1. Nomenclature and Constitution
2. Entry Fee, Subscription & Deposit
3. Officers
4. Management, Nomination and Election
5. Powers of Management
6. Annual General Meeting
7. Agreement to be signed
8. Qualification of Players
9. Club Colours, Club Name
10. Playing Season, Conditions of Play, Times of Kick-Off, Postponements, Substitutes
11. Reporting Results
12. Determining Championship
13. Referees and Assistant Referees
14. Continuation of Membership or Withdrawal of a Club
15. Protests and Appeals
16. Board of Appeal
17. Exclusion of Clubs or Teams, Misconduct, Clubs, Officials, Players
18. Trophy:- Legal Owners, Conditions of Taking Over, Agreement to be Signed, Awards
19. Special General Meeting
20. Alteration to Rules
21. Rules Binding on Clubs
22. Finance
23. Benevolent Fund

NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

1. (A) This Competition shall be designated the llford & District Football League and shall consist of not more than 48 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.

All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an Affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form "D" to the Essex County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall have their grounds or Headquarters situated in the llford or adjacent area.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Essex County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.

(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.

(C) The Council of the League shall comprise of the Management Committee and one representative of each member Club, management members may represent their club The Council will meet on dates specified by the Management committee. At least 75% of members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

2. (A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £ 50 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election. If elected this becomes the club deposit as required in rule 2 (C).

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.

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 Annual Subscription shall be £ 85 per Team payable by the 30th September or 7 days before the club's first fixture, whichever is the sooner.

(C) Each Club shall within 14 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 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 1st July of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £25. 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 at the Leagues Annual General Meeting.

OFFICERS

3. The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Life Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Life Members, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration & Results Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Referees Secretary, Disciplinary Secretary, Press Secretary, Cup Secretary, Publications Secretary and Minutes 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 not more than 5 members, of whom no more than 2 shall be from the same Division, 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 1st 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 such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.

(B) Subject to the permission of the Essex 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 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 14 days.

(F) Seven 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 liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(I)   All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification.

Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

(J)  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)  A Club failing to be represented at Council meetings shall be fined £15 and failure to be represented at three consecutive Council meetings without satisfactory reason being given, shall be further dealt with by the Management Committee with a further fine being imposed with a maximum of £50.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6. (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 the Members are present and entitled to vote:­ (i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting. To consider any business arising therefrom.
(ii) Adoption of standing orders.
(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) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season.
(x) Receive entries to the Cup Competitions.
(xi) Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.

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

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

(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than 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.

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least 50% 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 in writing being given shall 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 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 ___________________________ ______________________(Secretary) of the ______________________________ Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the ______________________ Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, 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 for Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the ____________________________ 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 prior to playing.

(2) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink on a match day prior to playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and witnesses by an Officer of the opposing Club, and submitted to the Registrations Secretary with the match result card.

Registration forms may also be submitted to the Registrations Secretary by facsimile machine prior to the player playing if is facility is available

(C) A player is not eligible to play in this Competition who receives any form of payment for playing, other than expenses as per Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of Article 2 of the FlFA 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 FlFA 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 costs of a player’s equipment, insurance and training may be reimbursed without jeopardising a player’s 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 team shall not include any more than 3 players who have taken part in any Intermediate or more senior competition matches during the current season unless a period of 28 days has elapsed since they played.

For the purpose of this Competition a senior competition(s) are any competition involving Clubs with Senior County status.

(E) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable 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.

(F) Each team will be issued with an initial 30 registration forms, further forms may be obtained from the Registration Secretary.

(G) 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.

(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 Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player. The Management Committee 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 Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16).

(Note: Action under Clause (2) 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 transfer form to the Registrations Secretary. 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 the players 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 Reqistrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date.

In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.

(K) 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.

(L)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.

(M) 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.

(N) A player who has taken part in six League and for Cup fixtures within the Ilford & District Football League for his Clubs first team during the current season shall only be eligible to play for the First or Second team of his Club, unless permission has been given by the Management Committee to delete the player’s First team record.

Such permission shall only be given in the following circumstances

(i) the application is made before the last day in February
(ii) the player has not played for the Club’s First Team in the preceding twenty eight days
(iii) the player has not received previous permission under this rule during the current season
(iv) the Club has not had any more than four players granted such permission during the season

If the first team of a club have no game, then no more than 2 of that squads qualified players (6 or more games) can play for the club's second team that day.

(O) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and shall be fined £10 and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

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

(P) An Official or Captain of a Club Or League Officer or Management Committee member shall have the right to demand from an Official or Captain of the opposing Club the signatures of all players that took part in the match, immediately after the match. For breach of this rule the fine shall be £15 and any further penalty the management Committee may determine.

CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME

9. (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 1st July who shall decide as to their suitability.

Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and 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 5 days before the match. If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £10.

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. 1-18 unless agreed by the Management Committee.

Failure to comply with this rule fine £10.

(B) Any Club wishing to change its name must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and give written notice to the League.

(C) Any Club wishing to change its colours must inform the League in writing.

PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES

10. (A) (i) 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 Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than 1 st September, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. Any Club failing to be represented at a fixture meeting or otherwise infringing this Rule shall be liable for a fine of £ 20and the Management Committee or the Fixtures Secretary shall arrange that Club’s fixtures.

(ii) In the event of the original fixtures being arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, he/she shall determine the priority of all fixtures played by member clubs, subject to the provisions of rule 10 (C).

(iii) Clubs shall supply the Fixtures Secretary with a list of dates for fixtures on a form supplied by the League. The form to be returned completed to the Fixtures Secretary on or before the 1st July. Failure to return this form will result in a fine of £5 plus an additional fine of 50p per day thereafter that the form is not returned.

(iv) Any Club requiring a postponment of a fixture or unable to play a fixture on a date shown on the form submitted under (iii) above must notify the Fixtures Secretary a minimum of 28 days before the date on which the postponement is required. Failure to do so will be dealt with under rule 10 F.

(v) In the event of the clubs being required to play double header fixtures, the first named team on the fixture list shall be deemed the home side and subject to all home club provisions in the rules, the second named club shall be deemed the away team and subject to all away team provisions in the rules.

(vi) In the event of a double header fixture being required, the home team shall supply the ground. Match official expenses shall be split, the home team being responsible for paying the officials. The away team shall pay the home team before leaving the ground.

(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 power to order the venue to be changed.

The Management Committee 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.

All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 60 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 A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time 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, failure to comply fine £10. All Clubs shall provide suitable goal nets and corner flags to approved standards, failure to do so shall be fined £ 10, failure to provide nets or flags to the suitable standard shall not be deemed a valid reason by either team to cancel the fixture.

(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 5 clear days prior to the playing of the match.

Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £ 20.

(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. n the event of a Club playing in any match with less than 10 players they may be fined £ 2 for each missing player. A minimum of 8 players will constitute a team to start 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, deduct points from the defaulting Club, 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. Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfill 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 £ 40 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.

Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club (or notice of a Club being unable to fulfil any match must be given 48 hours prior to the match by the Club) to the Fixtures Secretary, Referees Secretary, Press Secretary, Results and Registration Secretary, League Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be fined £5 in each case.

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 or a date provided by the Fixtures Secretary and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within 7 days the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.

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 Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and 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 5 players. The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 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 10 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee

REPORTING RESULTS

11. (A) The Registration and Results Secretary must receive by the following Wednesday 8PM, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) 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 £10 then £5 per week outstanding and the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.

(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the Press Secretary by 6pm on the match day, failure to do so shall result in a fine of £10.

(C) The match result notification, correctly completed. shall be signed by a responsible member of the 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.

DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

12. (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with 3 points to be awarded for a win and 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 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
If still equal placings and awards will be shared

(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.

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

(a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s)
(b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below
(c) election

(iii) When a senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept relegation to, or retain its position in, the next lower Division; and should the senior team be relegated to the lowest Division its reserve team automatically retires from the Competition.

(iv) Should either or both of the leading teams in any of the Divisions have its senior team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall, at the discretion of the General Meeting, to the next highest team or teams in the Division concerned.

(C) In the event of a team not completing 75 % of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table.

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.

(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.

(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 a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbitor and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.

(E) Match officials appointed under these rules shall be entitled to charge a match fee. The fee for Referees shall be the maximum allowed by the sanctioning Association for matches in the competition. Fees for Officials supplied by the league to act as Assistant Referees shall be the maximum allowed by the sanctioning Association for matches in the competition, or in default shall be set by the management Committee. All fees will be deemed to included expenses.

Fees for double header matched are referee £34 including expenses, assistant referees £15 includes expenses. The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before the match if requested

(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 expenses only. 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.

(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have 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 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.

(I) The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of kick-off to the (Referees) Secretary within two days of the match.

(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 31 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 must notify the Secretary in writing by 31^st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £ 5.

(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 £ 50 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(8).

(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th 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 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.

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 cases where the Management Commitee 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 7 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 £ 10. 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.

(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 7 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 their Football Association, including the appropriate fee, 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.

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 upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.

(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of 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 should also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this rule.

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 so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.

The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup 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 ______________________ 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."

(B) Clubs holding Trophies must return them to the Cups Secretary on or before 1^st March, Clubs failing to do so will be fined a sum of £ 20 per trophy. Any Club leaving the League before 1st march for any reason shall return Trophies held by them at the time of their resignation.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

19.Upon receiving a requisition signed by 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 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 31st December. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 31st January and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 15th February. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if a majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.

A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association by 31st March. 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. 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.

(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 30th April.

(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

BENEVOLENT FUND

23. (A) The League shall promote and maintain a Benevolent Fund under the Benevolent Fund Committee, to render financial assistance to Competition and Club Officials, Players, Referees, and others in necessary circumstances, including their dependents The Benevolent Fund Committee shall authorise such expenditure from the funds as may be deemed appropriate.

(B) All new Clubs and teams joining the League shall be required to make a one- off contribution to the Fund of £10. Upon receipt of payment the Club shall be deemed members of the Benevolent Fund and entitled to payments the reform.

(C) Should the balance of monies held in the Fund fall below £ 200 all teams currently in membership of the League will be required to make a one-off payment of £ 10. Teams failing to make the contribution within 21 days of receiving written notification shall not be entitled to benefit from the Fund until the payment is made and will be dealt with by the Management Committee.

#13 Rob created 27/07/06 00:00 updated 13/07/08 21:08