Club Constitution & Rules

BURNHAM UNITED JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB

CLUB CONSTITUTION AND RULES

1. NAME

The Club will be called Burnham United Junior Football Club

2. COLOURS AND HOME GROUND

Club colours will be Claret and Blue and any deviation from this must be agreed by the Management Committee. The Club’s home ground will be: Cassis Close, Burnham Road, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 1NN

3. OBJECTS

The objects of the Club will be to provide appropriate facilities and safe and correct training and / or competitive football for all of the boys and girls who are registered with the Club.

The Club will actively promote the participation of children in Junior Football. The Club will actively encourage and support any manager / coach who wishes to attend F.A. approved courses relevant to their role within the Club.

The Club will also aim to hold social and fund raising activities.

4. RULES / CONSTITUTION & THEIR STATUS

The Club Constitution & Rules are applicable to all members of the Club.

The rules / constitution can only be changed by the Club Management Committee. Any suggested amendments should be put in writing/emailed to the Club Secretary, along with clear reasons for the suggested amendment, and then forwarded to the Committtee members. If the Committee members agree to the changes, the rules / constitution will be amended and will come into effect immediately.

Anyone found to have contravened the Club Rules may be subject to disciplinary action as laid out in the Disciplinary Section of this document.

The Club will have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of the Football Association by virtue of its affiliation / 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 shall be deemed to be incorporated into these Club rules.

The Club will also abide by the Football Associations Child Protection and Welfare Policies & Procedures, Codes Of Conduct, and the Equal Opportunities & Anti Discrimination Policies.

5. CODE OF CONDUCT

A Code Of Conduct has been produced which forms part of the Clubs Rules and should be read in conjunction with them. A copy of the Code Of Conduct will be made available to all members of the Club via the Club website.

6. CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Any person who wishes to become a member of the Club must apply on the Membership Application Form / Club Registration Form. Acceptance as a member will be at the sole discretion of the Club Management Committee. Membership will become effective once an applicants name has been entered onto the Club’s Membership Register.  The Membership Register will be maintained by the Club Secretary or Chairman.

The Club Management Committee will have the authority to not admit anyone associated with a club member (parent/guardian/relative/friend), when, in their opinion, it would not be in the Club’s best interest for them to be involved with the Club. The Committee’s decision will be final and there will be no appeals procedure.

The Club is opposed to discrimination of any kind and all applicants will be treated equally regardless of level of ability, race, disability, sex or any other protected characteristic.

The Football Association and Parent County Association shall be given access to the Members Register whenever requested.

A member shall cease to be a Club member on the date they give notice to the Club Committee that they wish to resign.

The Club Management Committee will have the authority to expel a member, or anyone associated with a club member (parent/guardian/relative/friend), when, in their opinion, it would not be in the Club’s best interest for them to remain involved with the Club. The Committee’s decision will be final and there will be no appeals procedure.

A member who resigns or is expelled will not be entitled to claim any, or a share of, any Club property.

7. AGE GROUPS OF PLAYERS & CLUB TEAMS

All boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 will be eligible to join the Club, although the Club can only accommodate players aged 17 and 18 if an under 18’s team is running.

The Club Committee will appoint one or more Club members to be responsible for each of the Clubs Teams / Age Groups. The appointed member/s will be responsible for managing the affairs of the team, training and matches. The appointed members will present a progress report on their team at each Committee Meeting.

No child will be allowed to play in any competitive matches which they are not eligible to play in due to their age.

Players must play for their own age group if a team for that age group is being run by the Club, unless the Club Committee give special permission for them to play a year up. If it has been agreed that the player can play up an age group, they must continue to play for that team for the whole season. The Club Committee’s decision on these matters will be final and there will be no appeals procedure. Where the Club has no team for that player’s age group, the player will be allowed to play for the team in the next year up if the League Rules allow this to happen.

Any manager who wishes to use a player from the next age group down to play for their team,  must seek agreement from the player’s manager and the player’s parent /guardian before any match they play in.

8. FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIP FEES

An Annual Membership Fee will be payable by each Club Member, unless an exemption has been agreed by the Club Committee. Fees will not be repayable in the event of a member leaving the Club or their membership being terminated by the Club.

The cost of membership will be set by the Club Committee at the AGM. The Club Committee will have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the membership if this was felt to be necessary to fulfill the Objects of the Club.

All annual subscriptions must be paid when signing on with the Club.

After the mid point of the season (1st January) membership fees will be reduced by 50% and may be reduced further depending on the proportion of the season remaining.

The Club Bankers will be the Santander and this can only be changed with the agreement of the Club Committee. Designated Club Signatories will be the Club Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman & Vice Chairman. Two of the designated signatories must sign all cheques drawn on the Club Account.

All moneys payable to the Club shall be given to and banked by the Club Treasurer.

The treasurer will give a report on the Clubs finances at each club meeting and will produce a balance sheet at the AGM.

Match and training fees for the following season will be decided at the AGM and fees must be paid on the day of the match/training session or via Go Cardless, whichever is in place for that team. Failure to pay fees may result in that member being reported to the Club’s Committee and could lead to the membership being suspended or terminated.

Players with brothers or sisters at the Club may be eligible for a reduction in their membership fees as agreed at the Club’s AGM.

Any money raised by the Club from membership fees or other sources will be used for the sole benefit of Club Members. The Club Committee will make decisions on where the money should be spent.

In the event of a team reaching a cup final the Club will subsidize transport to the event if this is requested. Other costs and other events may be covered at the Committee’s discretion.

9. MEETINGS - REGULAR, ANNUAL & EMERCENCY

During the season regular meetings will be held at a time and date agreed by the Club Committee. Agenda items will include:- Reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chairman and all Team Managers / Coaches, plus AOB. All Committee members must make every effort to attend these meetings, or send someone to represent them.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at a time agreed by the Clubs Committee during the close season. Agenda items will include: A report of the Club’s Activities over the past year from all key officers and team managers, a financial overview and presentation of and end of season balance sheet, election of Club Officials for the coming year, plus AOB.

The Chairman or Vice Chairman have the authority to call an Emergency / Extraordinary Meeting at their discretion. A meeting can only be called if at least 3 general Committee Members request one and give valid reasons as to its purpose. The meeting should normally be held within 21 days of the request being received.

All meetings will be chaired by the Club Chairman and in their absence the Vice Chairman. Minutes will be taken by the Secretary, or in their absence, another Committee Member.

A quorum for any Club meeting will be a minimum of 50% of General Committee members.

10.  CLUB COMMITTEE’S

The Club’s Management Committee will consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, & Secretary.

The Management Committee have the power to co-opt members as they feel appropriate.

The General Club Committee will consist of the Management Committee plus the Team Managers / Coaches.

The term of office for all Management Committee members is one year after which re-election at the AGM must take place. Any outgoing member can be re-elected

Decisions of the General Club Committee will be made by a simple majority of those attending the meeting. The Club Chairman will have a casting vote in the event of a vote being tied.

Decisions made at the meetings will be recorded by the Club Secretary and included in the minutes.

Any person wishing to stand for a Management Committee post must apply in writing to the Management Committee at least 14 days before the AGM.

Any Committee Member or Manager / Coach who does not wish to stand for the following term should make the Management Committee aware ASAP so that a replacement can be found.

With the exception of issues covered by the Rules & Regulations of the Football Association and the County Association, the Club Management Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules. The Club Management  Committee shall also have the power to decide on any issues which arise, which are not covered by a specific Club Rule. The Committee’s decision will be final and there will be no appeals procedure.

11.  CLUB COMPETITIONS

Each age group will hold an annual 5-A Side competition (player numbers can be varied if required) and a penalty competition. These must take place before the end of season presentation evening and there will be a winner and runner up.

Managers shall make an award for Managers Player, Managers Player Runner-Up, Most Improved Player, Sportsman’s Award, Play Maker and collect the votes for Players Player. A Parents Player trophy can be awarded if a team choose to do so. Any exceptions should be agreed with the Club Chairman.

All trophies for Club Competitions will be presented at the Annual Presentation Evening.

12.  LIABILITY

While every precaution is taken to ensure the safety and well being of Club Members, the Club shall not be held liable for any loss or injury that may occur during any of its activities.

The Club will, however, take out Public Liability Insurance and General Insurance against injury to players via the Somerset County Football Association.

13.  SPONSORSHIP

The Club actively seeks sponsorship from local companies/ organizations. This money will be spent at the discretion of the General Club Committee unless the sponsor has indicated a specific preference for which team or equipment they would like to sponsor.

14.  SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

The Club have a separate Social Media Policy which is available on the Club Website

15.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any disciplinary hearings will be held by the Club Management Committee as soon after the incident as is possible. At least 3 members of the Management Committee must attend, plus any parties involved where it is felt appropriate. If members of the Management Committee are unable to attend, General Committee Members can be co-opted to attend in their place.

The outcome of the hearing must be communicated to those involved in writing within 7 days of the decision being made.

The Committee’s decision will be final with no appeal allowed.

16.  COMPLAINTS

The Club have a separate Complaints procedure which is available on the Club Website

17.  DISSOLUTION

A resolution to dissolve the Club can only be taken at a full meeting of the General Club Committee. The decision can only be carried with a majority of three quarters of those present.

The dissolution shall take effect from the date the resolution was passed and the members of the Management Committee will be responsible for winding up the affairs of the Club, including settling its liabilities via Club Funds.

Any surplus assets will be utilized for the benefit of local football or other sporting or charitable causes which would benefit local children, as decided by the General Club Committee.