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Rules: Season 2007 - 2008 1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION (a) This Competition shall be designated the 'South Lancashire Counties Football League' and shall incorporate The Wigan Sunday League and shall consist of all Clubs listed on Form "D" who shall be Full Member Clubs and not less than 8 clubs, having grounds within a reasonable distance of the League Headquarters (b) All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the the Form "D" to the Lancashire County Football Association. (c) This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Lancashire Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not less than eight teams in number. (d) Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition. Any Club wishing to play in an independent competition must apply for permission in writing 21 days beforehand. (e) 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. 2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT (a) Applications by clubs for admission to this competition or addition team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary. 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. (b) The League Fees and instalments shall be set at the Annual General Meeting preceding the season. (c) In addition clubs shall pay a £10 annual donation to the League Development Fund. (d) 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 (e) Any team playing in the Competition must become a member of the Competition Insurance Scheme. The fee for this will be set annually. (f) Each Member Club shall be responsible for the compulsory purchase of tickets for the Annual Presentation Evening. They will also be allocated tickets for the League Draw. The cost of such tickets will be added to the annual Subscription. (g) Any club finishing as Winner or Runner-up of their division will be invited to a Presentation Evening, date to be decided by the Committee. They will be allocated 16 tickets the cost of each ticket will be determined each year by the Committee. (h) Clubs may elected to pay their Competition Fees, Insurance Scheme fee, League Ground Development Fund donation and monies for tickets, by instalments. The first instalment must be paid to the Treasurer on or before the Registration Evening. Any team falling behind with their instalments may have their fixtures suspended. (i) All clubs must have a cheque account in the club name with a direct debit facility and the League can at any time call on clubs to present statements and documents. (j) The Committee may insist on fees of over £10 be paid by cheque only. (k) Fines must be paid by the time given on the official fine form or clubs will be fined a£5 administration charge and will be prevented from playing fixtures with the League until monies are paid. 3. OFFICERS (a) The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Disciplinary Officer, Press Officer. With the exception of the President, these will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers)
(a) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprising of the Officers and a minimum of 4 committee Members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. There may be Vice Presidents who will be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Competition Secretary may request their attendance at a Management Committee meeting when required (b) Retiring Officers and Members of the Management Committee shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election. Candidates may be nominated in the name of Committee. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member clubs, not later than 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting. (c) The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. (d) The League Secretary shall call a General Meeting following an instruction from the Committee or a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs. The Secretary shall also give all concerned seven days notice of such meetings and send an agenda to each Club. (e) Any club failing to attend a meeting, or an Annual General Meeting, shall be fined £20. Apologies will not be accepted as an attendance. Late arrivals shall be fined £5. Clubs absent from second roll call shall be fined £10. (f) A Club may be required to replace at future meetings any delegate who causes unruly behaviour. (g) 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. (h) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Secretary. (i) Persons who have given distinguished service to the League may be invited to become Life Vice Presidents, these will be nominated by the Management Committee. 5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT (a) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees, of not less than three members, as they may consider necessary and may delegate such powers, as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee, for ratification. (b) Subject to the permission of the Lancashire Football 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(a). (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 maters directly
appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall
apply to the procedure of any sub-committee). (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 providing 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 the Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of the Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules. (e) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance to Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee or Sub Committee, must be notified in writing to those concerned within 14 days. (f) Five 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. (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 Committee. (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 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least half of the members are present and entitled to vote:- (i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding 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 Lancashire County Football Association. (c) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Lancashire Football County Football Association within fourteen of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting. (d) Each Full Member Club send one delegate who shall be entitled to one vote only, other delegates may be admitted only at the Discretion of the Chairman. (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 only vote on matters relating to the season being concluded. (f) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least half 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 shall be fined £10 7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete. "We, A,_____ _______________________________ of _________________________ ( Chairman) and B _________________________________________ of _________________________(Secretary) of the _______________________________________________ Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the South Lancashire Counties Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition. (Note: The Spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members). 8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS (a) Contract players, as defined in the Football Association Rules are not permitted in this Competition. (b) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all respects eligible has, signed a fully and correctly Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registration Secretary, 6pm. The day before the game, he intends to pay in. For Youth players, proof of date of birth and identity photographs must accompany registration forms, at the time of registration. Registration will be refused if any document is incomplete. (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 fully discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played. (Note: The intention of this rule is to ensure that players discharge their responsibilities to clubs who may have paid fines/administration charges on their behalf, in respect of the current season or the season just ended. Similarly Clubs are expected to report to their County Football Association, at the end of each season, players who have failed to reimburse them such monies paid on their behalf.) (d) Registration forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary, payment for which is included in the League Fee. All Open age clubs shall register a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 30 players. Youth clubs require a minimum of 16 players. (e) An official release form must be used for the release of each player. A player who has previously been registered for a club and wishes to play for another club must complete and sign a transfer form. (f) The Management Committee shall decide on all registration disputes. (g) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to: - .
(j) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after the last day in 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 they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee. (l) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at a time mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one season only. (m) A player shall not be eligible to play in any Cup Semi Final or
Final unless the player has played three games for that team in this
Competition in the current season. (n) Any player who has played in a divisional cup match shall not be allowed to play for his new Club in the same competition or any other divisional cup. If a Club has two teams in the League, its players may play for only one in any divisional cup competition. If a club has two teams in the League, once a player has played for one team in the Houghton Cup he cannot play for the other team, or any other club, in the competition. (o) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in that match deducted from its total and shall be fined a sum not exceeding £50 and otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (p) In addition the team may have three points deducted from its total
at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with
in any further manner which is thought fit (q) Players with teams in the Youth Division must be under 18 years
of age before 31st August and at the time of registration must provide
proof of date of birth. Youth players must provide two passport size
photographs (no more than one year old) upon registration, one of which
must be signed on the rear, by a Club Official, (r) Any Open age team taht also has a youth team is only permitted
to use those players after they have filled in an open age registration
form and therefore become the owner of two registration numbers.The
players may only play in one divisional cup in any season and can only
play in the Houghton Cup for one team. The Wilf Hickson Cup is to be
classed as a divisional cup. (s) Any Club playing in a Cup semi-final or Final, must at least seven
days prior to the game, forward to the registration (t) All players registrations shall cease at the A.G.M. Players are then free to sign for ONE club in this League, providing they are clear of all financial commitments to the Lancashire F.A., the League and all previous clubs. 9. CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME (a) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with
the Secretary at the Annual General Meeting who (b) Goalkeepers must wear colours, which distinguish them from other players and the referee. (c) No player, including the Goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts. (d) 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 3 days before the match. (e) If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. An away team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick off by not having a change shall be fined £5.00 (f) 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 (g) Nothing must be worn by a player that, in the opinion of the Referee, might injure the player himself or any other player. Clubs must ensure that no player enters the field of play wearing finger rings (unless adequately taped) earrings, necklaces or any jewellery that could cause injury. Should it be necessary to send a player from the field to remove such articles the referee must report this fact to the League Secretary. If a referee reports such matters to the League a fine of £2 shall be imposed per game. (h) All players must play in recognised football kit. No Rugby boots or similar footwear shall be worn. (i) All teams shall have their team shirts numbered on the back in the regulation manner, players will be allowed to wear any number they wish to start the game but it MUST correspond with that on the team sheet and match report, including substitutes, or shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00. The substitute may not enter the field of play wearing a number previously used by a member of the starting eleven. Such players will not be allowed to enter the field of play. (j) Each Club must provide a First Aid Kit at each game. Any Club failing to provide a First Aid Kit shall be fined £5.00. (k) All serious injuries MUST be reported on the Referees Team Sheet and Match Report. (l) No player will be permitted to play without shin pads. (m) Club names shall be approved by the Management Committee and no club shall be allowed to change their name after the Registration meeting. (n) Captains shall wear distinctive armbands 10. PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OF KICK OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES (a) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season, which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. The Fixture Secretary will arrange fixtures, for the whole season. (b) Fixtures shall be confirmed by the Fixture Secretary on a monthly basis and Clubs will be notified. (c) Any team wishing to apply for a postponement must have a suitable reason and must apply to the Fixture Secretary only; this must be done in writing, not less than 14 days before their proposed postponement. If the postponement is granted, all interested parties will be notified by telephone, and the applicant, only if the postponement is refused. (d) Re-arranged fixtures will be notified by telephone at not less than four days notice and Clubs must always be available to take a fixture at short notice. Any team wishing to postpone a re arranged fixture must do so not less than three days prior to the fixture. (e) Teams with players selected for Inter League duty may apply for a postponement to the Fixture Secretary by telephone at no less than four days notice. (f) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board. (g) 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 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 teams sharing pitches with teams in another league may be asked to make alternative arrangements if the Fixture Secretary is unable to arrange an away fixture. Cancellation for lack of a home pitch is not acceptable (h) All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than sixty minutes in League matches and not less than eighty minutes in Cup games, Cup Semi Finals and Final shall be 90 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains and the Referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves. (I) The Management Committee shall fix the times of kick off. The home team must state their kick off time before the League programme commences. Clubs must kick off at 11.30am or 2.30pm only (2.00pm during the months of November - January), except under extenuating circumstances. Midweek games should kick off during August at 6.30pm; September and March 6.15pm; April 6.30pm and May 6.45pm. Any Club reported for a late kick off will be fined £2.00 plus 20p per minute for a first offence and £5.00 on the second offence plus 20p per minute. Third time offenders shall be brought before the Management Committee. (j) Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition. (k) The home side must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable for use. Goal nets and Corner flags must be used. Each club must supply their own Assistant Referees flag at each game. Any club failing to comply with any part of this Rule shall be fined for each offence £5.00. (l) 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 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 Fixture Secretary. (m) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice by telephone full particulars of the location of, and access to the ground and kick off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing club at least three clear days prior to the playing of the match. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine £5.00 for each offence. (n) Every Club shall play is best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. (Note: The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs, but to prevent Clubs deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of another or lower team. It is NOT intended that Clubs MUST field higher team players in reserve teams when the higher team has no engagement. If in the opinion of the Management Committee, the substance or spirit of this Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine, despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed) (o) In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they may be fined. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match (p) In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay 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 the power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or the opponents ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted in the circumstances. (q) 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 a sum not exceeding £50 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee (r) The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both trams. Whhere it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents or take what other action they deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both team's 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 Affiliated Association. (s) 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. (t) 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. (u) Clubs must submit a team sheet to the referee and opposition in the changing room's 10 minutes prior to the kick off. The names of all Substitutes will be included on this sheet. Clubs failing to do so shall be liable to a fine of £5.00. (v) The half time interval shall be of five 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 Competition Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match. Clubs will be given books with duplicate team sheets and each Club must submit a team sheet to the League after each game. This must include the Forename(s) and surname of the team players (in Block Letters) and the number on the team sheet, which must correspond with the number of the shirt worn. Clubs must also mark the referee as required by Rule 13. Clubs must also include their goal scorers and their opponent's man of the match. Incomplete team sheets or failure to comply with this Rule will incur a fine not exceeding £10.00 or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. If the match report does not arrive within 10 days the club will be suspended from all competitions. (b) The home Club shall telephone the result of each match and goal scorers of both teams to the Press Officer no later than 4.00pm for morning games, 5.30pm for afternoon games and 9.30pm for midweek games by the home club. Any club failing to do so will be fined £5.00. (c) If the game is postponed, the home club must inform the Press Officer and Referees Appointments Secretary, within 30 minutes of the postponement, so that the Referee may be allocated to a game that may be without a referee. Any club failing to do so will be fined £5.00. (d) Any Club playing in a County competition, must telephone the Press Officer, irrespective of playing home or away. The Press Officer must be informed of the result, or whether the match was postponed, together with any likely replay date. Only the goal scorers of players within this league are required. (e) A responsible member of the Club shall sign the match result notification, correctly completed. 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 (a) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points 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 teams being equal on points team rankings
will be decided in the following way: (b) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and the last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the Rule 1(b) (i) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on any of the following ways: (a) Retention of otherwise relegated team(s) (ii) When a senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept relegation to, or retain its position in, the next lower Division. Should the senior team be in a position to be relegated to the lowest division, the Management Committee shall decide whether the reserve team retires from the Competition or that the senior team shall not be relegated. (c) In the event of a team not completing its fixtures for the season, for whatever reason with 5 games or less to play the Management committee have the right to either award or expunge their record. If 6 or more games remain their record will be expunged (d) All Cup matches shall be decided on a knockout basis unless otherwise decided by the League Council. In the event of a drawn game, extra time shall be played of two equal halves, the length of time at the discretion of the referee, but not exceeding 15 minutes each half. If the result is still a draw after the time allocated, each team shall take five penalties, if this fails to produce a result then a sudden death situation will occur whereby both teams shall continue to take equal alternative penalties until one team misses and one-team scores. In the event of the home drawn teams ground being unfit after two attempts to stage the game, after the second attempt, if their opponent's ground is fit and available, the game must, if possible, be switched. If this happens, then the away team must then take the responsibilities of the home team and pay the referee. Should both grounds be unfit and the game is postponed, then when it is re arranged the same procedure must be followed until the game is played. (e) The League Committee reserve the right to dismiss any team from a cup competition for failing to fulfil a cup fixture or causing the abandonment of a cup-tie. (f) Divisional Cup semi finals shall be played on the ground of the first drawn club. Normal match procedure to be observed by the home team. Referee and Assistant Referee's fees and expenses shall be shared between both clubs. In the event of the home clubs ground being unfit or unavailable the Committee reserve the right to change the venue. (g) The Fixture Secretary shall decide on all dates for the replay of games. If games are to be played or replayed in midweek, clubs must be available to play Tuesdays or Thursdays. (h) Any Club wishing to play in an independent competition must apply for permission in writing 21 days beforehand. (i) No fixture shall be postponed due to player's commitments with other clubs outside this League. (j) All Clubs must inform the Fixture Secretary of their intention to take part in any F.A. or County or other competition outside this League, and the dates of these games as soon as they are known.
(a) The Referees Secretary shall, subject to availability appoint Registered Referees for all matches, in a manner approved by the Management Committee and the Lancashire Football County Football Association. (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 full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee. Under no circumstance s must the fixture be cancelled. (c ) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, appoint Assistant Referees, if available to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. (d) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbitor and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play, (e) When a registered or neutral Referee is provided the Home team shall pay a fee, which will be set at the start of each season, plus travelling expenses which must be calculated from home to the changing rooms and back. Or where public transport is used the actual fare at second-class rate. If Assistant Referees are provided by the League for any game each team shall pay one fee, which will be set at the start of each season, to each Assistant Referee, plus travelling expenses or actual fare used on public transport at second-class rate. In Cup Semi Finals both clubs shall share the Fees and expenses of all the Officials. (f) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Club have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee, providing he is in attendance. 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 and expenses. (g) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association, which he is registered. (h) Each Club shall in a manner prescribed from time to time by the Football Association, must submit a report to the League covering the performance of the referee on the appropriate form. (i) The Competition shall keep a record of the marks for each referee and on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to the Lancashire Football Association. (j) Home Clubs must ensure that a whistle and a watch are available should the Referee fail to attend. Any Club failing to do so shall be fined £3.00. (k) Referees must wear the traditional black kit. 14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB (a) Each Club must notify the Secretary in writing, by 1st May each Season of its intention, to withdraw from the Competition or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.00 (b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw its team or teams from
the League after the following dates, if this occurs they will be subject
to the following fines and administration charges: (c) In the event of a Member Club, which is an un-incorporated association,
withdrawing or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge
all its financial and other obligations to the Competition. (e) In the event of a member club withdrawing or disbandoning during the playing season, in addition to the action taken in 12(c) and a fine being imposed 14(b), the players registered with the club at the time of withdrawal, will not be allowed to re-register with another club in the League for a period to be set at the committee's discretion. Upon registration the said players will pay a £10.00 administration fee. 15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS (a) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretation of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee. (ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee. (b) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within three days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined. (c ) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16. (d) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £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 a default Club or the Club making or losing a frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties. (e) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received seven days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the complaining Club of any information, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint. 16. BOARD OF APPEAL Within 14 days of posting a written notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Lancashire Football Association, including a fee of £35 for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with F.A. 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. 17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS, OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS (a) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the for the purpose, notice of Motion having been duly circulation on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership. Which must be supported by (more than) two thirds of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. (b) At the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting. (c) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either misconduct, 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 the Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of this Rule. (d) Any team that fails a fixture has seven days from the date of the failure to explain in writing the reason(s) and any plea of mitigation. They shall be fined a sum not exceeding £50, may have three points deducted and shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred. A second offence by the same club may result in expulsion from the Competition, a third offence will result in expulsion from the Competition. Any club that is suspended by the League will be deemed to have failed a fixture and dealt with by the management committee as per rule. (e) The provisions of Appendix 3 shall apply, (f) Any club may be required to attend a disciplinary hearing when
requested at no less than 7 days notice. Should a club fail to attend
the hearing, costs of £10.00 shall be enforced and they may be
dealt with in their absence. Any club found guilty may be required to
pay £5.00 costs in addition to any fines that may be issued (h) Any club continually accumulating administration fines in a current season will be called to a Disciplinary Hearing. The League may ask for the removal of the said team secretary and a suitable replacement requested, Refusal to do this or a lack of improvement may result in the expulsion of the same team or club. 18. TROPHY: - LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, (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 may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit. (b) No trophy can be won outright by any club. (c) No alterations or engraving may be made to a trophy or cup without first obtaining the permission of the League. (d) Clubs resigning from the League who are in possession of a cup or trophy must return it immediately. 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 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 1st April 200__. 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." 19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS (a) Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. (b) The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. (c) At least seven days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the 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. Not less than seven days notice shall be given of any Meeting. (d) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting shall be fined a sum of £10. 20. ALTERATION TO RULES (a) Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season. (b) Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31st March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 21st April and any amendments thereto should be submitted to the Secretary by 7th May. 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 seventy per cent majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour. (c) 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 seven 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 Lancashire Football Association has been obtained. 21. RULES BINDING ON CLUBS 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. FINANCES (a) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged. (b) All expenditure in excess of £200 shall be approved by the Management Committee. (c) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31st March (d) The books, or certified balance sheet, of the Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. 23. INTER LEAGUE TEAM (a) The League shall run an Inter League Team, which may enter competitions throughout the season. The appointed team manager may call upon any player(s) from any team in the League for the representation of the League team. (b) Any Club refusing to release a player for the League team may face a possible fine if a reasonable explanation is nit given. (c) Any club having 2 or more players in the League team or one if he is a recognised goalkeeper will have the right to cancel their fixture in accordance with the fixture schedule. (d) Any player failing to attend an Inter League fixture will be asked to give an explanation in writing within 7 days to the League Secretary. Should the explanation not be received in the stipulated time, or is not to the satisfaction of the Management Committee, the player may be liable to disciplinary action. (e) Any player selected to play in an Inter League game shall not be allowed to play for his club on the same day, should his club have a fixture.
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