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The Wiltshire Football League |
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Formed 1976 |
RULES OF THE PLAISTER AUTOS WILTSHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
(A) The Competition shall be designated the Wiltshire Football League and known as the Plaister Autos Wiltshire Football League and shall consist of not more than 56 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form ‘D’ to the Wiltshire County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be within the County of Wiltshire or within 15 miles of the Wiltshire County boundary.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Wiltshire Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 20 in the Premier Division and 18 in the Junior Divisions.
(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary by the 15th April, and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £75 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
Applications for entry to the Senior Division will only be considered from Clubs that have been granted Senior Status by their respective County Association.
Applications for entry into the Intermediate Division will only be considered from teams meeting the standards laid down by the Management Committee for Intermediate Status.
When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another Division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £90 for each Senior Team and £70 for each Junior Team payable on or before the 1st August in each year. The Annual Subscription shall include the provision of two League Handbooks per Team.
(C) Each Club shall within 14 days of election pay a Deposit of £20, which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.
(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st July of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming season. Failing which they will be fined as the Management Committee so decide. Clubs must advise the Hon General Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees’ Appointments Secretary, Results Secretary and Discipline Secretary, to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (NB: Vice-Presidents, Life Members and 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 comprised of the Officers and eight members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
On completion of 20 years service, an Officer or member of the Management Committee shall be presented with a suitable souvenir in recognition of service to the Competition. The recipient shall be made a Life Member of the Competition.
Retiring League Officers, who have completed 20 years of service and have been made Life Members of the League, shall be eligible to attend and vote at all Management Committee meetings.
(B) Retiring Officers and Management Committee Members 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 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.
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
5 POWERS OF MANAGEMENT back to top
(A) The Management Committee may appoint Sub-Committees and delegate such of their powers, as they deem necessary. The decisions of all Sub-Committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Wiltshire 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(e))
(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no 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 fourteen 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 as the Management Committee so decide.
(I) All fines and charges shall be paid to the Treasurer 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 so decide.
(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.
6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING back to top
(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 20 Members present and entitled to vote.
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business 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, Management Committee, Life Members and Vice-Presidents.
(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 seven 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 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 or more that 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 the Management Committee so decide.
(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
7 AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED back to top
(A) 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 Plaister Autos Wiltshire 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 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).
(B) All Clubs in membership of the League must belong to an Injured Players Insurance scheme. Clubs shall produce a copy of their Insurance Certificate to the Hon General Secretary before the commencement of each playing season.
(C) All Clubs in membership of the League must have a qualified First Aider in attendance at all matches. The name of the designated First Aider must be included on the Club Details form and submitted to the Hon General Secretary by 1st July.
8 QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS back to top
(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registration Secretary not later than 7.00pm on the day prior to the date of the players first match for the Club concerned.
(ii) In order to be eligible for the first match of the season, a player’s Registration Form, properly completed, must be received by the Hon Registration Secretary by no later than 7.00pm on the Wednesday prior to the first Saturday of the season and who’s completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(C) A Junior team shall not include more than 5 players who have taken part in more than 10 Senior or Intermediate competition matches during the current season. An Intermediate team shall not include more than 5 players who have taken part in more than 10 Senior Competition matches during the current season. Senior and Intermediate competitions shall be as listed in the Wilts FA Handbook (Order of precedence of League and Competitions).
(D) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(E) A fee of £1 shall be paid for each player registered. Twenty Registration Forms shall be supplied by the League to each team prior to the start of each season and additional forms can be obtained free of charge from the Hon Registration Secretary. Forms will only be posted to Clubs who provide an appropriately stamped and addressed envelope.
(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 in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition 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.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.
Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct 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 Registration Secretary accompanied by a fee of £10. 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 from such date or seven days after receipt of such transfer.
In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
A player shall not be allowed more than two transfers in the League in any one season.
When a second transfer is approved both player and Club are to be advised that no further transfer will be considered during the current season.
(J) A player may not be registered for a Club nor Transferred to another Club in the Competition after March 31st 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) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation-deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played 8 games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(N)
(O) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have
the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(ii) 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 to be fit.
(iii) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(P) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues).
(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply).
9 CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME back to top
(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 1st July who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear colours, which distinguish them from other players and the Referee.
No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
Any team not 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 the Management Committee so decide.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
10 PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES back to top
(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. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixture Secretary, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date
determined by the Annual General Meeting. Where matches need to be rearranged by the Fixture Secretary, Clubs shall whenever possible, be given a minimum of seven days notice.
(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 AGM or the Management Committee.
Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined as the Management Committee so decide or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. A Club being persistently held for late kick-offs may receive heavier fines at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the Referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable.
Goal nets must be used.
In the Premier Division, a representative of the Home Club must be present at the ground at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled time of kick-off to receive Match Officials. In the Junior Divisions, a representative of the Home Club must be present at the ground at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled time of kick-off to receive Match Officials.
(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 Fixture Secretary. Upon request Clubs having two or more players selected for a County Team shall be allowed to postpone the affected League game due to be played on the same date provided a minimum of seven days notice is given.
(D) Where such information is not contained in the League Handbook the Secretary of the Home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the situation of the ground, time of kick-off, and means of reaching ground to the Secretary of the opposing Club at least five clear days prior to the playing of the match, and the away Club shall acknowledge receipt of such particulars.
The Secretary of the Home Club shall give notice of the full particulars of the location of and access to the ground and the time of kick-off to the Referee and Assistant Referees at least 48 hours prior to the date of the match. This Rule may be varied by the Management Committee in exceptional circumstances, should Match Officials be appointed less than 48 hours prior to a match.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine as the Management Committee so decide.
(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 11 players they shall be fined as the Management Committee so decide each missing player. A minimum of 8 players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.
Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in order or precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined as the Management Committee so decide or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club to the Fixture Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and match officials and shall be confirmed in writing to the Fixture Secretary within three days of the date of postponement. 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 Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the
Fixture Secretary within seven 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 matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee 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 and/or take what other 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 Affiliated Association.
(G) 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 3 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 10 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
(I) (i) Each Team in the Premier Division must provide a team bench, which must include five individual seats under cover. The number of persons and Club Officials seated on the team bench must not exceed eight, but those accommodated must have a designated seat under cover
(ii) Only one person has the authority to convey instructions to players during the match. He/she is allowed to move to the edge of the Technical Area to issue instructions to players, but must resume his/her position on the team bench immediately after giving those instructions. With the exception of the Club Official issuing instructions and the substitutes when warming up, all other personnel in the Technical Area are to remain seated.
(iii) All Club Officials and substitutes seated on the team bench must be listed on the Team Sheet submitted to the Referee. Only those persons listed on the Team Sheet shall be permitted in the Technical Area. The only persons permitted in the Technical Area shall be: Club Secretary, Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager, medical staff, named substitutes and substituted players. No persons under 12 years of age shall be allowed in Technical Areas.
(iv) The occupants of the Technical Area must behave in a responsible manner at all times. Misconduct by occupants of the Technical Area will be reported to the County Football Association by the Referee.
(v) Clubs in default of this Rule may be fined or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(A) The Registration Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee so decide.
(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result to each match to the Results Secretary within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the game or be fined as the Management Committee so decide.
Clubs playing in County FA Cup Competitions, outside the jurisdiction of the Competition, must telephone the result to the Results Secretary within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the game or be fined as the Management Committee so decide. Clubs playing in County FA Cup Competitions, outside the jurisdiction of the League, must also telephone the Hon Fixture Secretary if that match is postponed or abandoned.
(C) Team sheets, on the forms provided by the Competition, including the nominated substitutes, must be given to the Referee and exchanged with the opponents in the Referee's changing room before the time of kick-off. Team Sheets shall be exchanged at least 45 minutes before the time of kick-off in the Premier Division and at least 15 minutes before the time of kick-off in the Junior Divisions. In the event of a team fielding two or more players with the same surname, the full Christian names shall be shown. Any subsequent alteration to the team sheet must be notified to the Referee and opponents prior to kick-off.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined as the Management Committee so decide unless the offending Club gives, in writing to the Competition Secretary within three days of the date of the match an explanation considered acceptable to the Management Committee.
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.
Result forms and team sheets shall be issued to Clubs prior to the commencement of the season at a charge, which will be decided by the Management Committee.
12 DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP back to top
(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points for any position, in any of the Competition tables at the close of the Competition, goal difference shall decide.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points and goal difference for League championship and runners-up and for promotion and relegation positions then a deciding match/matches shall be played under conditions arranged by the Management Committee. Should the match/matches result in a draw after 90 minutes then 30 minutes extra time shall be played. If still a draw, the match shall be decided by the taking of penalty kicks.
(B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first three and last three teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule I (B):
(i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.
(ii) Additional vacancies, caused by the retirement of a team or by the withdrawal of a Club form the Competition, shall be filled by election.
(iii) The last three teams in the lowest Senior, Intermediate or Junior Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(i).
(iv) No Club shall have two teams playing in the same Division, should such a situation occur as a result of promotion or relegation, it will be resolved by the Management Committee whose decision will be final.
(C)
(D)
(E) The E C Mills Memorial Trophy shall be awarded annually to the Club who by its sportsmanship, conduct and general attitudes is adjudged to have contributed most towards maintaining high standards and true traditions of the Wiltshire Football League. All Clubs in membership shall be eligible for this award and the final choice shall be in the hands of the Management Committee.
13 REFEREES back to top
(A) Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning 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.
(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 the Management Committee so decide 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, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play. The appointed Referee and Assistant Referees shall be in attendance on the ground 60 minutes before the time of kick-off in the Premier Division and 45 minutes before the time of kick-off in the Junior Divisions and on the field of play five minutes before the appointed time of kick-off.
A Referee if postponing a match shall notify the League on the Result card.
(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses in accordance with the current Wiltshire County FA Schedule of Charges together with the following match fees:-
Referee Premier Division £20
Divisions 1 and 2 £16
Qualified Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees:-
Premier Division £16
Divisions 1 and 2 £12
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match.
For League matches only, the travelling expenses of match officials shall be pooled. The division of the pool shall be on a Division basis.
The Home Club shall submit the amount paid to match officials on the Result Form provided. In default the Club shall be fined as the Management Committee so decide.
The League Secretary shall, at the conclusion of the season, divide the total travelling expenses paid to the Officials by the total number of Teams in each Division and where the total payment made by the Club is less than the equal share of the pool the Club shall pay to the Competition the difference. Where the sum paid by the Club is more than the equal share of the pool, the Competition will reimburse the Club accordingly.
(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 or Assistant 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.
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 County Football Association.
(I) The Referee shall submit a report Form, 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 Secretary within two days of the match.
(J) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
(K) Referees and Assistant Referees appointed must confirm acceptance or decline appointments offered in writing (postcards only) within 7 days of their receipt to the Referees Appointment Secretary. Failure to do so may result in the appointment(s) being cancelled.
14 CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB back to top
(A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending to withdraw 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 March each season or be liable to a fine, per team, as the Management Committee so decide. Clubs in Membership not having notified the Secretary of their intention to withdraw shall be assumed to be continuing in Membership for the following Season.
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine, per team, as the Management Committee so decide and shall also be liable for its share of any call, which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(C)
(D) In the event of a Member Club, which is an unincorporated 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.
15 PROTEST AND COMPLAINTS back to top
(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, protest 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 £10. 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.
16 BOARD OF APPEAL back to top
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 Football Association, including a fee of £20, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The ground 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 ground of unconstitutional conduct.
17 EXCLUSION OF CLUB OR TEAMS, MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS back to top
(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, which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3) 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 Meting 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 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 provision of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete all of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.
18 TROPHY: LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS back to top
(A) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.
(B) 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.”
The Management Committee shall be responsible for the engraving of the trophy in accordance with the requirements of the Competition.
(C) At the close of each Competition, fifteen (15) souvenir awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
19 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS back to top
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 the Management Committee so decide.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
20 ALTERATION TO RULES back to top
Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meting 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 30th March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 20th May and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 27th 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 two-thirds 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 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 Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
21 RULES BINDING ON CLUBS back to top
Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct.
22 FINANCE back to top
(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 £100 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 March.
(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.