CONSTITUTION AND RULES
This League shall be
conducted in accordance with the General Rules for Leagues as laid down by the Football Association, which are adopted
by the Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland and North Riding
County Football Associations, together with
the special rules which have been approved by the Joint Committees of the above
Football Associations.
STANDARD CODE OF RULES
The following rules
have been compiled for the use of Competitions and are mandatory for all new Competitions,
and will be mandatory for all sanctioned Competitions at Level 4 or below of the
National League System as from Season 2002/2003.
Competitions seeking sanction must draft their Rules in conformity, putting them in the correctly numbered
Rule and showing the Standard Headings.
CLUBS TO NOTE:
In order to preserve
the status and good name of the Northern Football Alliance, rules governing the League will be strictly adhered to and enforced
by the League's elected Officials and the Management Committee.
Copies of the League
Rules are provided to each Club in membership and ignorance of any particular rule
will not be accepted as an excuse for breaking that rule
Club Secretaries are
therefore urged to consult the League Rules frequently so that unnecessary fines
and penalties imposed by the Management Committee can be avoided.
LEAGUE RULES
QUICK REFERENCE
RULE
1
NOMENCLATURE & CONSTITUTION
2
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
3
OFFICERS
4
MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
5
POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
6
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
7
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
8
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
9
CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME
10
PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK OFF, POSTPONEMENTS,
SUBSTITUTES
11
REPORTING RESULTS
12
DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
13
REFEREES
14
CONTINUATl0N OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
15
PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS
16
BOARD OF APPEAL
17
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS, MISCONDUCT, CLUBS,
OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
18
TROPHIES: LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED,
AWARDS
20
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
21
ALTERATION TO RULES
22
FINANCE
1
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
A This
competition shall be designated THE NORTHERN FOOTBALL ALLIANCE LTD and known as
the WADE ASSOCIATES NORTHERN FOOTBALL ALLIANCE and
shall consist of not more than
48 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs, and not more than 6 Clubs who shall be
Associate 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 Northumberland Football Association. The area covered
by the Competition shall be Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland and North Riding
The Competition shall
apply annually for Sanction to the Northumberland Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be
grouped
in divisions
each not exceeding 18 in number.
B At
the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose,
a majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the compilation
of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence
over Rule 12. C
2
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
A Application
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 £150 per team which shall be returned in . the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications,
of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting, or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12 (B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred
to another Division
no Entry Fee shall be payable.
B The
Annual Subscription shall be £100 per Club, payable
on or before 1st August in each
year.
C Each
Club shall within 7 Days of election pay a Deposit of £50 which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with
all orders of the Management Committee.
D A Club
shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription,
Deposit have been paid.
E
Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by First Thursday in June
each year, of its County Football Affiliation number for the following Season, failing
which they shall be fined £25. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed
form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required
by the Competition.
3 OFFICERS
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Treasurer
and Secretary, Insurance Secretary and Press Officer, to be elected 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 other
Officials and a maximum of 8 Club 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 1st May in each year. Names of the candidates
for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.
In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any
office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting.
The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with business
as it arises.
C On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of
the 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 such sub-committees as they may consider necessary
and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees.
The decisions of all such committees shall
be reported to the
Management Committee for ratification.
B Subject
to the permission of the Northumberland Football Association
being obtained, the
Management Committee may order a match/matches to
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 Members 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 the 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 & Regulations of the Football Association shall
be dealt with in accordance with the F.A. Rules.
E
All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to 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 three days
F
Six Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business of the Management Committee and 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 the 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 v 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 the 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 Meeting 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 14th June in each year. At this
meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least two thirds
of Member Clubs 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 the ensuing
season.
(vi)
Election of Officers and Management Committee
(vii)
Appointment of Auditors (or Responsible Persons).
(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 duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Northumberland,
Durham and Cumberland County Football Associations.
C A
signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be
sent to the Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland County Football Associations
within fourteen days of its adoption at the Annual General Meeting.
D Each
Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an ~ Annual General
Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not
less than fourteen days'
notice shall be given of any meeting.
Associate Member Clubs
may be represented at an Annual General Meeting in the proportion of one representative
for each six or part of six Associate Member Clubs and such representatives shall
exercise the powers and rights of full Members at such meetings.
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 voting cards unless a ballot
be demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
G No
individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf or more than one Full Member Club,
unless the individual is also appointed to vote as a representative of a group of
Associate Member Clubs.
H Any
continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without
satisfactory reason being given shall be fined
Twenty Pounds.
I
Officers
and Management Committee Members shall be entitled to attend and vote
at an Annual General Meeting.
7 AGREEMENT
TO BE SIGNED
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) of the.. ……………………..Football Club have been provided with a copy
of the Rules and Regulations of the Northern Football Alliance 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 of the above Agreement must be notified
to the 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 permitted in this Competition.
B A
registered playing member of a Club is one, who being in all other respects eligible, has:
(i)
Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition Registration
form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered
with the Registration Secretary one day prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(ii)
Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form
in ink on a match day prior to playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club
and witnessed by an Officer of the opposing Club and submitted to the Registrations
Secretary with the match result sheet within two days (Sundays excluded) subsequent to the match. The player shall not again play until the Club is in possession of the
completed counterfoil.
A maximum of two players
per match may be registered in t his way. Registration Forms may also be submitted
to the Registrations Secretary by facsimile machine prior to the player playing.
C . OMITTED
D A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football
Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the
Competition without first proving to the officials of the
intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club Official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
E
A Fee of 25p shall be paid for each player registered.
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 that season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(iii)
Submit a signed registration form, for registration, that the player had wilfully
neglected to accurately or fully complete.
H (i)
The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player due to any irregularities (Subject to Rule 16).
(ii) The Management
Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found
guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16).
(NOTE: Action under Clause (ii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute).
I
Subject to the Football Association dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations Secretary accompanied by a fee of one
pound (£1) 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 7 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 one day 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 31st March except by special permission of the Management
Committee.
K A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
L
A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary, and shall be open to inspection by any duly appointed Member Club at all Management Committee Meetings or at other times mutually arranged.
M A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12A unless the player has played
three games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
N
- OMITTED
O Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players
(i)
will have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and will be
fined £20 by
the Management Committee.
(ii)
In addition the team will have three points deducted from its total
by the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii)
The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may. at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed
P
Players in full time secondary education
(i)
Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations’
activities
(ii)
The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues)
(iii)
Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(NOTE: for players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply).
9 CLUB COLOURS,
CLUB NAME
A Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary 5 days
prior to the Annual General Meeting of the League, 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 five days before the match.
If, in the opinion of
the Referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick off by
not having a change shall be fined £10.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours
and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.
B Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain 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
Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and
concluding dates for
the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with the 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 be arranged for a date
not later than seven
days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
B All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
C
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.
D The
Management Committee shall have the 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 70 (seventy)
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 AGM or the Management
Committee. Any
Club failing to commence at the appointed time will be
fined a sum not exceeding £10 or otherwise
dealt with as the Management Committee may determine
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets and Corner Flags must be used.
E
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 League Secretary.
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
five clear days prior to the playing of the match.
The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.
Every Club shall play its best available qualified
team in all matches of the Competition.
In the event
of a Club playing in any match with less than 11 players they
shall be fined £20.
A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
Home and away matches
shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the
Management Committee shall also have the power to order a match to
be played on a neutral ground or on the opponents’ ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.
F
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, Reserve
Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined or otherwise dealt
with by the Management Committee
Notice of postponement
of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must
be given 72 hours by the Club to the Fixtures Secretary, the Referees Appointments
Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. 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 mutually agreed by the two Clubs
and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification
to the Fixtures Secretary within 3 days the Management Committee shall have the
power to order the match to be played on a named date on or before the given date.
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of
the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the end 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/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In all cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or
their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Association.
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.
G The
referee will be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 15 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 ten minutes duration, but shall not exceed
fifteen minutes. The
half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
11 REPORTING RESULTS
A The
Registrations Secretary must receive within three days of the date . played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (IN BLOCK LETTERS) and also the referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition.
Failure to do so will incur a fine of £10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the
Management Committee decide.
B The
Home Club will telephone the result of each match in to the specified League Official
by 5.00p.m. for Saturday matches, and by 9.00p.m. for midweek matches.
C The match result notification, correctly completed shall be signed by a responsible
member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power to take such action
as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.
12 DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
Team rankings within
the Competition will be decided by points with three
points to be awarded
for a win and one point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two
or more Clubs being equal on points, team rankings will be decided by the Club having
the best goals difference.
13 REFEREES
A Registered
Referees and Assistant Referees for matches shall be appointed in a Manner approved
by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).