Constitution / Club Rules

Established at an Extraordinary General Meeting

Friday 7th September 2001.

1.         NAME & COLOURS

a)       The name of the Football Club shall be “The Warren Junior Football Club”, hereinafter referred to as  “the Club”.

b)         The club colours will be blue or blue and white or blue and black shirts with black or blue or white shorts and blue or black socks.  Second kit colours will be Yellow shirts with black or blue socks and shorts.  Combinations of the above can be used to achieve contrast with opponents or at the request of Referees. 

2.          ADDRESS 

a)         The Address of the club will be that of the Club Secretary. 

3.         AIMS

a)        The main aim of the Club is for children to learn the skills of football in a fun, enjoyable and safe environment and develop and understand the values of team spirit, correct attitude and good sportsmanship above the need to win.

b)        This will be done by offering qualified training and the opportunity to play competitive football at the appropriate level, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for and become involved in the running of the Club and all its associated activities.

c)         The Club will be run in an open, honest and transparent manner.

d)        The Club will offer opportunities for all children regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion, disability or means.

e)        The Club will be free from any form of harassment, intimidation, bullying, victimisation or discrimination.

f)          The Club will treat all with dignity and respect.

4.         STATUS OF RULES

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

5.         RULES AND REGULATIONS

a)        The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of the Football Association by virtue of its affiliation to/membership of The Football Association. The Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited and parent County Association and any League or Competition to which the Club is affiliated for the time being shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Club Rules.

b)        No alteration to the club Rules shall be effective without prior written approval by the parent Association.

c)        The Club will also abide by The Football Association’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and anti-Discrimination Policy.

6.         POWERS

For the furtherance of the aim of the Club, the Club may

a)         Provide training facilities and equipment.

b)         Raise money to pay for the Club’s activities.

c)         Make such payments as may be necessary.

d)         Fix and collect the fees payable in respect of children attending the Club.

e)        Control the admission of children to the Club and, if appropriate (i.e. do not adhere to the Club Code of Conduct), require parents or guardians to withdraw them.

f)          Take any actions that may benefit the Club.

g)           Establish and maintain a Code of Conduct and require compliance from all members. 

h)           In cases of continued misconduct or non compliance with Club rules to levy penalties on the person in breach of any club rule, including monetary fines, expulsion from the club or both

7.         CLUB MEMBERSHIP

a)        Playing Members: All children who attend the Club and are registered with the Club and having made appropriate registration fees.

b)        Family Members: Parents or guardians of all children who attend the Club. Each family to have one vote and count as one member at any General Meeting.  In the case of a family who have voting rights and are members of the committee, each family member who is on the Committee shall have a separate vote, i.e. A pair of parents who are a Warren JFC team manager and Social Sec respectively may both have one vote EACH at any Committee meeting.

c)        Honorary Members: Other interested individuals, including those who assist the Club, once approved by the Committee shall be deemed honorary members of the Club and shall be entitled to one vote at any general meeting.

d)        The members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the Membership Register) which will be maintained by the Club Secretary.

g)        In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion their name shall be removed from the Membership Register.

h)        The Football Association and parent County Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

i)         Club members shall be given access to the Membership Register on written request to the Club Secretary.

8.        ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE

a)        An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.

b)        The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the aims of the Club.

9.         RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

a)        A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of their resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than 2 months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.

b)        The Warren JFC Club Committee, properly formed, shall have the power to expel a member when in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the club for them to remain a member.  There shall be no appeals process except to the Parent FA in the terms dictated by them and with a condition that notice is given in writing to the Club secretary of the intention to do so. In any expulsion consideration the committee must give the member due notice (two weeks) of the conduct or breach of club rules alleged and the intention to bring the mater to the committee for consideration.  The member will be entitled to written notice of the specific matter alleged and the outcome of any such hearing.  He may be represented by a friend at any such meeting.

c)        A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the Club Property. 

10.       CLUB COMMITTEE

a)        The Club Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that the Club complies with its aims and is properly managed. 

b)        The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers:

·       Chair

·       Vice Chair

·       Treasurer

·       Deputy Treasurer

·       Secretary

·       Fixtures Secretary

·       Social Secretary

·       Minutes Secretary

·       Charter Standard Officer 

·       Child Welfare Officer

c)        The Committee shall also consist of up to three Parent Representatives (other than the Coach/Manager) from each age group registered to play in a league and a Parent Representative from the other age group/s associated with the Club. Plus up to five (5) other members elected at an Annual General Meeting.

d)        Each Club Officer and Club Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than three positions of Club Officer at any time.  Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club committee meeting. The chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence the Vice-Chairperson. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be five.

e)        Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.

f)         The Football Association and parent County Association shall be given access to the Minute Book of the Club on demand.

g)        Club members shall be given access to the Minute Book of the Club on written request to the Club Secretary.

h)        Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than seven (7) days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year. The Club Secretary will arrange a suitable venue for the meetings.   

i)          An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee, which arises between Annual General Meetings, shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members.

 j)         Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of the The Football Association and the County Association to which the Club is affiliated, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

11.      ANNUAL, ORDINARY AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

a)        An Annual General Meeting (AGM), shall be held at a suitable venue as agreed by the Committee on a suitable date in June to report on the preceding year and to plan for the year ahead including: 

1.         Receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year

2.         Receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year

3.         Elect the members of the Club Committee

4.         Consider any other business

b)        Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 7 days before the AGM.  Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 7 days before the Meeting.

c)        A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt by the Club Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than five members stating the purpose for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed. Business at an SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM.

d)        The Secretary shall send to each member at their last known address written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the Meeting.

e)        [The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 20% of the Family members. If fewer attend, a new meeting must be called.] To be reviewed

f)         The Chairperson, or in their absence a member selected by the Club Committee, shall take the Chair. Each family present at the General Meeting to count as one member and to have one vote. A simple majority shall pass resolutions. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote. 

g)           The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

h)           Breaches of club rules and discipline can be dealt with by a properly formed committee having sufficient numbers to deal with the business in hand (10 d quorum).  The committee thus formed can if it is agreed to do so convene a hearing to hear the complaint raised.  The normal rules above will apply to any such meeting that is convened.

i)              Non attendance by an elected member without reasonable excuse at any properly convened meeting to discuss club business or rules, including ordinary, general and special meetings will constitute a breach of club rules and can attract a penalty as laid down (i.e. warning, fine or expulsion).  Note:  This is intended to safeguard the business of the club and to ensure that when meetings are convened the matters that are on the agenda can be dealt with.  While the voluntary nature of the committee membership is accepted, repeated and continual non-attendance without good reason may attract the penalties above.

12.       CLUB TEAMS 

a)        At its first meeting following each AGM the Club Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. 

b)        The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its AGM a written report of the activities of the team during the season.

13.       CLUB FINANCES

a)        [A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the Club Account). Designated account signatories shall be the Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer and the Secretary. The Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer and the Secretary must be different Family Members of the Club. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two of the three designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account.] To be reviewed

b)         The income and assets of the Club (the Club Property) shall be applied only in furtherance of the aims of the club.

c)        The Club Committee shall have power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.

d)        The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Club. At each Meeting the Treasurers and/or Deputy Treasurer shall present a statement of the accounts to the Committee. Acceptance of these accounts by the Committee shall be recorded in the minutes and entered in the Minute Book of the Club. 

e)         The Treasurer shall present an annual Financial Statement at the AGM. 

f)          All assets shall be the property of the Club. Assets will be used by Members to the furtherance of the aim of the Club but shall at all times remain the property of the Club.

14.       DISSOLUTION

a)        A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.

b)        The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

c)        Any surplus assets remaining after discharge of debts and liabilities of the Club shall be distributed to a charity, designated by the majority vote of the Club Committee.

15.       CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION

a)        The Constitution may be altered if the majority of Members present at a General Meeting vote in favour of changing it.

16.       APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTION

This Constitution was approved at an Inaugural Extraordinary General Meeting on Friday 7^th September 2001.

This Constitution was accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 31^st May 2002.

This Constitution was altered and accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 13^th June 2003.

This Constitution was altered and accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 12^th June 2004.

This Constitution was altered and accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 11^th June 2005.

This Constitution was altered and accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 17^th June 2006.

This Constitution was altered and accepted at the agreement of the majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 22^nd June 2007.