Cheltenham League Meetings

CHELTENHAM ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting at the Victory Club Cheltenham on Wednesday 30th November 2005

Attendees: G Cook, R Attwood, N Oram, L Fisher, A.Stiley, T Onions, J Hunt, B Hill, P Newcombe, R.Overington, P.Tustain

Apologies: D Barrett , J Crowther

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26th October 2005 were read and accepted

Matters Arising from the minutes.

Northleach Town have now paid the Referee's fees due to J. Fleming, Star FC's third team manager

The meeting was informed that only one club had replied to the suggestion that there be a consultative evening with the Referee's Association and therefore, the idea will not be pursued.

It was confirmed that a letter had been written to the Gloucestershire Echo, in reply to the article which stated that Cleevonians were unable to play at Bishops Cleeve Playing Fields because they could not afford the premiums necessary to obtain £5 million worth of Public Liability Cover. The letter had appeared in the paper on Thursday, November 3rd. A letter from Tony McKinnon, chief Financial officer of the Parish Council, was also printed, on Monday 31st October, in which the claims made by Cleevonians, were refuted. In due course, a small article in which it was admitted that Cleevonians did have the necessary insurance cover all along concluded the story.

Correspondence:

Email from Winchcombe Town in which they report an incident in their reserve team's Junior Charity Cup match against Belmore Jags Reserves on Saturday, 29th October 2005. This involved a Belmore Jags substitute taking the number 7 shirt from the player he was replacing
Report received from Keith Iles, the referee of this match, in which he confirms the comments made on the Official Referees match card relating to anomalies between the numbers worn by Belmore Jags and the numbers quoted on the team sheet
It was agreed that Belmore Jags should be charged with having incorrect numbering as a result of this incident and the Secretary was asked to inform Belmore Jags that no such similar incident should occur again.

Report received from Tewkesbury Town relating to incidents concerning the Div 5 game against Cleevonians on October 29th. This match was moved from the Vineyards to Tewkesbury School on Friday, October 28th, a change that was made without informing the Assistant Secretary. This also caused difficulties with the appointed referee, Malcolm Murray, which eventually lead to a verbal fracas at the end of the game
Report received from Mr M Murray, appointed referee for this match
Considerable discussion was provoked by Tewkesbury Town's actions in relocating this Division 5 match to Tewkesbury School. At the conclusion of this discussion, it was agreed that Tewkesbury Town had transgressed that section of rule 10(b) which states that the Management Committee has the power to decide whether or not a pitch or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition. It was also agreed that this was not a status enjoyed by Tewkesbury School since the departure, from this venue, of Tewkesbury Dynamos. In conclusion, it was decided that this match would be declared null and void and would have to be played again, in its entirety, on a date to be fixed by the Assistant Secretary. In addition, Tewkesbury Town were ordered to pay the full match fee and expenses to Mr Malcolm Murray and, also, the expenses incurred by Cleevonians FC.

Email from Glenn Morrison informing the League of his decision to resign from the Management Committee. Glenn will be moving to London in the near future to take up a new job.
Email from Star appealing against the manner in which the Division Two game between their reserves and Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves was brought to an end on Saturday, 12th November. Star claim that referee Phil Pawsey was heard to announce that there was 10 minutes left 5 minutes before Cheltenham Civil Service put a third ball into the gardens adjoining the pitch. It is asserted that, on the assumption that there were no more balls available, Mr Pawsey then blew for full time.
Report from Phil Pawsey stating that the second half of this game lasted for 46 minutes.

The Committee noted the response from Mr Pawsey and decided that the result should stand.

Email from Warden Hill United, explaining the reasons for the postponement of their Division One match away to Northway on Saturday, November 12th. Warden Hill explain that this was due to a lack of players for a variety of reasons.
It was decided that Warden Hill United should be charged under the provisions of Rule 10(f)
Email from Hatherley Rangers asking permission to play 3 players, who played in the first round of the Senior Charities Cup for their first team, in their second team in the Second Round of the Junior Charity Cup. Two of these three players came on as Substitutes.
This request was declined. Both players used in the Senior Charity Cup are cup tied.

Email from Smiths Athletic stating that their 2 Cheltenham League home matches, scheduled for Saturday, 19th November, were called off by their secretary because of the weather conditions at 12.45 pm
Email from Naunton Park reporting the fact that their Division 5 match v Cheltenham Saracens was abandoned after 50 minutes on Saturday, 19th November, because of fog with the score at 4-0 to Naunton Park. Naunton Park also requested that the result be allowed to stand or that the game should be resumed from the point at which it was stopped.
It was agreed that this match would be replayed in its entirety at a date to be fixed by the League's Assistant Secretary
Email from Winchcombe Town asking for guidance in relation to what time should be regarded as the latest at which a game should be postponed because of inclement weather.
Reply sent advising Winchcombe Town that, in situations in which the game is in doubt, they should liase with their opponents and find out the time at which the opponents team is due to set out. This should then be regarded as the time at which a definitive statement about the fitness of the pitch should be issued. Beyond this time, the decision should be left to the match referee.
It was agreed that the Secretary's reply to Winchcombe on this matter should be included in the next edition of the newsletter.
Letter from Northleach Town containing the minutes of their committee meeting held on Wednesday, 16th November. These minutes received on Tuesday, 22nd November
Letter from St Marks CA asking the Leagues permission to cancel matches in Division Two on Saturday, 28th January and Saturday 18th March 2006 because of weddings.
It was agreed that St Marks could only be granted permission to cancel the match of its lowest side that was playing on each of the days in question.
Email from Finlay Rovers claiming that the Club has an injury crisis and asking that the next two Division Two games be cancelled. A list of the injured players was also provided.
It was agreed that, in accordance with rule 10(f), Finlay Rovers division 5 match on December 3rd would be cancelled in deference to their injury crisis. It was also noted that both of Finlay Rovers sides were engaged in Charity Cup matches the following week and that it would be left up to the Club itself to decide whether or not it could fulfil both ties. It was confirmed that if Finlay Rovers did not fulfil one or other, or both, of its Charity Cup matches, the team in default would be expelled from the competition.

Correspondence Notified to the Meeting but not discussed

Letter received from Northleach Town, giving details of their new Treasurer and Vice Chairman and informing the league that these two newly elected officers, along with secretary Karen Heaps, would constitute the delegation to the League Meeting on November 30th
Letter from Cleevonians containing evidential details of the dealings of a member of their club whom the club believes to owe them a substantial sum of money

A telephone conversation with the Secretary of Cleevonians since receipt of this letter has confirmed that this matter currently forms part of a police investigation.
Email from Newton Heath giving details for their new Secretary. This is Carl Hopkins, of The Poplars, Teddington, Nr Cheltenham, Glos, GL20 8JA. Carl's telephone number is 01242 620729.
Email from Star expressing interest in attending a referees advice evening
Email from Elmbridge Old Boys informing the league of the URL of their club website. This is www. Web-teams.co.uk/elmbridgeoldboysfc
Email from AC Olympia giving details of a new mobile phone number for their Secretary. This is 07855 276630
Email from Star, forwarding the concerns of their third team manager over the conduct of Cheltenham Saracens IV in their Division Five match on Saturday, 12th November. Star FC III won the match 3-1
Letter from Cheltenham Saracens forwarding a report from the manager of their fourth team refuting the content of the email from Star.
Email from Sherborne Harriers, informing the League that their Division Five game with Bredon on November 19th would have to be postponed as they were required to replay their County Primary Cup match with Whitecroft "A" on this date. The original game has been declared null and void after an appeal from Sherborne, who brought the fact that the referee only played 40 minutes per half, because he was late, to the attention of the GFA.
Reply sent advising Sherborne to ensure that they inform Arthur Stiley, John Hunt and Bredon as soon as possible
Email from Newton Heath asking about the progress of their request to have their game on December 3rd postponed
Email from Smiths Athletic giving details of the 3rd Round County Cup matches that involve their sides
Email from Sherborne Harriers informing the League that the replay of their County Primary Cup 2nd round match against Whitescroft was abandoned on Saturday, 19th November and that they will be replaying, again, on Saturday, 26th November
Letter from St Marks CA, hand delivered on Tuesday, 22nd November, containing minutes of their committee meeting held on Thursday, November 3rd, 2005
Email from AFC Southside asking about re-election and querying how likely they are to be able to achieve it, if required to do so.
Reply sent stating that last two teams would have to retire, in accordance with League Rule 12 and informing AFC Southside that no club in recent memory had failed to achieve re-election
Letter from the GFA asking the League for nominations for the receipt of a Christmas gift from the Association. Nominations are restricted to the Wives or Partners of late members of Council
Letter from the GFA stating that the GFA Offices will be closed from 4pm on Friday, 23rd December, to 9 am on Tuesday, January 3rd 2006. Urgent business only during this time can be referred to Tony Stone on 07810 325953

Hearing - Northleach Town

Northleach Town had been called to attend a Management Committee meeting for the second time in 2005 because of concerns over the manner in which the clubs administrative affairs were being conducted.

The first occasion on which the club was required to attend a Management Committee meeting was 26th January, 2005. Northleach had now been called back into a Management Committee meeting because they have twice failed to hold monthly committee meetings and because they have already incurred 31 fines this season.
At the invitation of the Chairman, the General Secretary detailed the concerns that the League had over the manner in which Northleach Town was conducting its administration. It was emphasised that the League was right to continue to be perturbed at the manner in which the club was being run as the number of fines it had incurred during the course of the season so far was wholly unacceptable. It was explained to the Northleach Town delegation that the method that the League sought to employ to monitor the progress of the club was to compel it to hold monthly committee meetings and, thereafter, to submit a copy of the minutes to the League. It was pointed out to the delegation that the number of fines imposed would have been sufficient in itself to warrant calling the club to a Management Committee meeting and that the fact that they had, on numerous occasions, failed to comply with the direct instructions of the League, with regard to the holding of Committee meetings, served to make matters more serious. It was emphasised to the delegation that the league was also dissatisfied with the standard of the minutes that were being submitted, and illustrated this dissatisfaction by pointing out that the record of their last meeting, which reportedly lasted an hour, had only three points on it and failed to mention that the club had been called to meet with the League, even though it was held only two weeks prior to this meeting.
Mark Hubbard replied that he had only recently become involved with Northleach Town again, currently in the capacity of Vice Chairman, as he felt that he could not stand by and watch the club, which he had served for 15 years at the end of the last Century, fold. He informed the meeting that many of the problems that the club was now experiencing were down to the previous Secretary, Garry Evans. He expressed his opinion that the state that the club was left in at the point of Mr Evans departure, and the problems that this had caused for an administration made up almost entirely of people who were completely new to the jobs that they had volunteered to undertake, was the root cause of the clubs predicament. He also stressed that this had been made even more difficult by the fact that the club had no League Handbooks. Mr Hubbard was informed that the reason that the club had no handbooks was that it had failed to turn up to the EGM in September and had not availed itself of any of the advised methods for claiming the handbooks since.
Karen Heaps then gave details of her correct address, as she stated that post had been sent to the wrong address and that this might have contributed to the problems.
The Chairman , Mr Cook, then emphasised that the League was very keen to see Northleach Town continue in its membership of the competition but stressed that the prevailing situation could not be allowed to continue. In response to a question from Mr P. Newcombe, the delegation confirmed that of the three gentlemen who had attended on the club's behalf in January, Mr Evans had now left the club, Mr Robson, the incumbent 2nd team manager, was unavailable to attend due to personal reasons and Mr Smith was unavailable but also expected to leave the club in the near future.
Mark Hubbard then asked the Committee if it required a copy of the club's accounts, to which the League Chairman replied that the League would expect to see details of a financial report contained within the minutes produced from the next, and all subsequent. Committee meetings. The League Chairman then concluded the meeting with Northleach Town by emphasising the fact that all the League's officers were available on the end of the telephone to give help and guidance whenever it was needed.
The Northleach Town Delegation were then thanked for their time and left the room.
Following due consideration of the matters laid before them, the Committee decided that the suspended fine that had been applied to Northleach Town at the last Management Committee meeting should be increased to £150 and that the club should be issued with a Final warning.

Rule Offences:

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 5h: Failure to satisfactorily deal with the business of the League: Fine £10: St Marks

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 5I: Failure to make payment of invoices within 14 days
i) Late Payment of Invoices: £15: Invoices due on 17/10/05: Dynamos (Invoice 89, £30, paid 01/11/05)
It is noted that the failure to pay this invoice should have been reported at the last meeting but that this was not done so because of an oversight).
ii) Late Payment of Invoices: £15: Invoices due on 14/11/05: Finlay Rovers (Invoice 7A, £60, paid /11/05), Bishops Cleeve (Invoice 11A, £15), St Marks (Invoice 14A, £15), Gaffers FC (Invoice 27A, £10)
The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 10e - failure to play a match with 11 players. Fine £3 for each missing player: 12/11/05 - Div 2 St Marks ( 2 players missing - Fine £6)

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 10f - failure to fulfil a fixture:
Fine £15 and 3 points deducted: 12/11/2005 - Div 1 Warden Hill United, 26/11/2005 - Div 3 St Marks.
Fine £25 and 5 points deducted: 26/11/2005 - Div 2 St Marks.

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11(a) - failure to complete Result cards correctly. Fine £5 for each offence
Incorrect referees Name: 29/10/05 - Senior Charity Cup Winchcombe Town (stated M Powell when S Oakey), St Marks (stated A Ward when A Richards); 12/11/05 - Div 4 Gaffers (stated Mr Mann when M Ball)
No Referee Named: 22/10/05 - Div 2 Moreton Rangers, Northleach Town.
No Referees Marks 22/10/05 - Div 2 St Marks; 29/10/05 - Div 3 Gas Green
No Sportsmanship Marks: 22/10/05 - Div 2 St Marks, Div 5 Finlay Rovers; 29/10/05 - Div 2 Cheltenham Saracens, Northleach Town, Div 5 Cheltenham Saracens.
No Teams: 29/10;05 - Div 2 Northleach Town.
No Score: 19/11/05 - Div 4 Elmbridge OB
Incorrect Score: 29/10/05 - Div 5 Belmore Jags (stated 1-2 when 1-3)
No Registration Numbers: 12/11/05 - Div 2 Rowanfield United
Missing Registration Numbers: 12/11/05 - Div 2 Finlay Rovers (6 missing)

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11(b) - Failure to Notifiy details of results or postponements to the Results Secretary: fine £10: 22/10/05 - Div 2 Cheltenham Saracens; 29/10/05 - Div 5 Northleach Town; 05/11/05 - County Cup Tewkesbury YMCA, Finlay Rovers, Naunton Park, Gas Green (late Result - received 5.32 pm), Tewkesbury Town, Charlton Rovers;19/11/05 - Div 1 Warden Hill United (No result), Cheltenham Civil Service (No Result), Div 3 St Marks (No Result); 26/11/05 - Div 2 Newton Heath (late result - received 5.38 pm), Div 4 - Bishops Cleeve (No result).

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11(f) - Teamsheets: fine £10: 29/10/05 - Junior Charity Cup Belmore Jags

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 13c - no assistant referee. Fine £5: 15/10/05 - Div 3 Brockworth Albion; 26/11/05 - Div 2 Northleach Town

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 13J - Failure to submit referees cards or teamsheets. Fine £5: 15/10//05 - Div 2 St Marks (Incorrect Club Referees Card), Div 4 Phoenix United (Late Card, received 26/10/05), Div 4 Phoenix United (No teamsheets); 22/10/05 - Div 1 Northway (no teamsheets), Belmore Jags (No teamsheet from opponents),Endsleigh (No card or teamsheets), Div 2 Rowanfield United (No Card or teamsheets), Finlay Rovers (Late card, received 02/11/05), Div 3 Belmore Jags (No teamsheet from opponents), Brockworth Albion (No Card or teamsheets),Div 4 Cheltenham Civil Service (No teamsheets), Div 5 Charlton Rovers (No card or teamsheets), Cheltenham Civil Service (No card or teamsheets), Northleach Town (No teamsheets); 29/10/05 - Div 5 Churchdown Panthers (No teamsheets), Finlay Rovers (No card or teamsheets), Northleach Town (No teamsheets), Senior Charities Endsleigh (No card or teamsheets),Cheltenham Civil Service (No card or sheets), Junior Charities Northway (No teamsheets); 12/11/05 - Div 1 Endsleigh (no card or teamsheets), Div 2 Rowanfield United (No Team Sheets), Div 5 Charlton Rovers (No card or teamsheets); 19/11/05 - Div 2 Moreton Rangers (no card - incorrect card sent), Div 3 Northway (No teamsheets), Div 5 Churchdown Panthers (No teamsheets), Tewkesbury Town (No Teamsheets). 19/11/05 - Div 1 Belmore Jags (No card or Team Sheets), Warden Hill United (No card or Team sheets)

Fixtures

Mr John Hunt, the League's Assistant Secretary, reported that there had been numerous postponements over the course of the last few weeks and that he was in the process of rearranging all these games. He confirmed that he had received reports from all clubs who had been compelled to postpone matches over this period. It was also agreed that all games that had resulted in abandonment would be rescheduled to be played again, in their entirety, later in the season.
It was noted that FC Electrics had postponed their home Division 3 fixture at Dowty Rotol sports grounds in Staverton on November 19th when other games were played at the same venue on that date. It was felt, however, that the specific location of the pitch used by FC Electrics could have left it more susceptible to the effects of fog.

St Marks Review

The ongoing review of St Marks CA FC continued with the meeting examining the clubs affairs during the course of the past month. It was reported to the meeting that St Marks had held a committee meeting on November 3rd, 2005 and that minutes had been received. The date of the next meeting had been advised as December 1st, 2005. The Club had fulfilled every fixture up until 26th November, 2005. On this date, which was a Saturday, the League's Treasurer, Mr Les Fisher, had received notification in the post that the cheque that had been presented to him in payment of fines levied at the last Management Committee meeting, had been returned as not payable. It was noted that, in the first instance, payment of the invoice for the fines levied had been made late and the club had been fined in accordance with rule 5I. The meeting was informed that, in accordance with League practice and precedent from earlier in the season, the return of the cheque had led to St Marks CA being suspended immediately and, consequently, both their games on the afternoon of November 26th had been cancelled. This, in turn, lead to an altercation on the phone between the General Secretary and the St Marks first team manager. This was the reason for the club being fined under the provisions of rule 5(h) at this meeting.
The meeting was also informed that St Marks first team had played a Division Two match against Rowanfield United on November 12th with only 9 players. St Marks won this game 2-0. It was noted that this game would have been played at King George V playing fields and that, at the same time, St Marks Reserves were playing a home game, at King George V playing fields, in which they fielded 12 players. Concerns were raised that this did not seem to suggest that the problems previously experienced by St Marks, with regard to players moving between the teams, had been overcome. It was agreed that this situation should continue to be monitored.

Management Committee Vacancy

It was reported to the meeting that Mr Glenn Morrison had tended his resignation from the Management Committee of the League for personal reasons.

The meeting was informed that, in order to expedite matters, the sub committee formed to interview candidates on the last occasion on which there was vacancies on the committee, had reconvened to meet with Mr Mike Lytheer. Mr Lytheer is a referee registered with the Cheltenham League, who had expressed an interest in a position on the committee at the time of Mr Morrison's appointment. Unfortunately, at that time, Mr Lytheer's interest was intimated too late for him to be considered at that juncture.

On this occasion, however, the Sub- Committee felt able to recommend Mr Lytheer's appointment and a report on the meeting held with him, on Wednesday, 23rd November, was presented to the Management Committee. This report was accepted and it was unanimously agreed that Mr Lytheer should be co-opted onto the Management Committee for the remainder of the current season.

Following this agenda item, it was agreed unanimously that standing orders should be suspended as the time had passed 9.00pm

Rule 13J

In deference to the number of fines being imposed upon clubs under the provisions of rule 13J, which deals with Referee's Cards, the General Secretary had been asked to look into changing and refining the rule for next season. This he had done, and his proposals were presented to the meeting. In deference to the fact that Standing Orders had been suspended, it was agreed that members of the Management Committee should take the information with which they had been presented away with them and that this matter should be considered at the next meeting.
It was confirmed, however, that the Secretary could action the envelopes that had been proposed so that they might be ready for the next Clubs meeting, to be held at the end of January.

Any Other Business:

The General Secretary informed the meeting that Linda Wilson, the League's new Honorary Historian, was making steady progress but that she had not yet been able to produce the first of her proposed Monthly Newsletters as she was in the middle of her final exams at college. It was reported that she hoped to be able to publish early in the new year and the Secretary confirmed that Miss Wilson would be invited to attend the next Management Committee meeting, on January 4th.

It was brought to the meetings attention that twice during the course of the season, articles had appeared in the local press that featured Tewkesbury Town in which they had claimed to have a number of players who had played for them previously when they had been members of Division One and Two. The meeting was reminded that, at their interview in May, Tewkesbury Town had not divulged this information and had, in fact, claimed that they would only be able to field a side that would be of Division 5 standard. The meeting noted that Tewkesbury Town had won every one of its games so far this season and agreed that if any further articles of this nature appeared in the local newspapers, a response would have to be sent on behalf of the League.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.10 pm

NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY 4th JANUARY 2006