedence: First Team, Reserve Team, ‘A’ Team. Clubs in
breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20.00 and the
points (or Tie if applicable) awarded to its opponents or otherwise dealt with
by the Council.
If the fitness of the ground is in doubt, the
Home Club shall seek the advice and opinion of any member of the Council or a
registered Referee not connected with the Club who may authorise the
postponement after a ground inspection. A person called in by a Club to carry
out an inspection shall be entitled to travelling expenses of up to 25p per mile
to be met by the Home Club.
In instances where a groundsman of a Local
Authority or of a School has absolute authority over the use of the ground, his
decision shall be accepted as if it were made by a Council member or registered
Referee.
If a postponement is authorised, as above, the
Home Club shall:
1.
Inform the Secretary of the visiting Club
and the appointed Referee.
2.
Notify the Fixture Secretary on the
official form within two (2) days (Sunday excluded).
3.
Telephone the Council’s designated
Official as soon as possible and in any case as if it were a result under Rule
11(B)
Note: 2 and 3 above shall apply to ALL
postponements.
When a match is postponed and at least three
hours notice is given to the Secretary of the visiting Club and appointed
Referee the Home Club shall not be liable to penalty or payment of expenses.
When a match is postponed and less than three
hours notice is give to the Secretary of the visiting Club and/or the appointed
Referee, the Home Club shall be adjudged to have been guilty of misconduct and
shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20.00, but a fine may be waived if the
Council is satisfied that a later inspection took place, because of exceptional
circumstances, and the Home Club took reasonable steps to prevent the opponents
and appointed Referee from travelling.
If a Club fails to arrange for an inspection and
the match is subsequently postponed by the appointed Referee because of ground
conditions, then the Home Club may be adjudged to have been guilty of misconduct
and fined a sum not exceeding £20.00 and ordered to pay expenses as approved by
the Council.
Where a Club requests postponement of a match
owing to causes over which it has no control, such cases shall be dealt with by
the council or, in cases of urgency, by an Executive Committee of not less than
three Officers.
Notice of postponement of any match shall be
given without delay by the postponing Club (or notice of a Club being unable to
fulfil any match shall be given 48 hours prior to the match by the Club) to the
Fixture Secretary, the Referee Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and
the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the
Council 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 mutually agreed by the two Clubs and
approved by the Council. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixture
Secretary within two (2) days (Sundays excluded) the Council shall have power to
order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.
The Council 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 stand. In all cases where the Council 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 or tie, if applicable, 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
Council shall take such action as they deem appropriate. Such action is subject
to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate Affiliated Association.
In cases where the result of the game is apparent
and the game is abandoned through no fault of the side in the lead, the Council
may award the match as the score stands.
(G)
A Club may, at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the
Game, use three (3) substitute players in any match in this Competition who may
be selected from five (5) players.
The Referee shall be informed of the names of the
substitutes not later than five (5) 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 this Competition.
(H)
The half-time interval shall be of
ten (10) minutes duration, but it should not exceed fifteen (15) minutes. The
half-time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
(A)
Each Club shall within 15 minutes of the conclusion of a match hand to
the opposing Club a completed match card showing, in CAPITAL letters, the
surname and initial(s) of competing players. Where two players have the same
surname and initials, each player should be clearly identifiable, e.g. Christian
name shown in full. The card shall show the substitute(s) and whether the
substitute(s) did or did not play.
The Registration Secretary shall receive within
two (2) days (Sundays excluded) of the date played, the result of each
Competition match in the prescribed manner. This shall include the forename(s)
and surname of the Team players (in capital letters) and also the Referee markings
required by Rule 13 (H), or other information required by the Competition.
Failure to do so shall incur a fine not exceeding £15.00 and/or the Club being
dealt with as the Council decides.
For the purposes of this rule the official
League Match Result Sheet shall be completed for all matches in accordance with
the instructions provided to clubs and as contained in the League Handbook
under "Notes for Guidance of Club Secretaries".
A Match Result Sheet not received within five (5) days of
the date of the match shall be considered as a 'no match match result sheet' and the Club
shall be fined a sum not exceeding £15.00.
If a Match Report Sheet has been reported as not
being received or incomplete at a Management Committee meeting, and has not been
received by the next Management Committee meeting, the Club shall be fined an
additional £10.00 and shall be suspended from this Competition until all
outstanding information has been received. The suspension shall take effect ten
(10) days following the second Management Committee meeting, where it has been
reported as still outstanding. All matches within the suspension shall be dealt
with under Rule 10(F).
(B)
The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match, and also the
results of all Cup matches played in other Competitions, to an official
designated by the Council within 75 minutes of the completion of the match.
Where both Clubs are members of the North Berks Football League, when playing
each other in an 'outside Competition', only the Home Club shall telephone the
result as required in the preceding sentence. For any infringement of this Rule
a Club shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £15.00.
(C)
The match result notification, correctly completed, in ink, shall be
signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Council shall have power to
take such action as they deem suitable against a Club, which submits an
incomplete form or incorrect information.
(A)
Team rankings within the Competition shall be decided by points with
three (3) points to be awarded for a win and one (1) point for a drawn match.
The Teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at
the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches shall not be played for
double points.
In the event of two or more Teams being equal on
points in any Division, Team rankings shall be decided by:
Deciding match(es) shall be played for the
Championship on a neutral ground. The Council shall make the arrangements to
include the playing of extra-time of ten (10) or fifteen (15) minutes each way,
at the discretion of the Referee, and if a game is still undecided a result
shall be obtained by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance
with the International Board recommended procedures.
(B)
The two leading Clubs in each lower Division shall be promoted to a
higher Division provided that the Council consider ground conditions and
facilities suitable. Any Club expecting promotion shall have its ground and
facilities judged at the end of the season when visited by members of the
Council.
Teams due to be relegated may be re-instated into
the Division if the Council recommends this to be in the best interests of the
League and approved by the Annual General Meeting.
Except as provided in 12(A) above, goal
difference shall count in deciding promotion and relegation. When goal
difference is identical then goals scored shall count as a deciding factor.
If re-organisation of the League or part of it is
necessary the Council shall be empowered to recommend to the Annual or Special
General Meeting the promotion or relegation of more than two teams in any
Division.
(C)
In the event of a Team not completing 75% of its fixtures in a Division
for a season all points obtained or recorded against such defaulting Team shall
be expunged from the League Table. Where a team has completed 75% of its
fixtures, the points from any unplayed games shall be awarded to the opponents.
(D)
The North Berks Football League is a member of the Football Association
National League System and therefore provision exists for the seasonal promotion
and relegation within the structure, i.e. to and from the Hellenic Football
League. The eligibility criteria for promotion, as agreed by the Joint Liaison
Committee of the member Leagues, can be obtained from the General Secretary of
the Hellenic Football League. The deadline for any Club to comply with the
eligibility criteria shall be 30th April in each year. The
Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of the National League System is
reproduced in this Handbook.
(A)
Registered Referees and Assistant Referees shall be appointed in a manner
approved by the Council and the sanctioning Associations(s). The name of the
Referee shall be sent to the Clubs at least three (3) days before the match
whenever possible. In the event of a later change of Referee the Home Club
shall be notified whenever possible.
Whenever notice of the appointed Referee has been
sent, in writing, to the Home Club, the Club Secretary shall contact the Referee
not more than 120 hours and not less than 72 hours before the kick-off to
confirm the fixture and location of ground. A Club failing to comply shall be
fined a sum not exceeding £15.00.
(B)
In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee, or, if
during a match the Referee, for whatever reason, is unable to continue, the
appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant
Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no
officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee.
A Referee thus mutually agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers,
status and authority of a registered Referee. In the event of the late arrival
of the appointed Referee, the substitute official shall be replaced by the
former provided this occurs before the commencement of the second half. A
Referee who is late in arriving shall continue and not re-start the game when he
takes over. In such cases the appointed Referee is entitled to his full fee
(see Rule 13(E) below). Failure to agree and the match not being played both
teams shall be fined £20.00.
(C)
The Council may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by
the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any
match. Where assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a
Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so shall result in a fine not exceeding
£15.00 being imposed on the defaulting Team.
(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 shall be
accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E)
Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge the
following match fees:
Referee £28.00, inclusive of travelling expenses.
Registered Referees appointed by the Council as Assistant Referees £23.00,
inclusive of expenses, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning
Association.
The Home Club shall pay the officials their fees
and expenses within fifteen (15) minutes of the end of the match. A Club
failing to comply shall be fined not exceeding £15.00.
(F)
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 a fee of £14.00 for a Referee and £11.00 for an Assistant Referee.
Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall
be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and
expenses.
(G)
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.
(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 Card provided.
A Club marking a Referee with four (4) or below
marks shall, within seven (7) days of the match, send to the Referees Secretary
a written explanation of the reasons.
Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be
liable to be fined a sum not exceeding £15.00 or dealt with as the Council shall
determine.
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.
(I)
The Referee shall submit a report card, supplied by the Competition,
giving the result of the match and other information required by the Referee
Secretary within two (2) days of the match.
(J)
Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a
copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
(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 fulfilment of all other obligations to the
Competition shall notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each
Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £60.
All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the
Competition for the following Season shall confirm their intention to do so, in
writing, to the Secretary by 1st May.
(B)
A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its Teams from the
Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club
infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £60.00 per Team and
shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule
5(B).
(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.
(D)
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
Member’s 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.
(A)
(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players, or
interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Council.
(ii) Objection relevant to
the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue
shall not be entertained by the Council 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 Council.
Except in cases where the Council decide that there are special circumstances,
protests and complaints (which shall contain full particulars of the grounds
upon which they are founded) shall be lodged, in duplicate, with the Secretary
within four (4) days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which
they refer. A member of the Council 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.
(B)
Any dispute occurring between clubs in the Competition shall be referred
for determination by the Council whose decision shall be binding upon all
parties subject to Rule 16.
(C)
No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Council unless the
complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £20.00. This
may be forfeited in whole or part in the event of the complaining or protesting
Club losing its case. The Competition shall have 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 to be shared by the parties.
(D)
All parties to a protest or complaint shall be afforded an opportunity of
making a statement when the protest is being heard and shall have received seven
(7) days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When
dealing with a protest or complaint the Council shall take into consideration
the possession by the protesting Club of any information which, if properly
used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
Within fourteen (14) days of the posting of
written notification of any decision of the Council or 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 Berks & Bucks
Football Association, including a fee of £25.00, for adjudication of a Board of
Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA 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 |