NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

 

 

1.                (A)  This Competitions shall be designated the STOCKTON SUNDAY FOOTBALL League and shall consist of a number of Clubs as agreed by the Management Committee.

 

All such Member Clubs must be Charter Standard and 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 Durham County Football Association Limited.  The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be a radius of ten miles of Stockton Town Hall .

 

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Durham County Football Association(s) Limited and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 12/14 in number.

 

No team in the League or Division of the League comprising of ten or more clubs shall be allowed to compete in more than THREE Charity Cup Competitions during the season without the consent of their parent Association and Management Committee.

 

(B) At The Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the compilation of the divisions at their discretion.  When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.

 

 

 

 

ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

 

 

2.              (A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £30 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 Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.

 

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

 

(B) The Management Committee shall decide the Annual Subscription and this is payable on or before the Annual General Meeting in each year.

 

(C) Each New Club shall within 14 days of election pay the League and Cup Fees, a bond of £100 which shall be returnable to Clubs at the end of their first season in the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all order of the Management Committee.

 

(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.

 

(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1 June of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £10.  Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition or shall be fined £10.

 

(F) New Clubs will serve a probationary period of at least 12 months.

 

 

(G) A new Club MUST obtain Charter Standard status within six months.

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

3.             The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary and Assistant Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers.)

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

 

 

4.             (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 (7) members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

 

(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination.  All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 14 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 as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises.

 

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

 

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

 

(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.

 

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

 

5.              (A) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers, as they deem necessary.  The decisions of all 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.  (See Rule 6(e)).

 

(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 also 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 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 competition.

 

(G) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have 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 fined £10 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 these Rules will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

 

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

 

(K) 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.

 

(L) All fines are subject to an Administration Cost, which shall be £1-00 per offence.

 

 

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

 

6.              (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 23rd 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 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 ensuing season.

(vi)             Election of Officers and Management Committee.

(vii)           Appointments of Auditors.

(viii)         Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).

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

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

 

 

(B) A copy of the duly audited/verified 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(s).

 

(C) A signed copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Durham County Football Association(s) within fourteen (14) days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.

 

(D) Each Full Member Club/team shall be empowered to send 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 their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded.  This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.

 

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of hands/voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least ten (10) 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 may be fined £50

 

(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.

 

 

 

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

 

 

7.              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, A, ----------------------------of -----------------------(Chairman) and

B -----------------------------------of -----------------------(Secretary)

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

Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Durham or North Riding County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.

 

(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of Officers and Members)

 

 

 

QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

 

 

8.             (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:-

 

(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 14 days prior to the start of the playing season and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing. Unless retained on League Retainer form.    

 

A player has the right to cancel his registration with the league between 1st and 30th June and he must notify the (Registration) Secretary during that time.

 

(2) After (1) above a Player can upon signing 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 witnesses by an Officer of the opposing Club, and submitted to the (Registrations) Secretary within two days (Sundays excluded) subsequent to the match.  The player shall not again play until the Club is in possession of the completed counterfoil. 

 

(C) A Player is not eligible to play in this Competition who receives any form or payment for playing, other than expenses as per clauses 1,2 and 3 of article 2 of the FIFA Regulations Governing the Status and Transfer of Players.  Clubs upon election must sign a declaration that they will conform to the said clauses and players of such Clubs are required to sign a declaration upon Registration that they are eligible under, and will abide by, the FIFA clauses, which are as follows:

 

“(1) Players who have never received any remuneration other than for the actual expenses incurred during the course of their participation in or for any activity connected with association football shall be regarded as amateur.

 

(2) Travel and hotel expenses incurred through involvement in a match and the cost of players equipment, insurance and training may be reimbursed jeopardising a players amateur status.

 

(3) Any player who has ever received remuneration in excess of the amount stated under clause 2 in respect of participation in or an activity connected with association football shall be regarded as non-amateur unless he has reacquired amateur status under the terms of Art.25”

 

(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 £2 shall be paid for each player registered, or £1 if on League Retainer form.

 

Registration forms shall be obtained from the (Registrations) Secretary at a cost of £2 per form, payable at time of registration.

 

 

(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 (Registrations) Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

 

(G) It shall be a breach of Rule 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.

 

 

(H)       (i) The Management Committee shall have the power to accept the registration of

       any player. 

 

(ii) The Management Committee 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)

 

(iii) The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse, cancel the registration of any player found guilty or 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 (iii) 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)

 

 

(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 (Registrations) Secretary accompanied by a fee of £10.00p. Such transfer shall be referred by the (Registrations) 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 (Registrations) Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer for.  Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the (Registrations) Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club.  A player requiring a second or subsequent transfer during the same season the fee will be £20-00.

 

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 except by special permission of the Management Committee. 

 

(K) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.

 

(L) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club Representative at all Management Committee Meetings or at other times mutually arranged.  Registrations are valid for one Season only.

(M) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12 (A)) unless the player has played three (3) games for that team in this Competition in the current season.

 

 

(N) A Player who has played for a team in the Premier or First Division Eight (8) times or more shall not in that season be eligible to play in a lower division except by permission of the Management Committee.

 

 

(O) (i)  Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

 

 

(ii) In addition the team may have three (3) points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner, which it is thought to be fit.

 

 

(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.

    

 

 

(The Following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-

 

(P)(i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.

 

(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues).

 

(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.

 

 

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

 

 

 

CLUB COLOURS.  CLUB NAME

 

9        (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 20th July each season who shall decide as to their suitability.

 

Goalkeepers must wear colours that 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 four 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 kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £5.

 

The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit.  Shirts must be numbered.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

PLAYING SEASON.  CONDITIONS OF PLAY

TIMES OF KICK-OFF.  POSTPONEMENTS.  SUBSTITUTES

 

 

10           A) The Management Committee shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season, which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules.

 

Any Club failing to be represented at a Fixture meeting or otherwise infringing this rule shall be liable for a fine of  £10 for the first offence and £20 for each subsequent offence or be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.

 

 

(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 the 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 arranged by the two 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 fixed by the Management Committee.  Any club failing to commence at the appointed time shall /may be fined a sum not exceeding £10 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.

 

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 as well as four corner flags.  Failure to comply will result in a fine of £5.

 

 

(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 (Fixtures) Secretary. 

 

 

(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least four (4) clear days prior to the playing of the match.  The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.  Any club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £10.

 

 

(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 MUST field higher team players in lower teams when the higher team has no engagement.  If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the substance of spirit of the Rule is obviously being regarded, the club or clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee 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 10 players they may / shall be fined £1 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 have power to inflict a fine of £50.00p, deduct points from the defaulting Club, and award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.

 

           

The postponing Club must give notice of postponement of any match without delay to the Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, and the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match official.  Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by The Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.  The HOME Club must send in a Match Return Sheet detailing why the game was postponed within the time scale.

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 arranged by the Secretary.  Where a game is postponed by a School, College or Groundsman then written confirmation MUST be sent from such body to the Secretary within a ten day period.

 

The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand.  In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Clubs 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 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 prior to 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 five minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes.  The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.

 

(I) Any Club requiring a postponement for non footballing activities MUST submit the reason(s) in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the event for approval to be considered.  Clubs failing to do so will not be granted a postponement.

 

 

REPORTING RESULTS

 

11      (A) The (Registration/Fixtures) Secretary must receive within THREE days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename and surname of the team players (BLOCK LETTERS) and also the referee markings required by Rule 13 or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5.00p and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.

 

(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the (Fixture) Secretary (including a postponement) by 4 p.m. on a Sunday and by 10 p.m. on midweek.  Clubs failing to so will be fined £10.

 

(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of each Club.  The Management Committee shall have power to take such action, as they deem suitable against a Club, which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.

 

(D) All CLUBS competing in a County Cup competition SHALL ring the Secretary with the result (including postponement) as (B) above.

DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

 

12    (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with THREE points to be awarded for a win and ONE point 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 must not be played for double points.

 

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

 

(i)            Goal difference

(ii)          Goals scored

(iii)        Deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee where teams finish level on points in a promotion or relegation position.

 

(B)         Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b).

 

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

 

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

 

(a)             retention of otherwise relegated teams(s)

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

(c)           election.

 

(iii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election.  

 

 

(C) In the event of a team not completing its fixtures for the season, the record of the matches played by such club shall be expunged from the Competition table, if more than TWO MATCHES remain to be played. If a club only has ONE or TWO MATCHES unplayed, points shall be awarded as follows:

 

(i) If the club that was not in default lost or drew the first match, one point shall be awarded to that club.

 

(ii) If the club, which was, not in default won the first match, the points normally awarded for a win shall be awarded to that club.

 

(iii) In the case where two matches against one club have not been played, the club not in default shall be awarded the points normally awarded for a win.     

 

 

 

REFEREES

 

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

 

(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee 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 agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee. 

 

Absence of an official referee shall not be an acceptable reason for not playing the fixture.  Any Club found guilty of this will have THREE points deducted and be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.

 

(C) The Management Committee 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 will result in a fine of £5 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 must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.

 

(E) Match Officials appointed under this rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 30p per mile and any other permitted expenses actually incurred together with the following match fees:-  Referee £17, Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £10, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s).

 

The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before/immediately after the match.

 

(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 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 attend the ground, their full fee and expenses.  Where a referee postpones a fixture due to the weather on the day of the game he is asked to sign the HOME Club Match Return Sheet detailing why the game was postponed.

 

 

(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may be 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 Form provided.  Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with, as the Management Committee 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.

 

 

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

 

 

CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

 

 

14           (A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £500.

 

 

(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 £500 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).

 

(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 31st March nor later than 30 April or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 23rd June.  The Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.

 

(D) 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 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.

 

 

 

PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

 

15.     (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 the case 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 Secretary within seven 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 Secretary a sum of £20.00. 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 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.  All protest MUST be sent in writing to the Secretary within seven (7) days from completion of the fixture involved.

 

 (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 at least FOURTEEN 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.

 

 

 

BOARD OF APPEAL

 

16      Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee, 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 Durham or North Riding County Football Association, including a fee of £20.00 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.

 

No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.

 

 

EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS

MISCONDUCT, CLUBS OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

 

17.          (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.  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 which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting.   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 a breach of Rule, 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.

 

 

(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete ALL of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from Membership the following Season.

 

 

 

 

TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED.  AWARDS.

 

 

18.         (A) A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees.  If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. 

 

Please see agreement below to be signed:

 

The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

 

“We A--------------------------- and B-------------------, the Chairman and Secretary of ------------------------ FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of ----------------- Cup or Trophy, 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 or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 31st March.  If the Cup or Trophy 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.”   Any Club failing to comply with this shall be fined a minimum of £5 or be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.

 

 

 

(C) At the close of each Competition awards may be made to the winners and runners up if the funds of the Competition permit.

 

 

 

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

 

 

19.         Upon receiving a requisition signed by two two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.

 

The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

 

At least fourteen (14) 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 Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings.  Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.

 

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.

 

Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.

 

 

 

ALTERATION TO RULES

 

20.         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 Secretary by 1st May in each year.  The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 7th May and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 14th May. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.  A proposal to change in Rule shall be carried if [a majority] of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.

A copy of proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning County 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.

 

 

 

RULES BINDING ON CLUBS

 

 

21.         (A) 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.

 

FINANCE

 

22.         (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 £200 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 30th April.

 

 

(C)  The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited/verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed by the Management Committee.

 

 

FIRST AID

 

23      (A) Each Club shall provide a medical FIRST AID KIT in a suitable container to a minimum standard as advised by the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade.

 

(B) This kit must be maintained to the minimum standards at all times.

 

(C) The First Aid Kit MUST be available at ALL matches.

 

(D) An appointed representative of the Management Committee may inspect the First Aid Kit at any game during the season.  If, on inspection, serious deficiencies are apparent, then a standard fine of £5 will be levied.

 

 

GOOD CONDUCT SCHEME

 

24           (A) The League will operate a Good Conduct Scheme that shall cover all aspects of a Clubs membership within the League.  Points will be awarded against Clubs for various offences that will be listed prior to the start of the season. 

 

(As per current list in handbook).

 

(B) Any Club exceeding 100 points will be fined £10.

 

(C) Any Club exceeding 200 points will be fined £20.

 

(D) Any Club exceeding 300 points will be fined £30.

 

(E) Any Club exceeding 400 points will be fined £40.

 

(F) Any Club exceeding 450 points will be asked to appear before the Management Committee at its next meeting and will be dealt with as the Management Committee deems to be necessary.

 

(G) All money raised from these fines will be paid back to Clubs with the best Conduct records at the end of each season.  The awards will be at the discretion of the Management Committee.

 

 

 

CUP COMPETITION RULES

 

 

A       LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

 

 

(i) The competition shall be called the “IAN GORMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY”

 

 

(ii) The competition shall be for all Clubs competing in the Stockton Sunday Football League and shall be under the management and control of the League Management Committee.  The Management Committee shall decide the Entry Fee.

 

 

(iii) The Management Committee shall fix the date of all rounds.  In all cup competition if the score is level after 90 minutes then 15 minutes each way of extra time shall be played. If the score-lines are still level after this time the games shall be decided by a penalty kick competition.

 

 

(iv) Any player shall be qualified to play in the rounds (except the semi final and final) of the competition who, at the date when the round is played, would be qualified to play in the Stockton Sunday Football League.  In the semi final and final, a player MUST have played at least three league games before the time of the match unless the player has played in the previous rounds of the competition in any one season.  Offending Clubs will be dismissed from the competition and be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.

 

(v) The winning Club shall hold the trophy until it is due for return and also be presented with sixteen (16) momentous if funds permit.

 

 

(vi) In Cup games the referee’s fee (£17) and expenses (30p per mile) will be shared by both clubs paying half each.  Should the match not take place owing to the ground being unfit, or weather conditions preventing, the referee shall receive half fee plus expenses as above.  Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £10, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s).

 

 

The HOME Club to sort out with the referee and the AWAY Club will then pay there half to the HOME Club.

 

 

(viii) In the event of the Home Club pitch not being available on the date of any cup game, the home Club shall provide an alternative pitch or play on their opponents ground.

 

 

(ix) The competition will be carried on under the rules governing the Durham County F.A Amateur Cup Competition so far as the same are applicable to the Competition.

 

 

(x) In all cup competitions clubs who fail to keep an engagement, resulting in the cup game being postponed the defaulting club will be fined £25.00p and excluded from the competition.

 

 

The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

 

“We A--------------------------- and B-------------------, the Chairman and Secretary of ------------------------ FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of ----------------- Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the up or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 31st March.  If the Cup or Trophy 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.”   Any Club failing to comply with this shall be fined a minimum of £5 or be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.

 

 

 

 

 

B       PRESIDENT CUP

 

(i) This competition shall be called the "STEPHEN WELLS MEMORIAL CUP" and the League Challenge Cup rules will apply to this competition.

 

 

(ii) This competition is reserved for first round Challenge Cup losers only.