Cheltenham League Meetings

Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting held at the Victory Club, Cheltenham, on Wednesday, 9th January 2008.

Attendees: G Cook, J Crowther, R Attwood, N Oram, L Fisher, A.Stiley, P Tustain, A Clayton, B Hill, M.Lytheer, T Onions, R.Overington

Apologies: J Hunt

Before the start of the meeting, the Chairman, Mr Cook, took the opportunity to wish all Committee members a happy and prosperous New Year.

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 5th December 2007 were read and accepted.

Matters Arising from the minutes.

The General Secretary informed the meeting that an email had been received from Cheltenham Civil Service in appeal against the fine imposed upon the club by the Management Committee, at the meeting of October 31st, in accordance with League Rule 13(j). The club was fined under this rule for failing to forward the teamsheets for the Division 5 match played on Saturday, 10th November. The club's submission with regard to this matter pointed out that its Division 5 side was, in fact, the away team on this date and that, as such, it was not responsible for the submission of the teamsheets to the League in relation to this match, under the provisions of rule 13(j).
After consideration of this matter, it became apparent that the club had been charged under the wrong rule for the offence committee as the Results Secretary had received a note, with the Official Referee's Result Card and the copy of the home team's teamsheet, from Cheltenham Civil Service's opponents on the day in question, indicating that Cheltenham Civil Service had failed to submit a teamsheet. Consequently, it was agreed that the appeal should succeed and that the appeal fee should be returned. After discussion, a motion was then duly proposed and seconded that Cheltenham Civil Service should be charged with failing to submit a teamsheet, contrary to the requirements of League Rule 11(f). This motion was carried, with two votes against. It was noted that the fine for this offence was £10 and that, as Cheltenham Civil Service had already paid this amount for the Rule Offence under rule 13(j), no further payment was necessary in relation to this matter.

The General Secretary informed the meeting that he had received assurances from both Tewkesbury Town and Tewkesbury Rovers with regard to the workability of the changing arrangements at Tewkesbury Rugby Club when both clubs had home matches. He further informed the meeting that the two clubs had both replied that the working practice on these occasions only inconvenienced the home side and that both clubs were happy with the arrangements. This being the case, it was decided that no further action was required.

Mr John Crowther, the League President, informed the meeting that he had attended the Cheltenham Sports Council meeting, as announced at the last meeting, and that this forum was presented with the plans for a new multi sports facility in the vicinity of the old M & G Sports Ground. Mr Crowther reported that the standard of the changing facilities, according to the plans, was excellent but that he had reservations about the size of the football pitches that would be provided, these being too small to service a side in the County League. Mr Crowther assured the meeting that he had brought these concerns to the attention of the authorities controlling the development and that he now noted that the plans for the site had been approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council, subject to further, governmental approval to proceed with the project on green belt land.

Correspondence & Referees Reports:

Correspondence Reported for Discussion

Email from Paul Baker, the Manager of Tewkesbury Sports Centre, which is based at Tewkesbury School, in reply to an email sent by the League to make enquiries with regard to the nature of the arrangement the Sports Centre has with Northway FC. In reply, Mr Baker informed the League that the club has used pitches at the school but that the club has only ever booked them week by week on an ad-hoc basis. Mr Baker also informs the League that the club was told, following a training session on the Sports Centre's Astroturf facility on Wednesday, 28th November 2007, that there was no pitch available on Saturday, 1st December for the club's scheduled Division One game with Cheltenham Civil Service. Further to this, Mr Baker reports that the club then proceeded to attempt to book the pitch again on Friday, 30th November, for the following day. Mr Baker confirmed that the only club that has agreed use of the facilities at the school for its home matches is Tewkesbury Dynamos.
The contents of this email were noted and it was resolved to discuss the issues raised with Northway FC under the relevant agenda item
Email from FC Barometrics, in reply to an email from the League requesting further details of the circumstances in which the FC Barometrics attempted to complete the transfer of Neil Organ to the club before the home Division Five match with C & G on Saturday, 13th October. Specifically, the League requested an explanation of the reasons why, in the submission provided by the club for the appeal they lodged and which was heard, unsuccessfully, at the Management Committee meeting of December 5th, the club claimed to have attempted to sort out the transfer form on Friday, October 12th when all the signatures on the form were dated Wednesday, October 10th. In its reply, the club stated that it cannot fully recall on which dates the form was completed. The club also stated that it fully appreciates the decision that has been made and also its hope that this matter is now closed.
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Rule Offences section of the agenda.
Email from Gloucester Elmleaze asking the League to look into the circumstances in which it appeared that Whaddon United Reserves submitted a transfer form to the referee immediately prior to the Division Three match between the two clubs on Saturday, 15th December.
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Rule Offences section of the agenda.
Letter from Newton FC giving the reasons for the postponement of the Senior Charity Cup-tie away to Andoversford Nomads on Saturday, 15th December, 2007. Newton explain that they felt, when they arrived at Andoversford Nomads ground, that the pitch was playable and that they were disappointed when the referee, M Kimber, decided to call the game off. They claim travel expenses for 5 cars for the journey from Bishops Cleeve at 10 miles each way and laundry expenses of £10.50.
Following discussion, it was noted that Newton FC had, themselves, believed the pitch to be fit to play when they first entered the field of play 15 minutes before kick-off. It was further noted that the game had been postponed solely because of the concerns of the referee for the safety and well being of the players. Under such circumstances, it was agreed that Newton FC were not entitled to claim for expenses in this instance.
Email from Falcons, explaining the fact that R Cox played for the club on Saturday, 22nd December, 2007, without having fully completed a transfer from FC Electrics.
Further email from Falcons explaining the circumstances in which R Cox played for the club on Saturday, 22nd December, 2007, without having fully completed a transfer from FC Electrics.
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Rule Offences section of the agenda.
Email from Tewkesbury Dynamos asking when the League would be deciding on the matter of the transfer of Sam Beckingham to the club from Northway.
Reply sent informing Tewkesbury Dynamos that the next meeting of the Management Committee was scheduled for Wednesday, 9th January, 2007
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Registrations section of the agenda.
Email from Tewkesbury Town detailing the circumstances in which the club played two players who are registered with Northway in the Division Three fixture with FC Electrics on Saturday, 22nd December, 2007
Email from FC Electrics forwarding a letter reporting the fact that Tewkesbury Town had fielded two ineligible players in the Division Three match between the two clubs on Saturday, 22nd December, 2007
Letter from Northway FC reporting the fact that Tewkesbury Town had fielded two players registered with the club in the Division Three fixture away to FC Electrics on Saturday, 22nd December, 2007
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Rule Offences section of the agenda.
Letter from Tewkesbury Rovers, sent by email, containing the clubs response to the minutes of the meeting of the Management Committee that was held on December 5th
The contents of this email were noted.
Email from Star FC requesting permission for M Taylor to play in the club's reserve team on an ongoing basis.
Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Registrations section of the agenda

Correspondence Notified to the Meeting but not discussed

Email from FC Electrics, acknowledging the receipt of the email from the League requiring the club to attend the meeting of the Management Committee, scheduled for Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
Email from Charlton Kings expressing the club's displeasure at being fined for the late arrival of the Official Match Referee's Result Card and the teamsheets from the home Division Four fixture on 24/11/2007
Email from Tewkesbury Rovers, in reply to an email from the League asking for details of the match day changing arrangements at Tewkesbury Rugby club. Tewkesbury Rovers explain that, on occasions when changing facilities are stretched, their team always arrives early to change before the away team arrives and that they then, after the game, afford first use of the changing room to the away team before entering themselves. The club also informs the League that there is a separate changing room for referees and that Tewkesbury Town adopt the same practice on days on which there are two home matches.
Email from Tewkesbury Town , in reply to an email from the League asking for details of the match day changing arrangements at Tewkesbury Rugby club. The club explains that they and Tewkesbury Rovers arrive early to change on days when there are more than one football match and that it does not cause a problem to either club
Email from Brockworth Albion, explaining the circumstances in which a referee had attended Brockworth Sports Centre in order to change for a Brockworth Albion home match, only to discover that the changing facilities for the fixture were located at Brockworth Rugby Club
Email from Tivoli Rovers explaining the circumstances in which the club's Junior Charity Cup match with Brockworth Albion III was postponed on Saturday, 8th December.
Email from Moreton Rangers, informing the League of a change of email address for their Secretary. This is now m.jones125@btinternet.com
Email from Sherborne Harriers congratulating Paul Kerrod, a referee new to the League, on his performance at the Club's Division Five match on Saturday, 15th December.
Email from Bourton Rovers explaining the reasons behind the club's failure to fulfil its Division Two fixture away to Bredon on Saturday, 15th December, 2007
Letter from Northway informing the League that the club would be attending the Management Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, 9th January, 2008 and claiming that the club did not receive the original notification of this requirement, as sent out on December 6th 2007 and which it failed to acknowledge
Letter from Newton FC containing a copy of the application for membership that the club has submitted to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League
Email from Dean Carbin of Fintan FC, asking for application forms to join the League for the 2008-09 season
Email from Enzo Scognamiglio of Leckhampton Rovers FC, asking for application forms to join the League for the 2008-09 season
Email from the GFA, pointing out that, whilst the Public Liability Insurance of Leagues would provide cover to both officially appointed, registered referees and "Stand In" referees, agreed upon by the two competing teams in order that the game may be played, cover did not extend to officially appointed referees who were not registered with a county association.

Referees Reports reported for discussion

Before considering the referee's reports that had been received during the course of November, the committee was provided with a report detailing the number of Referee Report Cards that had been returned so far this season. This report indicated that approximately 67% of matches played with Official Referees had cards returned and that 18 of the League's referees had returned a card for every game at which they had officiated.

FC Electrics v Tewkesbury Town, Div 3, Sat 22/12/2007: Referee I Parsons reports that it was brought to his attention, after the match, that it was alleged that Tewkesbury Town had played two players registered to Northway, these two players being the goalkeeper Jason Simpson and the number 14 Nick Jones.

Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Rule Offences section of the agenda, when, it was decided, it would be taken into account along with the submission from Tewkesbury Town, the email from FC Electrics and the letter from Northway that related to the same issue.

Referees Reports Notified but not discussed

Smiths Athletic III v Charlton Kings, Div 4, Sat 03/11/07: Referee M Jagus reports that this game was a joy to referee in which both teams looked to play fair, competitive football with no arguing with the referee.
Falcons v Finlay Rovers Res, Junior Charity Cup, Sat 15/12/2007: Referee C Burridge reports that Falcons were 7 minutes late and did not, initially, have any properly inflated balls available. It is also reported that Finlay Rovers Reserves did not provide a club linesman
Churchdown Panthers v Cheltenham Civil Service III, Div 4, Sat 22/12/2007: Referee M Sutherland reports that this was a high spirited game that seemed, at times, to have 25 referees
Gala Wilton Reserves v Brockworth Albion Reserves, Div 2, Sat 22/12/2007: Referee J Marston reports that the pitch was well marked out and the goalnets put up correctly, from which he concludes that the home club must have a good club secretary and team managers

Hearing - Northway FC

The Committee was reminded that it had been decided to require Northway FC to attend the meeting when very significant concerns developed, at the meeting held on December 5th, 2007, that Northway FC would be able to fulfil their home fixtures for the remainder of the season. The committee was reminded that a letter from the Manager of the Tewkesbury Sports Centre, which stated that there was no ongoing agreement with Northway FC to use the facilities at the Sports Centre as the club's home venue for the remainder of the season, had already been presented to the meeting under the correspondence section of the agenda.
The 3 representatives from Northway FC were invited into the meeting and they identified themselves as Duncan Pearce, Secretary, Alan Allsop, Treasurer and Tim Allsop, a committee member. The Northway representatives were welcomed to the meeting by the chairman and invited to inform the Committee of the current state of affairs as they saw it. Mr Pearce informed the meeting that the club had been unable to secure an agreement with Tewkesbury Sports Centre to use the facilities there on an ongoing basis and that they had written to the authorities controlling the use of a pitch at Ashchurch Army Camp, asking if it might be possible to hire these facilities, but had so far not received a reply. Mr Pearce also informed the meeting that he had received a letter from Ashchurch Parish Council, which controlled the use of Ashchurch Playing Fields. It was acknowledged that Ashchurch Playing Fields had provided Northway FC with a home venue up until the flooding that was experienced in 2007 and which had rendered the changing rooms unusable. A copy of this letter was presented to the meeting and it was noted that it confirmed that the facilities at Ashchurch Playing Fields would be out of action for the rest of the season.
Mr Pearce was asked to confirm if this meant that the club did not have a definite location for its home games and Mr Pearce agreed that this was the case. He went on to ask if it was possible for the club to play all its games away. In response, the General Secretary asked the club's delegates if they would consider using King George V playing fields in Cheltenham as their home venue for the rest of the season. All three of the club's representative concurred that they would be willing to take such an action, although Mr A Allsop stressed that Ashchurch Army Camp would still be their preferred location. It was subsequently confirmed that Northway FC did not have a scheduled home fixture until February 2nd and, as a consequence, it was agreed that, in the meantime, the League would proceed with contacting Cheltenham Borough Council to ensure that it was acceptable, in principle, for the club to play its home games at King George V playing fields. Further to this, it was agreed that the new venue for the clubs home games would be announced at the club's meeting to be held on January 30th. Once this agreement was reached, the club's delegation was thanked for its attendance and co-operation by the Chairman.
Before the Northway delegates took their leave of the meeting, however, the General Secretary asked Mr Pearce if he had attended the Division Three match between FC Electrics and Tewkesbury Town on Saturday, December 22nd, 2007 because he knew that two players registered to Northway FC would be playing for Tewkesbury Town. Mr Pearce explained that he didn't know for certain but had suspicions that this might be the case and chose to take the opportunity, presented by the cancellation of Northway's fixture with Moreton Rangers, to ascertain whether or not his suspicions had any foundation.

Hearing - FC Electrics

The General Secretary informed the meeting that FC Electrics had been asked to attend the meeting because three reports, from other member clubs, had been received during the course of a calendar year relating to the manner in which FC Electrics Reserves conducted themselves in matches that did not have an officially appointed referee. It was pointed out that two of these reports had been received during the course of October and November 2007 and that, as a consequence, the committee had decided that FC Electrics should be required to attend this meeting in order to ascertain whether or not there was an ongoing problem with their reserve side. Committee members were also informed that there had been no further reports relating to FC Electrics since the meeting held on December 5th, although it was pointed out that, since the receipt of the second report this season relating to the club's reserve side, the League had ensured that an officially appointed referee had handled each of their matches that were played under the jurisdiction of the League.
The General Secretary then re-acquainted the committee with the contents of the reports that had been received and also pointed out that the club had been reported to the GFA, and subsequently sanctioned accordingly, for the manner in which it behaved towards an Officially Appointed Referee in October. This was noted but it was agreed that this did not have a material effect on the matter at hand.
The FC Electrics representative was then invited into the meeting and he identified himself as Will Sims, Treasurer and first team manager. Mr Sims began by apologising for the absence of the Club Secretary, Mr Graham Walker, but explained that this was due to Mr Walker's prevailing personal circumstances. Mr Sims then admitted that, as the club's first team manager, he did not see a lot of Reserve team games but that he was able to state that the side had played in 14 games that had been controlled by an officially appointed referee and that the side had only had two cautions all season. These figures were disputed by Mr Arthur Stiley, the referee's secretary, but the General Secretary then went on to point out that, in any case, it was not the games that were refereed by an officially appointed referee that were the concern of the hearing, but rather those games that were officiated by club referees. The General Secretary then informed Mr Sims that all the reports that had been received demonstrated common themes, in that they all mentioned the use of dangerous tackles, excessive foul and abusive language, the fact that the side seemed to be spoiling for a fight and that it seemed to think that it could get away with things that the sides record otherwise suggested that it didn't attempt to get away with when an officially appointed referee was present. Mr Sims informed the meeting that a number of players who had been playing for the 2nd team had now left the club and that they had only been permitted to join in the first place because club policy relating to recruitment of players had been relaxed in the summer, to ensure that the club could replace the players that it lost at the end of last season, which approximated 20. Mr Sims said that he believed that the loss of these players may have alleviated the situation and he also informed the meeting that there was concern within the club at the reputation that it was gaining and the effect that this might have on the first team. Mr Sims also explained that, because of these concerns, the club was in the process of reviewing the future of its reserve side.
The Chairman then called for any other questions, although, in doing so, he reminded the meeting that Mr Sims, by his own admission, was not best placed to answer on behalf of the club's 2nd team as he was rarely in attendance at any of the team's matches. There were no further questions, so Mr Sims was asked to retire from the meeting whilst the committee considered the matter.
Following the deliberations of the committee, Mr Sims was invited back into the room. He was then informed that the Committee's decision was to warn the club as to its future conduct and to fine the club £100, with payment of such amount to be suspended until the end of the season when this matter would be further reviewed. Mr Sims then took his leave of the meeting.

Rule Offences:

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 5h: Failure to satisfactorily attend to the business of the League.

i) Failure to contact Results Secretary with match result (first report) - Fine £15: 08/12/2007 - Senior Charity Cup Andoversford Nomads ( no report of postponement), Whaddon United (no report of postponement); 22/12/2007 - Div 1 Cheltenham Civil Service.
ii) Failure to contact Results Secretary with match result (second report) -Fine £20 : 08/12/2007 -Junior Charity Cup St Marks Community Association (previously fined £15); 15/12/2007 - Div 2 Cheltenham Saracens(previously fined £15);
iii) Failure to contact Results Secretary with match result (third report) - Fine £25: 08/12/2007 - Div 3 St Marks Community Association (previously fined £20).
iv) Failure to respond to League Correspondence. Fine £10: Northway
v) Falsification of details on a transfer form. Fine £30 and three points deducted from total in Division Five: FC Barometrics

In considering point (v) above, the committee took account of the email from FC Barometrics with regard to this matter that was deferred from the Correspondence section of the agenda.

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 5i: Late Payment of Invoices. Fine £15

Invoices due 30/12/2007: Gaffers AFC (invoice 53a, £418.40, club suspended on 30/12/2007, invoice paid & suspension lifted 07/01/2008); Whaddon United (invoice 56a, £353.40, club suspended on 30/12/2007, invoice paid & suspension lifted 04/01/2008); Northway (invoice 61a, £40, club suspended on 30/12/2007, invoice paid & suspension lifted 07/01/2008);

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 8Q - playing an ineligible player - Fined £15, points gained from match deducted and further action at the discretion of Management Committee : 15/12/2007 - Div 3 Whaddon United (won 4-2 v Gloucester Elmleaze - played a player prior to completion of transfer. Transfer form received 22/12/2007. Club also deducted 3 points from its total in Division Three); 22/12/2007 - Div 3Falcons (drew 3-3 with Apperley -played a player prior to completion of transfer. Transfer form received 29/12/2007. Club also deducted 3 points from its total in Division Three), Tewkesbury Town (won 3-2 v FC Electrics - played two players registered with Northway. Club also deducted 4 points from its total in Division Three)

In considering the matters relating to transgressions of League Rule 8Q, the committee also took account of the relevant emails and letters that had been deferred from the Correspondence section of the agenda.

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 10b:

i). Late Kick-offs (home team). 15/12/2007 - Junior Charity Cup Falcons (7 minutes late - fine £7.50).
ii). Late Kick-offs (away team). 15/11/2007 - Div 1 Northway (15 minutes late - fine £8).

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 10e - playing with less than 11 players: 15/12/2007 - Div 1 Northway (played with 9 players - fine £6); 22/12/2007- Div 5 Falcons (played with 10 players - fine £3);

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 10f: Failure to fulfil a fixture:
Minimum Fine £15 and 3 points deducted: 22/12/2007 - Div 4 Bredon;05/01/2008 - Div 4 Gaffers; Div 5 Gaffers.
Minimum Fine £20 and 4 points deducted: 01/12/2007 - Div 1 Northway; 15/12/2007 - Div 2 Bourton Rovers
Minimum Fine £25 and 5 points deducted: 22/12/2007 - Div 1 Northway;

In relation to the fixture that Northway failed to fulfil on 22nd December, 2008, the Referee's Secretary reported that this game was cancelled at 1.10 pm, which for a 2.00 pm kick off meant that it was too late to prevent the referee from travelling to the match. The Referee's Secretary further confirmed that the referee was already at the ground when the game was cancelled by Northway. The meeting was informed that Mr W Wain was, therefore, entitled to his full fee plus expenses and that this amounted to £34. It was agreed that the League would pay this amount to Mr Wain and then recover it from Northway.

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11a - failure to complete Result cards correctly. Fine £5 for each offence
Incorrect Score: 01/12/2007 - Div 4 Churchdown Panthers (stated 8-5 when 7-4)
No Sportsmanship Marks: 08/12/2007 - Junior Charities Cup Broadway United
No Referee Marks: 15/12/2007 - Senior Charities Northleach Town
No Referee Named: 22/12/2007 - Div 2 Northleach Town (was A Ward), Div 3 St Marks Community Association (was A Richards)

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11(b) - Notification of results to the Results Secretary:
Fine £5 (first offence): 01/12/2007 - Div 5 Falcons (Incorrect score - stated 1-5 when 0-5).

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11c - failure to submit a result card to the registration secretary within 5 days of a match. Fine £10: 08/12/2007 -Senior Charities Cup FC Barometrics, Junior Charities Cup St Marks Community Association, Whaddon United, Minor Charities Cup FC Barometrics; 15/12/2007 - Div 1 Kings, Woodmancote, Div 3 Charlton Rovers, St Marks Community Association, Whaddon United, Div 4 Gaffers, Kings, Div 5 Gaffers, Senior Charities Cup Whaddon United, Minor Charities Cup Charlton Rovers. 22/12/2007 - Div 3 Broadway United

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 11(f) - Failure to provide a correctly completed teamsheet. Fine £10: 10/11/2007 - Cheltenham Civil Service (teamsheet not submitted. Fine already paid); 15/12/2007 - Div 4 Gaffers (one player not named);

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 13c - Failure to provide a linesman for the whole match. Fine £5: 15/12/2007 - Div 4 Smiths Athletic;

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 13H -failure to submit a report on a referee awarded a mark of 40 or less. Fine £5: 15/12/2007 - Div 3 Gloucester Elmleaze

The following clubs have been fined in accordance with rule 13J -Submission of referees cards & teamsheets.

i. Submission of an incomplete Club Referee's Card. Fine £10: 15/12/2007 - Div 5 Falcons (No date); 22/12/2007 - Div 5 Tewkesbury Dynamos (no date or division)
ii. Failure to submit Referee's Card within 5 days of the match. Fine £10: 15/12/2007 - Div 4 Gaffers; 22/12/2007 - Div 3 Phoenix United, Div 5 Gaffers AFC.
iii. Failure to submit Referee's Card within 10 days of the match. Fine £10 & club Suspended: 15/12/2007 - Div 4 Gaffers (suspension now lifted); 22/12/2007 - Div 3 Phoenix United (suspension now lifted), Div 5 Gaffers.
iv. Failure to submit Teamsheets within 5 days of the match. Fine £5 for each missing teamsheet: 15/12/2007 - Div 4 Gaffers (both sheets missing); 22/12/2007 - Div 3 Phoenix United (both sheets missing), Div 5 Gaffers AFC (both sheets missing).

Fixtures

Mr John Hunt was not present at the meeting but, in his absence, the General Secretary reported that, currently, fixtures were up to date and that the Assistant Secretary foresaw no problems to the end of the season as matters stand at the moment. It was also pointed out that games which required rearrangement that were originally scheduled for Saturday, February 2nd, the date of the Quarter Finals of the Junior and Minor Charity Cups, would be re-scheduled in due course and that, at present, they had been left on Full Time with a note to indicate that one, or other, of the clubs was involved in a cup match.
It was also reported that Shipton Oliffe had requested the postponement of the Club's Division One away fixture against Moreton Rangers on Saturday, 23rd February, 2008 as numerous of the club's players were going on a cruise. It was agreed to permit this match to be re-arranged for a date later in the season.

Registrations

Mr Phil Tustain informed the meeting that, following discussions with Mr John Crowther, he had begun to return incorrectly completed Match Result Cards to the club concerned, along with a covering letter. The meeting approved this approach but requested that Mr Tustain only return a photocopy of the original so that he was able to retain the card itself. This was agreed

Mr Tustain also reported that he was in receipt of a transfer request form appertaining to Sam Beckingham, who desired to transfer from Northway to Tewkesbury Dynamos. It was explained to the meeting that, if approved, this would involve the player moving from a Division One club to a club that had sides in Divisions Two and Five and that , in circumstances such as this, League Rule 8(K) empowered the Management Committee to refuse or delay transfers. After brief discussion, this transfer was approved, with the caveat that Mr Beckingham would not be regarded as eligible to play for Tewkesbury Dynamos in Division Five. It was noted that this matter related to an email, the consideration of which had been deferred from the correspondence item of the agenda.

The General Secretary then brought the meeting's attention to the other item relating to registrations that had been deferred from correspondence. This regarded a request from Star FC to play M Taylor in the club's Reserve side on an ongoing basis. After considering Star FC's submission in support of this application, the request was agreed, with the dual understanding that such agreement did not make Mr Taylor eligible for the club's third team and that permission would have to be sought again following any further games played for the 1st team.

Charity Cup Sub Committee Report

Details of the report produced following the meeting of the Charity Cup Sub Committee, which was held on Wednesday, 12th December, had been circulated in advance. The General Secretary brought the attention of the meeting to several aspects of the report in particular, which he felt required specific consideration. These were noted, as was the fact that numerous of the points related to proposed changes to League Rules that were to be covered in another agenda item. Mr Les Fisher informed the meeting that he had concerns that related to one of the rule changes that were suggested by the Charity Cup Sub Committee report and he circulated a document that related to the manner in which the League's finances and accounts operated to substantiate these concerns. It was agreed to deal with all matters relating to proposed changes to League rules under the appropriate agenda item.

Changes to League Rules 2008-09

A first draft of proposed amendments to League Rules for season 2008-09 was circulated to members of the committee. The General Secretary asked that all committee members give due consideration to the proposals before the next meeting, when, he suggested, the committee could then debate the proposals further. This was agreed.

Any Other Business:

Before considering Any Other Business, it was unanimously agreed that, as the time had passed 9.00 pm, standing orders would be suspended.

Mr Les Fisher reported to the meeting that, in his capacity of Results Secretary, an issue had come to light relating to the Teamsheets submitted for the game between Gala Wilton & High Tech Rangers in Division Two. The General Secretary was asked to write to Gala Wilton to ask for an explanation of the apparent discrepancies in the presentation of the teamsheets for this game, which had been a Gala Wilton home match, and to then report back to the Management Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 30th.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.09 pm

NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY 30th JANUARY, 2008