The Southend Sunday Football League
(Founded 1964)
Season 2006/2007 - 44th Year
League Rules
Last Update September 2007
These rules have been copied from the Southend Sunday Football League Official Handbook
and as such there should be no difference between the Official League Handbook and the
League website, however should there be any discrepancies then the rules as
stated in the Official League Handbook will take precedence.
1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
(a) This Competition shall be designated the Southend Sunday Football League hereinafter referred to as 'the Competition' and shall consist of not more than 108 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs and not more than 108 Teams that shall be Teams of the 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 be such that all grounds are within the area covered by the SS0 to SS9 Postcodes. Member Clubs may agree to accept Clubs who play outside this area when considering the election of such Clubs at the Annual General Meeting.
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, each not exceeding 12 Teams in number.
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(B) and be subject to the provisions of Rule 5(K).
(a) This Competition shall be designated the Southend Sunday Football League hereinafter referred to as 'the Competition' and shall consist of not more than 108 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs and not more than 108 Teams that shall be Teams of the 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 be such that all grounds are within the area covered by the SS0 to SS9 Postcodes. Member Clubs may agree to accept Clubs who play outside this area when considering the election of such Clubs at the Annual General Meeting.
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, each not exceeding 12 Teams in number.
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(B) and be subject to the provisions of Rule 5(K).
2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
(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 £10 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election. Applications for inclusion in the Competition for the ensuing Season must be received by the Competition Secretary by 31st March.
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 or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(b) The Annual Subscription shall be 15 pounds per Team payable on or before the 1st September in each year.
(c) Each Club shall within seven (7) days of election pay a Deposit of 100 pounds which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures, met all their financial obligations to the Competition 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 8th July of its Essex County Football Association Affiliation Number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined 5 pounds. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Officers, location of ground and address for the purposes of receiving correspondence and any other information required by the Competition
(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 £10 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election. Applications for inclusion in the Competition for the ensuing Season must be received by the Competition Secretary by 31st March.
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 or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(b) The Annual Subscription shall be 15 pounds per Team payable on or before the 1st September in each year.
(c) Each Club shall within seven (7) days of election pay a Deposit of 100 pounds which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures, met all their financial obligations to the Competition 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 8th July of its Essex County Football Association Affiliation Number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined 5 pounds. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Officers, location of ground and address for the purposes of receiving correspondence and any other information required by the Competition
3. OFFICERS
(a) The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Results Secretary, Representative Team Secretary and Web Master to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).
Competition Rule Incorporated
(b) Honorary Life Vice Presidents, who shall be elected at an A.G.M. or S.G.M., may be elected to serve in a non-executive capacity but shall not be entitled to vote at any Council or Management Meeting.
(a) The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Results Secretary, Representative Team Secretary and Web Master to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).
Competition Rule Incorporated
(b) Honorary Life Vice Presidents, who shall be elected at an A.G.M. or S.G.M., may be elected to serve in a non-executive capacity but shall not be entitled to vote at any Council or Management Meeting.
4. MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
(a) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and not exceeding 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 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting
(c) The Management Committee shall meet monthly and 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.
(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 exceeding 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 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting
(c) The Management Committee shall meet monthly and 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.
5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
(a) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-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 twenty-one (21) days.
(f) Five (5) Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three (3) 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 fourteen (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.
Competition Rules ( L to O ) Incorporated
(l) The Management Committee shall have the powers to make awards as follows:
(i) Current officers and other members of the Management Committee, having served on the Committee for a minimum of three years, may each be awarded a Competition Tie. Ladies, so qualifying, may each be presented with a similar suitable award.
(ii) Current officers, other members of the Management Committee and Club Secretaries who have given the Competition good service and support for a minimum of fifteen years in any, or a combination of any, of those capacities may be awarded a Competition Tankard. Ladies, so qualifying, may be presented with a similar suitable award.
(iii) Players who have represented the Competition on at least five occasions, dating from September 1989, may each be awarded a Competition Tie.
(iv) Referees who are currently on the Competition List and have been so registered for at least three years and have officiated in at least fifty (50) matches may each be awarded a competition Badge, to be worn on their referee’s top.
(m) Any instruction, request and the like communicated directly to a Club, appearing in the official Newsletter of the Competition and appearing as a Notice on the Competition Website, shall be deemed to be an official instruction, request and the like from the Management Committee.
(n) When a Club has breached the same Rule on four (4) occasions during the course of a season, the Management Committee shall have the power to double the stated fine for every further breach of that Rule during the same season. This Rule shall not apply to the provisions of Rule 13 (C).
(o) The Management Committee shall have the power to arrange an annual function, (disco, dinner, dinner dance etc.) at which the season’s awards will be presented. The Management Committee shall also be empowered to set the price of the admission. Each Club shall purchase a minimum of two tickets.
(a) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-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 twenty-one (21) days.
(f) Five (5) Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three (3) 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 fourteen (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.
Competition Rules ( L to O ) Incorporated
(l) The Management Committee shall have the powers to make awards as follows:
(i) Current officers and other members of the Management Committee, having served on the Committee for a minimum of three years, may each be awarded a Competition Tie. Ladies, so qualifying, may each be presented with a similar suitable award.
(ii) Current officers, other members of the Management Committee and Club Secretaries who have given the Competition good service and support for a minimum of fifteen years in any, or a combination of any, of those capacities may be awarded a Competition Tankard. Ladies, so qualifying, may be presented with a similar suitable award.
(iii) Players who have represented the Competition on at least five occasions, dating from September 1989, may each be awarded a Competition Tie.
(iv) Referees who are currently on the Competition List and have been so registered for at least three years and have officiated in at least fifty (50) matches may each be awarded a competition Badge, to be worn on their referee’s top.
(m) Any instruction, request and the like communicated directly to a Club, appearing in the official Newsletter of the Competition and appearing as a Notice on the Competition Website, shall be deemed to be an official instruction, request and the like from the Management Committee.
(n) When a Club has breached the same Rule on four (4) occasions during the course of a season, the Management Committee shall have the power to double the stated fine for every further breach of that Rule during the same season. This Rule shall not apply to the provisions of Rule 13 (C).
(o) The Management Committee shall have the power to arrange an annual function, (disco, dinner, dinner dance etc.) at which the season’s awards will be presented. The Management Committee shall also be empowered to set the price of the admission. Each Club shall purchase a minimum of two tickets.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(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 ten (10) Members are present and entitled to vote:-
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising therefrom.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the 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) 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 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 Essex County Football Association.
(c)A signed copy of the verified 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 Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven (7) 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 fifty percent (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 Club.
(h)AAny continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined 20 pounds.
(i)Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
(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 ten (10) Members are present and entitled to vote:-
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising therefrom.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the 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) 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 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 Essex County Football Association.
(c)A signed copy of the verified 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 Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven (7) 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 fifty percent (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 Club.
(h)AAny continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined 20 pounds.
(i)Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
(a) The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete. 'We, A,____________________ of _________________________(Chairman) and B________________________ of _________________________(Secretary) of the _________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the 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.'
Dated the.........(day) .......(month) of.........(year).
Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Essex County Football Association 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).
(a) The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete. 'We, A,____________________ of _________________________(Chairman) and B________________________ of _________________________(Secretary) of the _________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the 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.'
Dated the.........(day) .......(month) of.........(year).
Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Essex County Football Association 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).
8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.
(b) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition Registration Form in ink with block letters and provided two passport size photographs (full face/head and shoulders) that have been attached to the form in the designated places and that the form has been countersigned by an Officer of the Club and who has been accepted as a registered player by the Registration Secretary. Players who were registered for a Club participating in the Competition in the immediate preceding season need not supply new photographs provided that the new Registration Form is accompanied by the Registration Counterfoil that was issued by the Competition in respect of the immediate preceding season and these are submitted to the Registration Secretary in accordance with the procedure outlined in this Rule.
No player shall be registered between the hours of 7.00 pm on a Friday and 9.00am on a Monday. Registration Forms for a minimum of 12 players for each team must be received by the Registration Secretary no later than 1st September. Clubs (teams) not registering 12 players by 1st September may be liable to forfeit fixtures and incur a fine. Clubs seeking registration of players after the commencement of the playing season must ensure that the Registration Form is received by the Registration Secretary no later than 7 pm on the Wednesday prior to the Sunday that the player is required to be eligible to play. Registration Forms submitted by post will be deemed to have been submitted on the day of the postmark shown on the envelope.
No player shall be eligible to play until his completed Registration Counterfoil has been received by the Club. In circumstances where the Club has submitted the Registration Form by post, the Club may telephone the Registration Secretary to confirm that the form has been received and make arrangements to collect the Registration Counterfoil in the event of there being insufficient time for the Registration Counterfoil to be returned by post.
No player shall be registered with the Competition before his 16th birthday anniversary.
Any queries relating to the registration of players must be dealt with by telephone or in writing and not by personal callers (other than in respect of the pre-arranged collection of Registration Counterfoils as provided for in this Rule).
All Registration Forms or batches of Registration Forms, submitted to the Registration Secretary must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope for the return of the Registration Counterfoil(s). Any submitted Registration Form not so accompanied will not be processed unless a specific arrangement has been made for the Registration Counterfoil to be collected. Clubs are responsible for ensuring that the correct postage is applied to the submission and return envelopes. The Competition will not be responsible for the non-delivery of Registration Forms or Counterfoils due to insufficient postage being applied to the envelopes.
In the event of a registered player transferring to another Club in the Competition during the playing season, a new Registration Form is to be completed and the Secretary of the new Club must obtain the current Registration Counterfoil from the previous Club and obtain the signature of the Secretary of the previous Club in the Release Section of the new Registration Form. Completion of the Release Section by the previous Club will be taken as confirmation that the player to be transferred has met all his financial obligations to his previous Club. The completed new Registration Form and the current Registration Counterfoil must be sent to the Registration Secretary in accordance with the requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs of this Rule.
(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 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:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) AAny 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.
Competition Clarification
The signing of the official Registration Form by the player and Club Secretary, or other Club Official, shall be regarded as a statement that the above liabilities have been discharged. Clubs and players submitting an incorrect Registration Form in this or any other respect will be subject to penalties imposed by the Competition in addition to any penalty imposed by Essex County Football Association and players must be informed of this when completing the form.
(e) A fee of 2 pounds and fifty pence shall be paid for each player registered.
Registration Forms will be issued at the Annual General Meeting. Fifteen Registrations per team shall be paid by 1st September each year. The cost of all registrations in excess of fifteen per team shall be included in the End of Season Account.
(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.
Competition Clarification
Where a player inserts “none” against ‘Current or last Sunday Club registered for on the Registration Form, that player must be made aware of his responsibilities under Rule 8(D).
(h) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) (ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.
(Note: Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute.)
Competition Clarification
The Management Committee will determine that misconduct involving but not limited to violent conduct or abuse or assault upon another Player or Match Official will constitute bringing the Competition into disrepute and will invoke their powers under para (iii). (i) Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registration Secretary accompanied by a fee of £2.50. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or seven (7) days after receipt of such transfer.
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 the last day of February except by special permission of the Management Committee.
Competition Clarification
In the event of the last day of February falling on a Saturday or Sunday, the last Friday in the month shall, for the purposes of this Rule, be deemed the last day.
(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 Registration 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) Standard Code Rule 8(M) not adopted by the Competition.
See separate League Cup and Charity Cup Rules for player eligibility for those Competitions.
(n) A first team qualified player is one who, in the current season, has played in three or more games in the last twelve or fewer games played by the first team in the Competition, Competition League Cup, Charity Cup, County Cup and National Cup competitions including one in the last three such games.
A second team qualified player is one who has similarly played in the second team, and a third team qualified player is one who has similarly played in the third team.
Where a player is qualified for more than one team, in accordance with the foregoing, the higher or highest team qualification shall apply.
No second team shall include more than two first team qualified players. No third team shall include more than two second team qualified players. No fourth team shall include more than two third team qualified players.
No first team qualified player shall play in the third or fourth teams. No second team qualified player shall play in the fourth team.
Competition Rule Incorporated
A player, having taken part in a match in the Competition, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup, shall not, on the same day, take part in another match in the Competition, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup other than in the case of a double fixture in which he may take part in both matches of the same double fixture.
(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 two (2) 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.
(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(p) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)
(a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.
(b) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition Registration Form in ink with block letters and provided two passport size photographs (full face/head and shoulders) that have been attached to the form in the designated places and that the form has been countersigned by an Officer of the Club and who has been accepted as a registered player by the Registration Secretary. Players who were registered for a Club participating in the Competition in the immediate preceding season need not supply new photographs provided that the new Registration Form is accompanied by the Registration Counterfoil that was issued by the Competition in respect of the immediate preceding season and these are submitted to the Registration Secretary in accordance with the procedure outlined in this Rule.
No player shall be registered between the hours of 7.00 pm on a Friday and 9.00am on a Monday. Registration Forms for a minimum of 12 players for each team must be received by the Registration Secretary no later than 1st September. Clubs (teams) not registering 12 players by 1st September may be liable to forfeit fixtures and incur a fine. Clubs seeking registration of players after the commencement of the playing season must ensure that the Registration Form is received by the Registration Secretary no later than 7 pm on the Wednesday prior to the Sunday that the player is required to be eligible to play. Registration Forms submitted by post will be deemed to have been submitted on the day of the postmark shown on the envelope.
No player shall be eligible to play until his completed Registration Counterfoil has been received by the Club. In circumstances where the Club has submitted the Registration Form by post, the Club may telephone the Registration Secretary to confirm that the form has been received and make arrangements to collect the Registration Counterfoil in the event of there being insufficient time for the Registration Counterfoil to be returned by post.
No player shall be registered with the Competition before his 16th birthday anniversary.
Any queries relating to the registration of players must be dealt with by telephone or in writing and not by personal callers (other than in respect of the pre-arranged collection of Registration Counterfoils as provided for in this Rule).
All Registration Forms or batches of Registration Forms, submitted to the Registration Secretary must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope for the return of the Registration Counterfoil(s). Any submitted Registration Form not so accompanied will not be processed unless a specific arrangement has been made for the Registration Counterfoil to be collected. Clubs are responsible for ensuring that the correct postage is applied to the submission and return envelopes. The Competition will not be responsible for the non-delivery of Registration Forms or Counterfoils due to insufficient postage being applied to the envelopes.
In the event of a registered player transferring to another Club in the Competition during the playing season, a new Registration Form is to be completed and the Secretary of the new Club must obtain the current Registration Counterfoil from the previous Club and obtain the signature of the Secretary of the previous Club in the Release Section of the new Registration Form. Completion of the Release Section by the previous Club will be taken as confirmation that the player to be transferred has met all his financial obligations to his previous Club. The completed new Registration Form and the current Registration Counterfoil must be sent to the Registration Secretary in accordance with the requirements outlined in the preceding paragraphs of this Rule.
(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 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:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) AAny 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.
Competition Clarification
The signing of the official Registration Form by the player and Club Secretary, or other Club Official, shall be regarded as a statement that the above liabilities have been discharged. Clubs and players submitting an incorrect Registration Form in this or any other respect will be subject to penalties imposed by the Competition in addition to any penalty imposed by Essex County Football Association and players must be informed of this when completing the form.
(e) A fee of 2 pounds and fifty pence shall be paid for each player registered.
Registration Forms will be issued at the Annual General Meeting. Fifteen Registrations per team shall be paid by 1st September each year. The cost of all registrations in excess of fifteen per team shall be included in the End of Season Account.
(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.
Competition Clarification
Where a player inserts “none” against ‘Current or last Sunday Club registered for on the Registration Form, that player must be made aware of his responsibilities under Rule 8(D).
(h) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) (ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.
(Note: Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute.)
Competition Clarification
The Management Committee will determine that misconduct involving but not limited to violent conduct or abuse or assault upon another Player or Match Official will constitute bringing the Competition into disrepute and will invoke their powers under para (iii). (i) Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registration Secretary accompanied by a fee of £2.50. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or seven (7) days after receipt of such transfer.
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 the last day of February except by special permission of the Management Committee.
Competition Clarification
In the event of the last day of February falling on a Saturday or Sunday, the last Friday in the month shall, for the purposes of this Rule, be deemed the last day.
(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 Registration 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) Standard Code Rule 8(M) not adopted by the Competition.
See separate League Cup and Charity Cup Rules for player eligibility for those Competitions.
(n) A first team qualified player is one who, in the current season, has played in three or more games in the last twelve or fewer games played by the first team in the Competition, Competition League Cup, Charity Cup, County Cup and National Cup competitions including one in the last three such games.
A second team qualified player is one who has similarly played in the second team, and a third team qualified player is one who has similarly played in the third team.
Where a player is qualified for more than one team, in accordance with the foregoing, the higher or highest team qualification shall apply.
No second team shall include more than two first team qualified players. No third team shall include more than two second team qualified players. No fourth team shall include more than two third team qualified players.
No first team qualified player shall play in the third or fourth teams. No second team qualified player shall play in the fourth team.
Competition Rule Incorporated
A player, having taken part in a match in the Competition, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup, shall not, on the same day, take part in another match in the Competition, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup other than in the case of a double fixture in which he may take part in both matches of the same double fixture.
(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 two (2) 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.
(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(p) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)
9. CLUB COLOURS - CLUB NAME
(a) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by the A.G.M. who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the Referee.
No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
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 six (6) 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 5 pounds.
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. All players shirts must be clearly numbered on the back and no two shirts of a team shall have the same number.
(b) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
Note: ECFA will only permit name changes between the playing seasons.
(a) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by the A.G.M. who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the Referee.
No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
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 six (6) 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 5 pounds.
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. All players shirts must be clearly numbered on the back and no two shirts of a team shall have the same number.
(b) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
Note: ECFA will only permit name changes between the playing seasons.
10. PLAYING SEASON - CONDITIONS OF PLAY - TIMES OF KICK-OFF - POSTPONEMENTS - SUBSTITUTES.
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. Fixtures are deemed to be accepted unless objections are received by the Fixtures Secretary within seven (7) days of their issue. Competition Rule Incorporated
The Fixtures Secretary shall have the power to rearrange any fixture, should he deem it necessary and the new date he notifies to the Clubs involved shall be the official date of the fixture.
Clubs wishing to have a free Sunday because of a Club event, must give at least six (6) weeks notice to the Fixtures Secretary but the granting of such request is not guaranteed.
(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 shall be fined a sum not exceeding 5 pounds 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.
All Clubs must provide goal nets and regulation corner flags and posts or be liable to a fine of 5 pounds per match. The absence of goal nets or corner posts shall not prevent a match being played.
(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 in writing or by telephone of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the Referee and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least six (6) clear days prior to the playing of the match.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of 5 pounds.
(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 or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the 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 nine (9) players they may be fined 5 pounds for each missing player. A minimum of seven (7) 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, 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 fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Second Team, Third Team then Fourth Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
Any Club unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the Fixtures Secretary, the Referees Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the Referee (and Assistants, if appointed). Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be arranged by the Fixtures Secretary.
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 matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee 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 Essex County Football Association.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture shall be fined 20 pounds and shall be ordered to pay their opponents the sum of 25 pounds towards incurred expenses and loss of revenue. For the purposes of this Rule, a double fixture shall be treated as a single fixture.
The Club responsible for the non-fulfilment of a fixture shall, in addition to the immediate notice to the Officers and Officials stated above, provide a written explanation to the Competition no later than three (3) days after the date of the unfulfilled fixture. Such explanation may be provided in the 'Comments' section of the Match Result Sheet sent to the Registrations Secretary or by separate letter to the Competition Secretary.
Failure to provide such written explanation will result in the Club being dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Any Club found responsible by the Essex County Football Association for an abandoned game because of adverse behaviour, may forfeit the points, be fined at the discretion of the Management Committee and the Club and players suspended for the rest of the season. The Management Committee may put forward a recommendation at the next A.G.M. that the Club be expelled from the Competition and/or that the player(s) registration be declined for the next season.
(g) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three (3) substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from seven (7) players. The Referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than five (5) minutes before the start of the match. A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
(h) The half time interval shall be of not less than five (5) minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
Competition Rule (I) Incorporated
(i) Each Club must take the Registration Counterfoils for their players who may participate in a fixture and a Match Result Sheet to every game. The competing Teams must exchange the Registration Counterfoils before the commencement of the match to enable the Club Secretary or Team Manager to verify that the participating players are registered for the Club for which they are playing. The Registration Counterfoils may be held by the opposing Team throughout the course of the match and returned immediately the game ends. The Registration Counterfoils must be retained securely to ensure no damage occurs and there is no exposure to adverse weather conditions. Each Team must then countersign their opponent’s Match Result Sheet to evidence that they have reviewed the Registration Counterfoils. Failure by a Club to produce their Registration Counterfoils on a match day will result in the defaulting Club being fined 20 pounds. Failure to countersign their opponent’s Match Result Sheet without a valid reason will result in the defaulting Club being fined 10 pounds.
Dispute Procedure – If it is determined that there is not a Registration Counterfoil for a player intending to participate in a match the player must not participate in the match. Any dispute over the validity of a player must be reported verbally to the opposing Club Secretary/Team Manager prior to the conclusion of the match AND in writing to the Registration Secretary and the Secretary of the opposing Club no later than 4 days after the match. Any protest received after this period will not be accepted by the Management Committee. The player who is disputed having participated in the match must, on the day of the match, provide his full name, address, date of birth and signature to the opposing Club who must include this information with their report to the Registration Secretary.
At no time during the consideration of the validity of a player on a match day are the Clubs to seek an opinion from the Match Official.
The Management Committee will consider representations from each Club and then announce their decision which will be binding on both Clubs, subject otherwise to the Rules of the Competition.
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. Fixtures are deemed to be accepted unless objections are received by the Fixtures Secretary within seven (7) days of their issue. Competition Rule Incorporated
The Fixtures Secretary shall have the power to rearrange any fixture, should he deem it necessary and the new date he notifies to the Clubs involved shall be the official date of the fixture.
Clubs wishing to have a free Sunday because of a Club event, must give at least six (6) weeks notice to the Fixtures Secretary but the granting of such request is not guaranteed.
(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 shall be fined a sum not exceeding 5 pounds 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.
All Clubs must provide goal nets and regulation corner flags and posts or be liable to a fine of 5 pounds per match. The absence of goal nets or corner posts shall not prevent a match being played.
(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 in writing or by telephone of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the Referee and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least six (6) clear days prior to the playing of the match.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of 5 pounds.
(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 or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the 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 nine (9) players they may be fined 5 pounds for each missing player. A minimum of seven (7) 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, 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 fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Second Team, Third Team then Fourth Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
Any Club unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the Fixtures Secretary, the Referees Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the Referee (and Assistants, if appointed). Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be arranged by the Fixtures Secretary.
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 matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee 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 Essex County Football Association.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture shall be fined 20 pounds and shall be ordered to pay their opponents the sum of 25 pounds towards incurred expenses and loss of revenue. For the purposes of this Rule, a double fixture shall be treated as a single fixture.
The Club responsible for the non-fulfilment of a fixture shall, in addition to the immediate notice to the Officers and Officials stated above, provide a written explanation to the Competition no later than three (3) days after the date of the unfulfilled fixture. Such explanation may be provided in the 'Comments' section of the Match Result Sheet sent to the Registrations Secretary or by separate letter to the Competition Secretary.
Failure to provide such written explanation will result in the Club being dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Any Club found responsible by the Essex County Football Association for an abandoned game because of adverse behaviour, may forfeit the points, be fined at the discretion of the Management Committee and the Club and players suspended for the rest of the season. The Management Committee may put forward a recommendation at the next A.G.M. that the Club be expelled from the Competition and/or that the player(s) registration be declined for the next season.
(g) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three (3) substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from seven (7) players. The Referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than five (5) minutes before the start of the match. A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
(h) The half time interval shall be of not less than five (5) minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
Competition Rule (I) Incorporated
(i) Each Club must take the Registration Counterfoils for their players who may participate in a fixture and a Match Result Sheet to every game. The competing Teams must exchange the Registration Counterfoils before the commencement of the match to enable the Club Secretary or Team Manager to verify that the participating players are registered for the Club for which they are playing. The Registration Counterfoils may be held by the opposing Team throughout the course of the match and returned immediately the game ends. The Registration Counterfoils must be retained securely to ensure no damage occurs and there is no exposure to adverse weather conditions. Each Team must then countersign their opponent’s Match Result Sheet to evidence that they have reviewed the Registration Counterfoils. Failure by a Club to produce their Registration Counterfoils on a match day will result in the defaulting Club being fined 20 pounds. Failure to countersign their opponent’s Match Result Sheet without a valid reason will result in the defaulting Club being fined 10 pounds.
Dispute Procedure – If it is determined that there is not a Registration Counterfoil for a player intending to participate in a match the player must not participate in the match. Any dispute over the validity of a player must be reported verbally to the opposing Club Secretary/Team Manager prior to the conclusion of the match AND in writing to the Registration Secretary and the Secretary of the opposing Club no later than 4 days after the match. Any protest received after this period will not be accepted by the Management Committee. The player who is disputed having participated in the match must, on the day of the match, provide his full name, address, date of birth and signature to the opposing Club who must include this information with their report to the Registration Secretary.
At no time during the consideration of the validity of a player on a match day are the Clubs to seek an opinion from the Match Official.
The Management Committee will consider representations from each Club and then announce their decision which will be binding on both Clubs, subject otherwise to the Rules of the Competition.
11. REPORTING RESULTS
(a) The Registration Secretary must receive by no later than the Wednesday immediately following the match a correctly and fully completed Match Result Sheet for each fixture in the Competition, the Competition League Cup and Charity Cup and the Essex Cup and Trophy Competitions. The Match Result Sheet must include the forename and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, and any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 5 pounds or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to provide a Match Result Sheet within ten (10) days of a match taking place will be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(b) Each Club shall telephone the result and the name of goal scorers of a Competition Match, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup Match or Essex County Cup or Trophy Match to the Match Results Secretary on the day of the match between 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm.
In the event a match is played mid-week, the result must be advised by telephone to the Match Results Secretary on the Sunday immediately following the match. If a Cup Match is played mid-week, the result must be advised to the Fixtures Secretary by telephone no later than 9.00 pm on the day of the match.
Any Club failing to provide match results in accordance with this Rule will be fined 5 pounds.
(c) The Match Result Sheet, 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.
Competition Clarification
The Match Result Sheet submitted for any fixture will be deemed to be the definitive presentation. Any discrepancies arising regarding player eligibility will be decided by the Management Committee on the information submitted on the Match Result Sheet.
If a match is abandoned, a fully completed Match Result Sheet must be submitted showing the score at the time of abandonment.
If a fixture is postponed notification must be made in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10(F).
(a) The Registration Secretary must receive by no later than the Wednesday immediately following the match a correctly and fully completed Match Result Sheet for each fixture in the Competition, the Competition League Cup and Charity Cup and the Essex Cup and Trophy Competitions. The Match Result Sheet must include the forename and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, and any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 5 pounds or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to provide a Match Result Sheet within ten (10) days of a match taking place will be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(b) Each Club shall telephone the result and the name of goal scorers of a Competition Match, Competition League Cup or Charity Cup Match or Essex County Cup or Trophy Match to the Match Results Secretary on the day of the match between 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm.
In the event a match is played mid-week, the result must be advised by telephone to the Match Results Secretary on the Sunday immediately following the match. If a Cup Match is played mid-week, the result must be advised to the Fixtures Secretary by telephone no later than 9.00 pm on the day of the match.
Any Club failing to provide match results in accordance with this Rule will be fined 5 pounds.
(c) The Match Result Sheet, 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.
Competition Clarification
The Match Result Sheet submitted for any fixture will be deemed to be the definitive presentation. Any discrepancies arising regarding player eligibility will be decided by the Management Committee on the information submitted on the Match Result Sheet.
If a match is abandoned, a fully completed Match Result Sheet must be submitted showing the score at the time of abandonment.
If a fixture is postponed notification must be made in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10(F).
12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
(a) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three (3) points to be awarded for a win and one (1) point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings may be decided as follows:-
(i) Goal difference.
(ii) Goals scored.
(iii) In the event of two or more teams being level on points, goal difference and goals scored for a position involving promotion or relegation, a deciding match may be played under conditions arranged by the Management Committee.
(b) AAutomatic 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) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(i) above.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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) IIn the event of a defaulting team not completing seventy-five percent (75%) of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table.
Where a defaulting team has completed seventy-five percent (75%) of its fixtures, the points for any unplayed games shall be awarded to the defaulting Club’s opponents.
(a) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three (3) points to be awarded for a win and one (1) point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings may be decided as follows:-
(i) Goal difference.
(ii) Goals scored.
(iii) In the event of two or more teams being level on points, goal difference and goals scored for a position involving promotion or relegation, a deciding match may be played under conditions arranged by the Management Committee.
(b) AAutomatic 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) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(i) above.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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) IIn the event of a defaulting team not completing seventy-five percent (75%) of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table.
Where a defaulting team has completed seventy-five percent (75%) of its fixtures, the points for any unplayed games shall be awarded to the defaulting Club’s opponents.
13. REFEREES
(a) Registered Referees for matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the Essex County Football Association.
(b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. In cases where there is no officially appointed Referee it is the responsibility of the Home Club to provide a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a Registered Referee.
(c) In all Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth Division matches, and any other fixture in which a Registered Referee is appointed, partaking Clubs shall supply a competent assistant referee. Failure to do so shall result in the Club being fined £10.00. Any Club failing to do so on more than one occasion shall be dealt with as the Management Committee so decides. The Club assistant referee shall present himself and give his name to the Referee at least 5 minutes before the appointed time of kick-off. Any case of the Club assistant referee not acting as such for the whole match shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
Where Club assistant referees are used in accordance with this clause, the Referee shall enter their names on the report sheet and award a mark (0/10) reflecting their competence.
(d) If the owner or lessor of a ground declares that the ground is unfit for play, that decision shall be final.
If the owner or lessor makes no such declaration, the appointed Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground and that decision shall be final.
(e) Referees appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to 30 pounds inclusive of travelling expenses. In the event of a double fixture, the fee for each match shall be 17 pounds and 50 pence inclusive of travelling expenses. Referees shall not be offered, nor ask for, nor receive, fees in excess of those stated above. The Home Club shall pay the Referee his fee immediately after the match. The second-named team in a double fixture shall be deemed the Home Club for the second match.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to pay the Referee within three days of the conclusion of the match shall be fined 5 pounds unless the Management Committee is satisfied that the circumstances are such that the fine should be remitted.
(f) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Referee, if present, shall be entitled to half fee only. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Referee, if he attends 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 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 Match Result Sheet. 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club awarding the Referee a mark of four (4) or less shall submit, with their Match Result Sheet, a written explanation of how the mark was calculated or in default be fined 10 pounds.
(j) The Referee shall submit a Match 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 Registration Secretary within two days of the match.
(k) Referees will be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
Competition Rule Incorporated
(l) ) In the event that no Referee is appointed by the Competition, and the two Clubs fail to agree upon a Referee at the ground on the morning of the fixture, causing the fixture to be postponed, then both Clubs are to submit a written report to the Competition Secretary within 7 days of the fixture clearly stating the reason for the postponement of the fixture. Any Club not submitting a report within the specified time will be fined 10 pounds. Any fixture postponed in this instance may be dealt with by the Management Committee as an unfulfilled fixture, in accordance with Competition Rule 10(F).
(a) Registered Referees for matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the Essex County Football Association.
(b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. In cases where there is no officially appointed Referee it is the responsibility of the Home Club to provide a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a Registered Referee.
(c) In all Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth Division matches, and any other fixture in which a Registered Referee is appointed, partaking Clubs shall supply a competent assistant referee. Failure to do so shall result in the Club being fined £10.00. Any Club failing to do so on more than one occasion shall be dealt with as the Management Committee so decides. The Club assistant referee shall present himself and give his name to the Referee at least 5 minutes before the appointed time of kick-off. Any case of the Club assistant referee not acting as such for the whole match shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
Where Club assistant referees are used in accordance with this clause, the Referee shall enter their names on the report sheet and award a mark (0/10) reflecting their competence.
(d) If the owner or lessor of a ground declares that the ground is unfit for play, that decision shall be final.
If the owner or lessor makes no such declaration, the appointed Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground and that decision shall be final.
(e) Referees appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to 30 pounds inclusive of travelling expenses. In the event of a double fixture, the fee for each match shall be 17 pounds and 50 pence inclusive of travelling expenses. Referees shall not be offered, nor ask for, nor receive, fees in excess of those stated above. The Home Club shall pay the Referee his fee immediately after the match. The second-named team in a double fixture shall be deemed the Home Club for the second match.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to pay the Referee within three days of the conclusion of the match shall be fined 5 pounds unless the Management Committee is satisfied that the circumstances are such that the fine should be remitted.
(f) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Referee, if present, shall be entitled to half fee only. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Referee, if he attends 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 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 Match Result Sheet. 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club awarding the Referee a mark of four (4) or less shall submit, with their Match Result Sheet, a written explanation of how the mark was calculated or in default be fined 10 pounds.
(j) The Referee shall submit a Match 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 Registration Secretary within two days of the match.
(k) Referees will be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
Competition Rule Incorporated
(l) ) In the event that no Referee is appointed by the Competition, and the two Clubs fail to agree upon a Referee at the ground on the morning of the fixture, causing the fixture to be postponed, then both Clubs are to submit a written report to the Competition Secretary within 7 days of the fixture clearly stating the reason for the postponement of the fixture. Any Club not submitting a report within the specified time will be fined 10 pounds. Any fixture postponed in this instance may be dealt with by the Management Committee as an unfulfilled fixture, in accordance with Competition Rule 10(F).
14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
(a) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 30th April.
All existing Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 30th April.
Competition Clarification
Any Club failing to submit their Application Form by 30th April shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Competition. (b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Constitution has been decided for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule prior to 1st August shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 10 pounds per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
Competition Rule Incorporated
A Club withdrawing a team or teams after 1st August shall be fined 20 pounds for each team withdrawn and shall be liable for the full payment of its Pre-Season Account.
Any Club having more than one team in the Competition which withdraws a team or teams shall withdraw its lower or lowest team or teams except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(c) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in these Rules, 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.
(a) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 30th April.
All existing Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 30th April.
Competition Clarification
Any Club failing to submit their Application Form by 30th April shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Competition. (b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Constitution has been decided for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule prior to 1st August shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 10 pounds per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
Competition Rule Incorporated
A Club withdrawing a team or teams after 1st August shall be fined 20 pounds for each team withdrawn and shall be liable for the full payment of its Pre-Season Account.
Any Club having more than one team in the Competition which withdraws a team or teams shall withdraw its lower or lowest team or teams except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(c) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in these Rules, 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.
15. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS
(a) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(b) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within seven (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 £25. 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 three (3) 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.
(a) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(b) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within seven (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 £25. 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 three (3) days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
16. BOARD OF APPEAL
(a) 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 Essex County Football Association, including a fee of £35 (or such other amount specified by the Association), 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
A copy of any appeal lodged in accordance with this Rule must be sent to the Competition Secretary and the operation of any decision made by the Competition that is the subject of the appeal shall not be suspended pending the result of the appeal unless the Board of Appeal or the Council of the Essex County Football Association, through its officers, orders such suspension.
(a) 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 Essex County Football Association, including a fee of £35 (or such other amount specified by the Association), 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
A copy of any appeal lodged in accordance with this Rule must be sent to the Competition Secretary and the operation of any decision made by the Competition that is the subject of the appeal shall not be suspended pending the result of the appeal unless the Board of Appeal or the Council of the Essex County Football Association, through its officers, orders such suspension.
17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS - MISCONDUCT CLUBS, OFFICALS, PLAYERS
(a) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3) of those present and voting. 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 seventy-five percent (75%) 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. The Management Committee may put forward a recommendation for inclusion of the Club or Team if it is considered beneficial to the Competition that they remain in membership.
(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 which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3) of those present and voting. 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 seventy-five percent (75%) 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. The Management Committee may put forward a recommendation for inclusion of the Club or Team if it is considered beneficial to the Competition that they remain in membership.
18. TROPHY, LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS
(a) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.
(b) 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 or such other nominated member of the Committee 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.'
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to return a trophy in a clean state and ready for re-presentation by the due date shall be fined a minimum of 10 pounds.
(c) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
(a) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.
(b) 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 or such other nominated member of the Committee 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.'
Competition Rule Incorporated
Any Club failing to return a trophy in a clean state and ready for re-presentation by the due date shall be fined a minimum of 10 pounds.
(c) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
(a) Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Competition Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least seven (7) 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 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 10 pounds.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
(a) Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Competition Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least seven (7) 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 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 10 pounds.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
20. ALTERATION TO RULES
(a) 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 Competition Secretary by 31st January in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 20th February and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Competition Secretary by 5th March. 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 not less than twenty-one (21) 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
No proposals or amendments shall be accepted at the meetings unless seventy-five percent (75%) of those present and entitled to vote agree.
(a) 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 Competition Secretary by 31st January in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 20th February and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Competition Secretary by 5th March. 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 not less than twenty-one (21) 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.
Competition Rule Incorporated
No proposals or amendments shall be accepted at the meetings unless seventy-five percent (75%) of those present and entitled to vote agree.
21. RULES BINDING ON CLUBS
(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.br />
(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.br />
22. FINANCE
(a) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(b) All expenditure in excess of £500 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 31st May.
(d) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(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 £500 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 31st May.
(d) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
23. DEBTORS SCHEME
The Competition shall compose a list of players owing moneys to its member Clubs comprising names of players submitted by the Clubs in accordance with the rules. This list shall hereinafter be referred to as the ‘League List’. All Clubs are requested to write, no later than 31st May each season, to all of their currently registered players who owe them money for the season just finishing, notifying them of their outstanding debts and giving them until 26th June in which to pay the money owed to the Club.
For the purpose of this rule, the money owed shall only be in respect of:
(i) Annual membership fees and Match subscriptions.
(ii) Fines which the Club has settled on behalf of the player.
Non-payment of other outstanding moneys would not entitle a Club to request that a player be added to the ‘League List’.
No Club shall be allowed to request that a player be added to the ‘League List’ in respect of any debt incurred before that player was last registered for that Club.
No Club shall be allowed to re-sign a player whose name is on the League List until he has cleared his debt, as defined above, to all Clubs which requested that his name be put on the League List.
A player listed by a Club must be advised that he will not be allowed to register with any participating Competition (noted below) until seven (7) days after he has settled his debt(s).
A player listed by a Club must also be advised that, if agreement concerning the debt cannot be reached with the Club, he has the right to appeal to the Competition who shall adjudicate on the matter.
Such appeals from players must be received by the Competition within fourteen (14) days of the player being notified of the debt as above, failing which the appeal will not be dealt with.
Each Club shall submit its final ‘Club List of Debtors’ to the Competition Secretary by 7th July and the Secretary shall combine all such lists with the names of players who owe money to the Competition to form the ‘League List’. The Secretary shall forward the ‘League List’ to a person, so authorised by the participating Competitions, who shall combine this list with similar lists from all the other participating Competitions to form one list hereinafter referred to as the ‘Combined List’.
Each Club shall immediately inform the Competition when a debt has been paid.
The Competition shall not register any player whose name is on the ‘Combined List’ until seven (7) days after the player has settled all his debts to the Clubs or Competitions noted on that List.
No Club shall be allowed to withhold clearance for any player whose name does not appear on their list of players owing money and who wishes to register with any of the participating Competitions.
The participating Competitions are:
Sceptre Sunday League, Southend & District Football League, Southend Borough Combination, Southend Borough Combination Veterans League, Southend Sunday Football League and Basildon Sunday League.
The registration of a Player, whose last or current Club(s) is, or includes, a Club in a Competition not contained in the above list, shall be dealt with in accordance with ECFA Rules in respect of such Player and Club. See ECFA Handbook Memorandum of Procedures Part I Section 14.
The Competition shall compose a list of players owing moneys to its member Clubs comprising names of players submitted by the Clubs in accordance with the rules. This list shall hereinafter be referred to as the ‘League List’. All Clubs are requested to write, no later than 31st May each season, to all of their currently registered players who owe them money for the season just finishing, notifying them of their outstanding debts and giving them until 26th June in which to pay the money owed to the Club.
For the purpose of this rule, the money owed shall only be in respect of:
(i) Annual membership fees and Match subscriptions.
(ii) Fines which the Club has settled on behalf of the player.
Non-payment of other outstanding moneys would not entitle a Club to request that a player be added to the ‘League List’.
No Club shall be allowed to request that a player be added to the ‘League List’ in respect of any debt incurred before that player was last registered for that Club.
No Club shall be allowed to re-sign a player whose name is on the League List until he has cleared his debt, as defined above, to all Clubs which requested that his name be put on the League List.
A player listed by a Club must be advised that he will not be allowed to register with any participating Competition (noted below) until seven (7) days after he has settled his debt(s).
A player listed by a Club must also be advised that, if agreement concerning the debt cannot be reached with the Club, he has the right to appeal to the Competition who shall adjudicate on the matter.
Such appeals from players must be received by the Competition within fourteen (14) days of the player being notified of the debt as above, failing which the appeal will not be dealt with.
Each Club shall submit its final ‘Club List of Debtors’ to the Competition Secretary by 7th July and the Secretary shall combine all such lists with the names of players who owe money to the Competition to form the ‘League List’. The Secretary shall forward the ‘League List’ to a person, so authorised by the participating Competitions, who shall combine this list with similar lists from all the other participating Competitions to form one list hereinafter referred to as the ‘Combined List’.
Each Club shall immediately inform the Competition when a debt has been paid.
The Competition shall not register any player whose name is on the ‘Combined List’ until seven (7) days after the player has settled all his debts to the Clubs or Competitions noted on that List.
No Club shall be allowed to withhold clearance for any player whose name does not appear on their list of players owing money and who wishes to register with any of the participating Competitions.
The participating Competitions are:
Sceptre Sunday League, Southend & District Football League, Southend Borough Combination, Southend Borough Combination Veterans League, Southend Sunday Football League and Basildon Sunday League.
The registration of a Player, whose last or current Club(s) is, or includes, a Club in a Competition not contained in the above list, shall be dealt with in accordance with ECFA Rules in respect of such Player and Club. See ECFA Handbook Memorandum of Procedures Part I Section 14.
24. Child PROTECTION
(1) Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
(2) In these Regulations the expression "Offence" shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children.
(3) Upon receipt by The Association of:
3.1 notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or
3.2 notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
3.3 any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then The Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:
4.1 whether a child is or children are or may be at risk of harm;
4.2 whether the matters are of a serious nature;
4.3 whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
(5) The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end.
(6) Where an order is imposed on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
(7)Where a person is convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football activity for such a period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(8) For the purposes of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
(9) Notification in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonably practicable.
(1) Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
(2) In these Regulations the expression "Offence" shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children.
(3) Upon receipt by The Association of:
3.1 notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or
3.2 notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
3.3 any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then The Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:
4.1 whether a child is or children are or may be at risk of harm;
4.2 whether the matters are of a serious nature;
4.3 whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
(5) The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end.
(6) Where an order is imposed on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
(7)Where a person is convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football activity for such a period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(8) For the purposes of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
(9) Notification in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonably practicable.