Affiliated to: Hertfordshire County F.A.

Members of: Royston Crow League - Essex County Girls Football League - Cambridgeshire Girls League
Home Page
Find Us
Teams
News Page
Events Diary
Club Shop
Links
Tournaments/Tours
Sponsors
Contact Us
Managers Login

Constitution adopted on the 20th day of July 2006

NAME

The club shall be called Bishop’s Stortford Community Football Club (the Club)

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Club shall be to promote the amateur sport of association football at youth level in the Bishop’s Stortford area, to arrange association football matches and appropriate social activities for its members and to promote community participation in the same.

STATUS OF RULES

 These rules (the Club Rules) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

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, membership of, The Football Association. The Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited and parent County 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.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

(a)        The members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the Players Membership Register) which shall be maintained by the Club Secretary or his deputy.
(b)      Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis. The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating. The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to members.
(c)      Any person who wishes to be a member must apply on the Membership Application Form and deliver it to the Club. Election to membership shall be at the sole discretion of the Club Committee. Membership shall become effective upon an applicant’s name being entered in the Players Membership Register and receipt of the applicable membership fee.
(d)        In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Players Membership Register.
(e)        The Football Association and parent County Association shall be given access to the Players Membership Register on demand.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE

(a)        An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined from time to time by the Club Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.
(b)        The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.

RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

(a)        A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of their resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than 2 months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.
(b)        The Club Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member.
(c)        A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the Club Property.

CLUB COMMITTEE

(a)        The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary who shall form the Executive Committee.  These four Officers shall form the Executive Committee who shall have the power to nominate for election to the Club Committee, a member to represent the following areas of Club business: Child Protection, Registration, Facilities, Fundraising, Community Links, Junior Player Development, Player Development, Adult Player Development, Communications, Managers Representatives (3), Parent Representatives (3). The Club Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members when such an action is deemed necessary to benefit the club.
 (b)      Each Club Officer and Club Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person should hold no more than one position of Club Officer at any one time. The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairman or in their absence the Vice Chairman. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be seven.
(c)      Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.
(d)      Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than 14 days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than six meetings a year.
(e)        An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members.
(f)      Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association and the County Association to which the Club is affiliated, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

(a)        An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in July each year to:
(i)         receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year
(ii)        receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year
(iii) elect the members of the Club Executive Committee
(iv) consider any other business.
(b)      Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the Meeting.  Election of Club Officers shall be by a simple majority vote at the AGM.  Parents / guardians may vote on behalf of their children is they are under 18 years of age on the basis of one vote per player. 
(c)        A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt by the Club Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than five members stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed.  Business at an SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM.
(d)        The Secretary shall send to each member, at their last known email address, written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the Meeting. Notice of all General Meetings will be posted on the Club Website giving not less than fourteen days notice of the venue and time of the meeting.
(e)        The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 15 members of which at least three should be Committee Members.
(f)         The Chairman, or in their absence a member selected by the Club Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.
(g)        The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

CLUB TEAMS

(a)        At its first meeting following each AGM, the Club Committee shall appoint an Official to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams.  The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team including the implementation of the FA Child Protection Policy and the Club Code of Practice.  The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report on the activities of the team for the previous season.  

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

(a)        The club shall adopt, in full, the Football Association’s Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Practices.  At least two suitably qualified Child Welfare Officers (CWO) will be appointed by the Club Committee - whose responsibility it will be to ensure that all recommended Child Protection Policy procedures and practices are implemented.  The CWO will report to the Club Committee on a regular basis.
(b)        A Deputy Child Welfare Officer will be appointed whose duties will be defined by the CWO.
(c)        All managers, coaches and volunteers will be required to attend the Football Association Child Protection and Awareness Workshop when requested to do so by the Club Committee and in any case within six months of their having taking position.  The Child Protection Certificates should be renewed within 3 years.
(d)        All managers, coaches and volunteers will be expected to complete the Football Association Criminal Records Bureau check - prior to their appointment.
 

CODE OF CONDUCT.

(a)        The Club shall demand the highest standard of behaviour from all associated with the Club – Officials, Managers, Coaches, Players, Parents/Guardians and Volunteers alike.  A Code of Conduct detailing the required standard of behaviour will be kept updated by the Club Committee - and it will be a condition of membership for everyone to complete and sign the form.  The Code of Conduct shall be reviewed on an annual basis.
(b)      Any deviation from the standards as required within the Code of Conduct will be viewed as serious and subject to the Rules as set out in G above.
(c)        It is the responsibility of any player, manager or team accruing fines during the season to pay their own fines.

 COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE.

In the event that any Member feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way, or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct have been broken, he or she should follow the following procedure:

  • They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or in his / her absence, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Club.  The report should include:
  • Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place.
  • Any witness statement and names.
  • Names of others who have been treated in a similar way.
  • Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made.
  • A preference for a solution to the incident.
  • In the event of the matter not being able to be resolved amicably by negotiation, the Club Secretary will refer the matter to the Clubs Management Committee who will convene a Disciplinary Sub-Committee to hear the Complaint.
  • The Disciplinary Sub-Committee will have the power to:
  • Warn as to future conduct
  • suspend from membership
  • remove from membership

any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies or Code of Conduct.
           
The decision of the Sub-Committee elected to hear the complaint will be final.

EQUITY

(a)        The Club is fully committed to providing opportunities for everyone to participate in football regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or ability.
(b)        The Club shall have regard to the guidelines as published by the Football Association in their leaflet “Equity guidelines and examples of good practice in football”.

CLUB FINANCES

(a)        A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the Club Account). Designated account signatories shall be the Club Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, the Club Secretary and the Treasurer. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two of the four designated signatories – one of whom must be the Club Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited promptly in the Club Account. A further bank Deposit account may be opened to benefit the club through the accrual of interest. 
(b)        The income and assets of the Club (the Club Property) shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club.  All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
(c)        The Club Committee shall have power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.
(d)        The Club shall prepare an annual Financial Statement in such form as shall be published by The Football Association from time to time. The Treasurer shall prepare management accounts that shall be presented to the Club Committee at each meeting of the Committee. The management accounts should clearly show any income and expenditure for the period since the last meeting of the Committee.
(e)        The Club Property, other than the Club Account, shall be vested in not less than two and no more than four custodians, one of whom shall be the Treasurer (the Custodians), who shall deal with the Club Property as directed by decisions of the Club Committee and entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence of such a decision.
(f)         The Custodians shall be appointed by the Club in a General Meeting and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
(g)        On their removal or resignation a Custodian shall execute a Conveyance in such form as is published by The Football Association from time to time to a newly-elected Custodian or the existing Custodians as directed by the Club Committee. On the death of a Custodian, any Club Property vested in them shall vest automatically in the surviving Custodians. If there is only one surviving Custodian, a Special General Meeting shall be convened as soon as possible to appoint another Custodian.
(h)        The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the Club Property for all expenses and other liabilities reasonably incurred by them in carrying out their duties.

DISSOLUTION

(a)        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.
(b)        The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.
(c)      Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to another registered Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), a registered Charity or the parent Association for use in Community related sports.

 

 

© Bishop's Stortford Community FC 2004 - 2008