1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
A. This Competitions shall be designated the JOHN J HOGG FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS Sunderland Sunday League/Cup, JOE HOLBORN MEMORIAL CUP, CHAIRMANS CUP and Total Sport Challenge Trophy, known as the JOHN J HOGG FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS SUNDERLAND SUNDAY LEAGUE and shall consist of not more than 64 clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form “D” to the Durham County Football Association Limited.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Durham County Football Association(s) Limited and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 16 in number. If division are of 12 and below the league will run a subsidiary division of the same teams. The points from this division will be added to the totals of the main divisions.
No team in the League or Division of the League comprising of ten or more clubs shall be allowed to compete in more than THREE Charity Cup Competitions during the season without the consent of their parent Association and Management Committee.
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 £10.00 per team, which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
B. The Annual Subscription shall be £75.00p per Team, which includes £10.00p per Charity competition.
C. Each New Club shall within 28 days/on the day of election pay a Deposit of £10.00p, which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all order of the Management Committee.
3. OFFICERS
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Registration Secretary, and all to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers.)
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 eight 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 25th May in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.
C. General Meeting for clubs will be held MONTHLY on the SECOND THURSDAY of each MONTH, from August to May inclusive. All clubs must be in attendance and no apologies will be accepted. Any club not in attendance shall be fined £20, which shall be doubled for non attendance at consecutive meetings. Any club missing 3 consecutive meetings in any one season shall be subject to censure or expulsion from the league at the AGM. Management Committee shall meet as 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 as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such sub- committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. The Management Committee shall have power to deal only with matters within the Competition and not for any matters of misconduct that are under the jurisdiction of the Football Association or affiliated Association
B. Subject to the permission of the Durham County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).
C. Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall also apply to the procedure of any sub-committee).
In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
D. The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Club Official (limited to Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer) 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. Financial penalties can only be imposed if included within the set penalties for breaches of Competition Rules. 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 by the appropriate Association.
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 7 days.
F. Six Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and Three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the competition.
G. The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.
H. A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.
I. All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification.
Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.
J. A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
K. The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
A. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 23rd June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 50% of Members are present and entitled to vote:-
B. A copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts, and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Durham County Football Association(s).
C. A signed copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Durham County Football Association(s) within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
D. Each Full Member Club/team shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than 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. This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.
F. All voting shall be conducted by a show of hands/voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least 50% of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
G. No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
H. Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £100.00p.
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 Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.
“We, A, ----------------------------of ----------------------- (Chairman) and
B -----------------------------------of ----------------------- (Secretary)
……………..------------------------------- Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the ----------------------------Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.
Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Durham County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of Officers and Members).
8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are/are not permitted in this Competition. A contract player may only play for the Clubthat holds his contract.Insert It is the responsibility of each Club to ensure that any Player signing a registration form for that Club has, where necessary, the required International Transfer Certificate. Clearance is required for any Player aged 12 and over crossingborders including Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
B. A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. It shall be a breach of Rule for a player to:-
F. (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration
of any player.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel
or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player, except those under 18 years of age, 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 make application to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to the FA or the relevant County Football Association.
Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter
a participant from being involved in this Competition. Application should be made to the parent County of the Club the player is registered with.
(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 and will in any case be subject to an Appeal to the Football Association.) For the purpose of this Rule, bringing the competition into disrepute can only be considered where the player has received in excess of 112 days’ suspension, or 10 matches in match based discipline, in a period of two years or less from the date of the first offence.)
G. Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the (Registrations) Secretary . Such transfer shall be referred by the (Registrations) Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the (Registrations) Secretary and 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 (Registrations) 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 7 days after receipt of such transfer. All transfer forms must be obtained from the REGISTRATION SECRETARY and be accompanied by a completed REGISTRATION FORM.
In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
H. A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 31st March, no transfers allowed before the 30th September.
I. A Club shall keep a list of players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
J. A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one Season only.
In the event of a player without a written contract changing his status to that of a contract player with the same Club, another Club in the Competition or with a Club in another Competition his registration as a player without a written contract will automatically be cancelled and declared void. In order to play in the League again either for his original Club or for another Club it will be necessary for him to be re-registered as required by this Rule.
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K. (i) Any team found playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall be fined £35.00p and have 3 points deducted from its total with regards to league games; or forfeit tie with regard to cup games. Fines shall be doubled for further offences.
9. CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
A. Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 20th July each season who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear colours 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 4 days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £5.00p
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.
B. Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
10. PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES
A. The Management Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season, which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules.
B. All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have the power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have the power to decide whether the pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 70 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the Referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
In all cup competition if the score is level after 90 minutes then 15 minutes each way of extra time shall be played. If the score-lines is still level after this time the games shall be decided by a penalty kick competition.
The times of kick-off shall be 10.30am on Sundays and 6.15pm midweek games. Any club failing to .commence at the appointed time shall be fined £1.00. Midweek fixtures shall be at the discretion of the League Secretary. Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed times and must report all late starts to the competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets and corner flags must be used.
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 General Secretary.
D. The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least four clear days prior to the playing of the match. The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.
E. Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine of £35.00p, deduct 3 points from the defaulting Club, and 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.
In all cup competitions clubs who fail to keep engagements resulting in the cup games being postponed the defaulting club will be fined £35.00 and excluded from the competition.
A club seeking a postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must be given 14 days in writing ) by the Club to the General Secretary, who at his discretion may approve the postponment.
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 arranged by the General Secretary
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 opponent. In cases where a match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule all points for the match as void. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned match.
F. A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players.
The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes prior to the start of the match.
A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
G. The half time interval shall be of 10 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
11. REPORTING RESULTS
A. The (Administration) Secretary must receive within 72 hours of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (BLOCK LETTERS) and also the referee markings required by Rule 13 or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5.00p and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
B. The Home Club shall phone or text the result of each match to the League Secretary by 3pm Sundays 9pm midweek. The home will be responsible to email a report to the press Secretary with two days. The home club will be responsible for updating the match return on the website. Failure to do so the team shall be fined £3.00.
C. The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of each Club. Each club will upload their team sheet on line, this must be done within 72 hours of the game being played. Failure to do so incures a £5.00 fine.
12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
A. Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with 3 points to be awarded for a win and ONE point for a drawn match. The Teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
in each Division except as provided for hereunder,
(ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled in any of the following ways:
(iii) The last 2 teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting, subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(i) above.
C. In the event of a team not completing its fixtures for the season, the record of the matches played by such club shall be expunged from the Competition table,
13. REFEREES
A. Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).
B. In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
C. The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.00p being imposed on the defaulting Team.
D. The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of the ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
E. Match Officials appointed under this rule shall be entitled to charge an inclusive fee of £25.
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees before the match. In Cup games the fee will be paid by both clubs half each.
F. In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee paid by both clubs half each. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee. 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.
G. Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be 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.
H. Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
A. After 31st March in the current Season a Club intending, or having provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to join another League. The Club must notify the Secretary in writing by the second Thursday in May or be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.00p.
All 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 second Thursday in May of each season.
B. A club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting/Arrangement of Fixtures for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.00p per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
C. The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held no
later than 16th June each season, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team 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 with fixtures outstanding shall be fine £100.00 and shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such obligation remains undercharged after a period of twenty one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under statutory school leaving age. Until a Member’s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS
A. (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
B. Except in the case where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within 7days (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 £5.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or complaint being heard. (i) All parties must have received_______days’ notice of the Hearing should they be instructed to attend. (ii) Should a Club elect to state its case in person then they should forward a deposit of £_______ and indicate such when forwarding the written response.
16. BOARD OF APPEAL
Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee, Insert (E) All parties to a protest or complaint must receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or complaint being heard or the Competition, a Club, Official or Player, against whom action is taken, may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in TRIPLICATE with the Secretary of the Durham County Football Association, including a fee of £20.00 for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.
No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.
17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
A. At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership. 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 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.
18. TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.
A. A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards mayl be made to the winners and runners up if the funds of the Competition permit.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-
“We A--------------------------- and B-------------------, the Chairman and Secretary of ------------------------ FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of ----------------- Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before …………………………….. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.”
All trophies must be returned to the competition on or before the MARCH meeting, clean and in good order. Any club failing to carry out this rule shall be fined £30.00p.
Should a club disband at any time whilst holding a competition trophy this must be returned to the competition immediately the decision is made to disband.
19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Upon receiving a requisition signed by two two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least 7days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.
Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall/may be fined £50.00p.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
All amendment of Rules can only be implemented once approved by the appropriate sanctioning authority.
20. ALTERATION TO RULES
Alterations, for which consent has been given by the sanctioning Association, shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season. Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by _______________in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by ______________and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by _________________. 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 ______________days prior to the date of the meeting.
A copy of proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning County Football Association FOURTEEN days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
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.
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 £100.00p 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 20th May each year.
D. The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited / verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
23. CHILD PROTECTION
24. INSURANCE. Insurance for every player signed by the club must now be insured through the Duham Football Association Scheme. £5.00 per player and must be registered with the insurance company (Sports Guard ) before he is able to play.
25. CHEQUES
Any club having a cheque returned to the league unpaid shall be liable to any bank charges incurred
SIGNED FOR ON BEHALF OF THE
JOHN J HOGG FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS SUNDERLAND SUNDAY LEAGUE.
HON. SECRETARY