NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

1. (A) This Competition shall be designated the Trowbridge and District Junior Football Knock-Out Challenge Cup Competition and shall consist of not more than 44 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 Wiltshire County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be that within a 15 miles radius from the Trowbridge Town Hall, and the Competition Membership shall be restricted to teams of clubs who are current members of the Trowbridge & District Junior Football League.

No application for membership can be accepted unless a representative of the applicant attends the Annual General Meeting. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Wiltshire County Football Association.

ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

2. (A) -

(B) The Annual Subscription per Team shall be as shown in the Schedule of Charges payable on or before the 15th August in each year.

(C) -

(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee and Personal Accident Insurance has been paid, and will be fined a shown in the Schedule of Charges for each unplayed match. All Clubs in the Competition shall belong to a personal accident insurance scheme to give their players a minimum weekly benefit equivalent to the minimum weekly benefit payable from the Wilts FA administered Personal Accident Scheme. Clubs shall produce a copy of their Policy Certificate to the League Secretary by 15th August annually, before they can play their first game in this Competition.

(E) Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing by 1st July annually of their County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined as shown in the Schedule of Charges. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of their Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.

OFFICERS

3. The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary and Development Officer to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

4. (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 twelve 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 31st 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.

On completion of 20 years’ service an officer or member of the Management Committee shall be awarded a souvenir in recognition of services rendered to the Competition. The recipient shall also be made a Life Vice-President of the Competition, be entitled to attend all meetings and to vote thereat.

(C) The Management Committee shall meet monthly or as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee. Any member of the Management Committee failing to attend three consecutive meetings without satisfactory explanation shall be removed from 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.

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

5.(A) The Management Committee may appoint such other 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) -

(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee). In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

(D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, 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 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 with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven 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. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.

(K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least twenty Members 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 ensuing season.

(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.

(vii) Appointment of Auditors.

(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 Wiltshire County Football Association.

(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Wiltshire County Football Association(s) within fourteen days of its adoption by 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 seven days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.

(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded.

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least one third 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 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 as shown in the Schedule of Charges.

(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

7. 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 ______________________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 mplement 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 ).

QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

8.(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not 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 Registrations Secretary three days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.

NO REGISTRATION BUSINESS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH PERSONAL CALLERS

In order to be eligible to play in the first match of the season, teams must ensure that at least eleven properly completed Registration Forms are received by the Registration Secretary at least five days before the start of the Competition. Failure to do so may result in a fine as shown in the Schedule of Charges. Teams will not be allowed to participate in the Competition unless they have at least eleven players registered.

(C) A team shall not include more than two players who have taken part in thirteen or more Senior or Intermediate Competition matches during the current season. For the purpose of this Competition a Senior Competition is one in which each of the competing teams is either the first team of a Senior Club registered as such with its County Football Association, or a team (other than a youth team) attached to a Club employing players under a written contract. An Intermediate Competition is one designated as such by its County Football Association.

(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) -

(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 Registration Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

(G) It shall be deemed a breach of Rule for a player to:-

(i) Play for more than one Club/Team in the Competition in the same season.

(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in 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 power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration 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 H (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 Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations Secretary accompanied by a fee as shown in the Schedule of Charges, plus a stamped addressed envelope. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration 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 Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club seven days after receipt of such transfer, or on a date specified by the Registration Secretary. 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 1st 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 the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one season only.

(M) -

(N) -

(O) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may be eliminated from the Competition and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. In the event of the Management Committee ordering a match to be replayed, only those players registered on the date of the original match shall be eligible to play.

(P) The following Clauses apply to 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.)

CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME

9. (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 31st May 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. All shirts and jerseys must be clearly numbered. 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 seven 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 as shown in the Schedule of Charges. The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.

(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.

PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES

10. (A) All games shall be played on the dates fixed by the Management Committee. 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. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary must not be arranged for a date 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. 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.

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 matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 80 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 Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding that shown in the Schedule of Charges, or be 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.

Extra time will be played in all rounds if a match is drawn. Any match, except the Final, which is drawn after the expiry of extra time will be replayed, if possible, on the following Saturday, with extra time and penalty kicks if necessary to decide the result. In the event of a draw after extra time in the Final Tie, the match will be decided by penalty kicks. When a first match has been postponed or abandoned before the completion of full time, and neither Club being at fault, it must be replayed on the same ground. If extra time has not been commenced or a match has been abandoned during extra time and neither Club being at fault, it must be replayed on the ground of the Club second drawn.

Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the Management Committee. Any Club failing to play their Cup match on the date arranged will be eliminated from the Competition and be fined at the discretion of the Management Committee. 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 must be used.

(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Fixtures Secretary. All games (excluding the Final Tie) shall be played on the ground of the first team drawn, unless mutually agreed by the Clubs to forfeit right of ground. The Final Tie shall be played on a neutral ground to be decided by the Management Committee. Clubs reaching the semi-finals shall be invited to send representatives when the draw for that round is made, if they so request. The Management Committee reserves the right to take all gate money from the Final Tie. This money, after all expenses have been deducted, shall be used to defray the cost of the trophies.

Revised fixtures will be issued by the Management Committee and will be strictly adhered to as original fixtures unless the Fixtures Secretary is informed by the Club Secretary in writing within seven days of the date of issue of the revised fixture that it cannot be accepted.

(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice 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 three clear days prior to the day of the match. The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine as shown in the Schedule of Charges.

(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they shall be fined as shown in the Schedule of Charges for each missing player. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match.

(F) Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referees 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 three days the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a 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 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 take what action they may deem necessary. In 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.

(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use up to 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from up to 5 nominated players. The referee shall 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 at least 5 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed 15 minutes The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.

REPORTING RESULTS

11. (A) The Fixtures Secretary must receive within 3 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 as shown in the Schedule of Charges and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.

(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the League Results Service by 6.30pm on the day of the match in respect of Saturday matches, and by 10pm on the day of the match in respect of mid-week matches, with the result, goalscorers of both teams, and any items of special interest, or in default be fined as shown in the Schedule of Charges.

The Away Club Secretary or appointed representative shall, immediately after the completion of the game, enter the full forenames and surnames of the away team’s goalscorers (if any) on the official card provided, and hand this card to the Home Club’s Secretary or appointed representative, or in default be fined as shown in the Schedule of Charges.

(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.

DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

12. -

REFEREES

13. (A) Registered Referees for all matches shall be appointed by the Referees Secretary in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s). Referees must accept appointments in writing within four days of the posting of the official appointment list.

(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.

(C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine as shown in the Schedule of Charges being imposed on the defaulting Team.

(D) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbitor and whose decision must be accepted.

(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses per mile as shown in the Schedule of Charges together with the match fees as shown in the Schedule of Charges. The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match. The League will re-imburse the home Club with fees and expenses for officials at semi-finals. In the Final Tie, the referee and assistant referees may receive a fee as shown in the Schedule of Charges, or a souvenir, in addition to travelling expenses as above.

Home Clubs shall provide suitable dressing room accommodation for the referee ( and assistant referees if appointed ), apart from the players, if possible. Match Officials shall be in attendance not later than 30 minutes before kick-off.

(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. 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 with which he is registered.

(H) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.

Any Club giving a referee a total mark of four or under (out of ten) on the Result Sheet submitted to the League Referees’ Secretary, must also submit with the Result Sheet a report giving reasons for the low marks awarded to the referee. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined in accordance with the Schedule of Charges, or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine. It shall be the responsibility of the Club to ascertain the name of the Referee controlling each game for which a Result Sheet is submitted. The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to The Football Association/County Association.

(I) The Referee shall submit a report card, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of kick-off to the Fixtures Secretary within two days of the match.

(J) Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.

CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

14. (A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st May each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding that shown in the Schedule of Charges. All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 31st May.

(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding that shown in the Schedule of Charges per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).

(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th June, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.

(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.

In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member’s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.

PROTESTS AND APPEALS

15.(A) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.

(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

(B) Except in 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 five 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 as shown in the Schedule of Charges. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.

(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must 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 protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.

BOARD OF APPEAL

16. Within 14 days of the posting of 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 Wiltshire County Football Association, including a fee in accordance with the Rules of the Wiltshire County Football Association for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the grounds of unconstitutional conduct.

EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

17. (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. 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 a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.

(D) -

TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS

18. (A) 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/shall be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.

The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

“We A_________________and B______________________, the Chairman and Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 1st March. 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.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

19. Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. At least seven days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined as shown in the Schedule of Charges. Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.

ALTERATION TO RULES

20. 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.

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 shall 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 70% of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.

A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.

Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.

RULES BINDING ON CLUBS

21.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 (Appendix _____).

FINANCE

22. (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 £50 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.

(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31st May.

(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.