Rules & Constitution of Bottesford Town Football Club
1.NAME
The name of the Club shall be called BOTTESFORD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB (the Club)
2. OBJECTS
The objects of the Club shall be the promotion of the moral, social, intellectual and physical welfare of its members and to afford to its members for this purpose sporting, recreational and social facilities.
3.FOOTBALL MISSION STATEMENT
The Club as a voluntary organisation aim to provide both adults, and children from the age of 6, a framework to participate and enjoy Association Football. The organisation will provide quality facilities and coaching in the sport to its playing members.
4.CONSTITUTION
The Club is a Members Club and shall consist of not less than 25 and not more than 1000 ordinary and life members, honorary and temporary members and duly appointed offices and trustees.
4. MANAGEMENT
The management of the Club shall be vested in the hands of the Sports and Social Committee.
5. SPORTS AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
(a) The Sports and Social Committee shall consist of the Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and up to 9 elected members of the Club all of whom shall be over 18 years of age and all of whom shall have full voting power.
(b)At the first Annual General Meeting to be held after February 1983 and annually thereafter
(c)The members pursuant to rule 5A hereof to sit on the on the committee shall be elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting.
(d)Candidates for the Sports and Social Committee must be proposed and seconded by two full members of the Club and such nomination forms shall be in writing and delivered to the Secretary at least 7 days prior to the date of the ballot. No member shall be nominated for a place on any committee unless he has maintained a fully paid up membership of the Club for at least 12 months prior to the date of the nomination. No member having a family relationship with any paid employee of the Club shall be nominated for a place on the committee.
(e)A list of nominations for the Sports and Social Committee shall be posted on the notice board at least 5 days before the date of the ballot.
(f)The Chairman shall be elected annually and the retiring Chairman shall be eligible for re-election. Retiring members of the Sports and Social Committee shall also be eligible for re-election.
(g)One member from the Sports and Social Committee shall be elected annually as Vice Chairman of the Sports and Social Committee by a democratic vote of the Sports and Social Committee members.
(h)The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be appointed by the committee and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Sports and Social Committee. Where the Sports and Social Committee deems it desirable they have the power to appoint the Secretary and Treasurer and request him to hold both offices simultaneously.
(i)The Sports and Social Committee shall meet at least once every two months with 5 members in attendance to form a quorum, the Chairman having a casting vote in the event of an equal division of votes.
(j)A special meeting of the Sports and Social Committee may be convened at any time by the Chairman and/or Secretary and shall be called on the receipt of a written request by at least 3 members of the Sports and Social Committee.
(k)If any member of the Sports and Social Committee shall absent himself from 3 consecutive meetings without reasonable excuse his seat may be, by resolution of the committee, be declared vacant. The committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy for the remainder of the year.
6. The purchase of intoxicating liquor for supply by the club shall be in the absolute discretion of the Social sub-committee of not less than 3 elected members being members of the Sports and Social Committee appointed by the Sports and Social Committee for that purpose. In the event of any member ceasing to be a member of the Sports and Social Committee he shall automatically cease to be a member of the Social sub-committee and another member of the Sports and Social Committee shall be appointed in his place. The Sports and Social Committee may also from time to time appoint from among their number such other sub-committees as they deem necessary or expedient and may deput or refer to them such powers and duties of the committee as the committee may determine. All sub committees shall regularly report their proceedings to the Sports and Social Committee, and the Football Management Committee with regard to football matters, and shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the Sports and Social Committee, and for football matters in line with the FA Charter and the Football Association.
7.There shall be not more than 4 trustees of the Club. The first trustees shall be appointed by the Sports and Social Committee and the property of the Club (other than cash which shall be under the control of the Treasurer) shall be vested in them to be dealt with by them as the Sports and Social Committee shall from time to time direct by resolution (of which an entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence). The trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expenses out of the Club property. The trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by a resolution of the Sports and Social Committee who may for any reason which may seem sufficient to a majority of them present and voting at any meeting remove any trustee or trustees from the office of trustee. Where by reason of any such death, resignation or removal it shall appear necessary to the Sports and Social Committee that a new trustee or trustees shall be appointed or if the Sports and Social Committee shall deem it expedient to appoint an additional trustee or additional trustees, the Sports and Social Committee shall by resolution nominate the person or persons to be appointed the new trustee or trustees. For the purpose of giving effect to such nomination the Chairman is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Sports and Social Committee as the new trustee or new trustees of the Club and the provisions of the Trustees Act 1925 shall apply to any such appointment. Any statement of fact in any such deed of appointment shall in favour of a person dealing with bona fide and for value with the Club or the Sports and Social Committee be conclusive evidence of the fact so stated.
8.The Sports and Social Committee shall have full power to appoint by resolution a Honorary President or other officers of the Club should it so wish but any such person appointed shall not engage in or otherwise be entitled under these Rules and Constitution to participate in the management of the Club.
8AMembership of the Club shall be open to all, provided that in the case of senior membership and social membership it shall be limited to persons over 18 years of age. Any person wising to become a member of the Club must be nominated by 2 full members of the Club and submitted to the committee for approval. There must be at least 2 clear days between the date of application for membership and the applicant’s admission to the Club premises. The name and address of any person proposed for election shall be prominently displayed in the premises of the Club in a part frequented by members for not less than 2 clear days before the election.
8BAny member shall have the right to object to any nomination, such objection to be made to the committee prior to his election.
8CThe Sports and Social Committee shall have the power to suspend or expel any member whose conduct shall be considered detrimental to the Club. The Sports and Social Committee may delegate this power to a sub committee or to officials until the next Sports and Social Committee meeting shall be held when the suspension shall be reported and the whole matter considered and decided by the Sports and Social Committee.
8DA membership card shall be supplied to each member and a copy of the Rules shall be available on application to the Secretary. Membership cards must be produced for inspection when requested by the steward/bar staff or a member of the Sports and Social Committee.
8EA person otherwise eligible for membership may be elected a temporary member for any period up to 2 weeks in any one year on such terms and conditions as the Sports and Social Committee may from time to time determine. In all cases of application for membership at least 2 clear days must elapse between the date of application and the applicants admission to Club premises. The name and address of any person proposed for election shall be prominently displayed in the premises of the Club in a part frequented by members for not less than 2 clear days before the election.
9ACommencing 1st January 1983 subscriptions for members shall be as previously determined by the Sports and Social Committee as hereinafter mentioned. Subscriptions are due on 1st January. The Sport and Social Committee shall have the power to grant ordinary, honorary, life and temporary membership provided that there shall not be at any one time more than 15 honorary members. Members may send to the Secretary names suggested for invitation. Honorary members shall not be required to pay any entrance fee or subscription.
9BAny member who has not paid his subscription 28 days after the date due shall be deemed to be in arrears and if not paid within 14 days thereafter his membership shall be terminated.
9CThe life subscription, ordinary and temporary annual subscription shall be such sums as shall be decided by the Sports and Social Committee subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Life subscriptions once paid shall be considered paid all time and not subject to any alterations. If for any reason whatsoever a Life member has to withdraw from the Club he has no claim on any portion of his life subscription. A membership card with an endorsement indicating Life membership will be issued annually to life members.
10AAn Annual General Meeting of the members of the Club shall be held not later than the end of May each year after 1983.
10BAt this meeting of which at least 7 days notice shall be given by notice posted on the notice board in the club, the members present shall appoint all officers as may be deemed necessary, appoint an Accountant and receive from the Sports and Social Committee a report, a balance sheet and statement of accounts for the preceding financial year and an estimate of the receipts and expenditure for the current financial year. The quorum at all general meetings shall be as follows; for motions proposing any repeal or additions to or amendment of the rules15; for repeal of any regulation 10; for all other business 5.
GENERAL
11 There shall be a right of appeal from any decision of the Sports and Social Committee to a Special General Meeting of the members of the Club to be convened for that purpose on the requisition in writing of at least 12 members and the Secretary shall upon receipt of such requisition forthwith convene a Special General Meeting by giving notice thereof affixed to the notice board at least 7 days prior to the date of the meeting. A Special General Meeting shall also be summoned by not less than 7 days notice if not more than 30 nor more than one fifth of the members of the Club request the Secretary in writing to summon such a meeting the members stating for what purpose the Special General Meeting is required and at such Special General Meeting the only business which shall be transacted shall be the business specified in the written request signed by the members. The quorum at a Special General Meeting shall be 15.
12Subject to such conditions as the Sports and Social Committee of the Club shall determine from time to time and the provision of Rule 17 hereof members may introduce guests of members to any part of the Club premises which is not specifically reserved for the sole use of members. No member shall introduce more than 2 guests (opposition teams are classed as being 1 guest) at any one time. The Sports and Social Committee shall have the right to withdraw the general privilege and to refuse admission to any particular guest of a member without giving any reason for its action. The member introducing the guest shall be responsible for his good behaviour in the Club and shall be responsible for signing his own name and the names and addresses of his guests in the Guest Book. Guests of members may partake in ant activities within the Club but shall not purchase intoxicating liquor. The provision of the previous sentence shall not apply to persons who under Rule 17 are entitled to be admitted to the premises of the Club and to purchase intoxicating liquor therein.
13AThe financial year shall be from 1 January to 31 December each year. At the end of the financial year the Clubs books and other documents shall be delivered to the Club’s Accountant who will be a qualified Accountant and who will prepare from the Clubs records an Income and Expenditure Account and a Balance Sheet as at 31 December. These Accounts will be presented to a meeting of the Sports and Social Committee and be available for presentation at the Annual General Meeting of the Club.
13BThe Treasurer shall receive all monies due to the Club and issue receipts. All cheques drawn out of the Club shall be signed jointly by any 2 of the following; Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer. The Treasurer is authorised to endorse all cheques etc for payment into the Clubs banking account which shall be a separate account at the National Westminster Bank plc. The system for recording financial transactions shall be as laid down by the Treasurer of the Club in accordance with the wish of the Club’s Accountant. The Treasurer shall at each meeting render to the Clubs committee an account of monies received and expended by him.
13CThe Secretary shall on all occasions in the execution of his office act under the control of the Sports and Social Committee. He shall receive all monies on account of the Club and pay the same to the Treasurer.
14If at any time the Club in general meeting shall pass a resolution authorising the Sports and Social Committee to borrow money the Sports and Social Committee shall thereupon be empowered to borrow for the purposes of the Club such amount of money either at one time or from time to time and at such rate of interest and in such form and manner and upon such security as shall be specified in such resolution and thereupon the Trustees shall at the direction of the Sports and Social Committee make all such dispositions of the Club property on any part thereof and enter into such agreements in relation thereto as the Sports and Social Committee may deem proper for giving security for such loans and interest. All members of the Club whether voting on such resolution or no and all persons becoming members of the Club after the passing of such resolution shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had voted in favour of such resolution.
15The premises of the Club shall be opened and closed at such times as the Sports and Social Committee shall from time to time decide.
16The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicants in the Club shall be as from time to time fixed by the Sports and Social Committee within the limits authorised by the Licensing Act 1964 or statutory re-enactment thereof. No variation of the previous permitted hours shall come into operation in the Club until 2 clear days have elapsed after (1) notice of such variation has been exhibited on the notice board in the premises of the Club and (2) notice of such variation has been given in writing to the Clerk to the Scunthorpe Justices such written notice to be signed either by the Chairman or Secretary of the Club.
17Subject to (a) any conditions attached to the Clubs Registration Certificate by a magistrate court and (b) any conditions imposed by the committee generally or from time to time the following persons or classes of persons shall be admitted to the premises of the Club (but in respect of persons in class 2 hereinafter mentioned only on the specific date upon which they have been invited to visit the playing field or premises of the club) and the Club shall be entitled to sell to such persons or classes intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises namely:-
1.Members of any other duly registered club in the locality who’s premises are temporarily closed.
2.The members of any Athletic Club, Sports Club, Games Teams or their bona fide officials and supporters or any duly registered club who’s members have (whether at large or a limited number thereof) been invited by the Club to visit the playing field or premises of the Club.
3.Duly nominated candidates for election as members of the Club whose names and addresses have been displayed in the premises of the Club for not less than 2 clear days as required by rule 8A.
4.Persons employed by the Club and (when visiting the Club in the course of his or her employment) persons employed by a brewery company or other company firm or person from whom the Club purchases intoxicating liquor or with whom the Club conducts business.
5.Persons attending private lettings providing such lettings do not exceed twelve in any one calendar year.
18IMPROPER CONDUCT
No intoxication unlawful gambling, offensive language or conduct shall be permitted in the Club. Improper conduct by any member of the Club shall be dealt with by the Sports and Social Committee whose decision shall be final but before any member is expelled from membership he shall be given an opportunity of explaining his conduct.
19No new rules shall be made nor shall any of the rules herein contained or hereafter made by amendment or rescinded without the consent of two thirds majority of the voting members of the Club actually voting at a General Meeting, Special General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose.
20Propositions for amendment of the rules must be submitted to the Secretary supported by not less than 6 voting members of the Club who shall attach their signatures to the propositions and such propositions must be submitted to the Secretary not later than 28 days prior to the proposed meeting and posted on the notice board at least 7 days prior to such meeting.
21The Secretary shall as soon as possible and in any case within 28 days of the making of any such new Rule amendment or rescission given written notice of any new rule amendment or rescission to the Superintendent of Police, to the Clerk to the Scunthorpe Justices and to the Clerk of the Local Authority of the District in which the Club is situated.
22Any questions arising on matters not provided for in these rules or any question as to the interpretation thereof shall be referred to and settled by the committee.
23 DISSOLUTION
A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.
The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the club shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the club.
Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of debts shall be transferred to the Football Association and the assets utilised for the benefit of the game. Alternatively the assets of the Club may be disposed of in a manner as the members of the Club with the consent of the Football Association shall determine.
FOOTBALL RULES
1. CLUB AFFILIATION RULES AND REGULATIONS
(a)The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of The Football Association by virtue of its affiliation to the Lincolnshire Football Association. The Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited, the Lincolnshire Football Association and any League or Competition to which the Club is affiliated for the time being, shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Club Rules.
(b) No alteration to the Club Rules shall be effective without prior written approval by the parent Association.
(c) The Club will also abide by The Football Association’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.
2. CLUB MEMBERSHIP
(a) The football playing members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members which shall be maintained by the Registrar on behalf of the Club Secretary.
(b) The Football Association and Lincolnshire Football Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.
3. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE
(a) An annual fee, payable by each member, shall be determined, from time to time by the Sports and Social Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.
(b) The Sports and Social Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.
4. SUB COMMITTEES
(a) The Football Management Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary and one other person seconded from the football side.
(b) Each member of the Football Management Committee shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. The Football Management Committee shall be responsible for the management of all football affairs of the Club to the Sports and Social Committee. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Football Management Committee shall be three.
(c) Decisions of the Football Management Committee at meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.
(d) Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association and the County Association to which the Club is affiliated, the Sports and Social Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.
(f)Sub committees may be formed by the Football Management Committee, the names of the members specified by the Football Management Committee.
5. TEAM MANAGERS
At its first meeting following each AGM, the Junior Managers Sub Committee and the Girls/Ladies Managers Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team, within the agreed Club and governing body rules and guidelines. The appointed members shall present to the respective sub committee meetings a report on the activities of the team.
6.GENERAL RULES AND GUIDELINES
a.To be a playing member of the club, each player must have completed and signed a registration form for the league(s) in which the club’s team are playing in.
b.All fund raising activities shall be fully supported by all members/teams within the club.
c. Individual team managers will be responsible for the collection of player’s fees
d.Adult teams, other than the 1st team. Players shall pay £3 per match & £1 when a substitute.
e.Junior players will pay a maximum of £50. This must be paid as £5 when completing the relevant signing on form, with the balance paid as £25 before the end of September of that current season. The final payment must be made by 31st January in the current season.
f. Any player, who is in arrears with any payments, may be suspended from playing for the club until all monies have been paid. Any outstanding payments 42 days overdue will be reported to the Lincolnshire Football Association.
g.Disciplinary fines will be treated the same way as match fees. Fines should be paid direct to the Treasurer within 14 days of the date of the Lincs FA letter. Non-payment will lead to suspension and report to the Lincolnshire Football Association.
h.All monies must be handed over to the Treasurer as soon as possible after collection, unless previous arrangements have been made. All club monies should be paid into the one bank account, controlled by the Treasurer on behalf of the Club.
i. No manager shall sign a transfer form for any player wishing to leave the club without checking with the Treasurer than the person does not owe monies to the club.
j. No club official or member has any authority to make a commitment on behalf of the club, without it being approved by the Sports and Social Committee. In cases of emergency, an official may get verbal approval from two other officials of the Sports and Social Committee, and advise the Treasurer of the approval.