Cheltenham League Notice Board

• 02/02/2005 - Clubs Meeting Minutes

CHELTENHAM ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Minutes of the Club Meeting at the Victory Club Cheltenham on Wednesday 26th January 2005 at 7-15pm

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

Club Attendance: 30 Clubs
Apologies: D.Barrett, P.Tustain, G.Morrison, Finlay Rovers, Tewkesbury Dynamos, Rowanfield United, Falcons,

Player Debts
The League Secretary, Nick Oram, referred the Club delegates to the Club Player Debt forms that were contained within the envelopes that each had been handed when they had entered the meeting hall. Clubs were reminded that the League had been compelled to abandon plans to make a new rule of the details of the provisions that surrounded these forms but that they now formed part of the guidance notes that were published at the back of the handbook and on the website. As such, they were now part of League process and detail the manner in which the league seeks to pursue the stipulations of Rule 8(E)
Clubs were reminded that the CDP1 form should be used to record the details of all players who owe the club money at the end of the season. This form should then be submitted, during the period between the end of the season and the date that is 7 days prior to the advertised date for the League AGM, to the League Registration Secretary. The League Registration Secretary will then compile a list of the details of all players so reported from every club in the Cheltenham League and this list will be distributed to all clubs at the Annual General Meeting on form CDP2.
Clubs were reminded that the League will then not accept the registration of any players on the CDP2 list for the following season until the club to whom the debt is owed has informed the League that the debt is discharged. It was pointed out that this would also mean that the player who owed money would not be able to register for the club to whom the money was owed. Clubs were also reminded that they should not, during the course of the season, be agreeing to the transfer of any players by whom they are owed money and that the reporting of any debts outside the procedures laid down in the guidance notes would not be dealt with by the League.

2 Invoice Payments
The League Treasurer informed the meeting that there were still far too many fines being incurred for the failure to pay invoices on time. Mr Fisher pointed out to delegates the fact that he always gives 2½ weeks grace for the paying of invoices. Despite this, however, and the fact that this indiscretion is mentioned at virtually every clubs meeting and in most Newsletters during the course of the season, some clubs still don't seem to be able to manage to pay on time.
Mr Fisher asked clubs to call him if they are experiencing any problems at all in relation to the payment of the invoice and not to leave it until the next management committee meeting, at which the issue will invariably be compounded by the imposition of a further £15 fine for failure to deal with the business of the league.

3 Finances
A balance sheet had been provided and Mr Fisher explained that this represented an interim report. He pointed out to the meeting that the General Account was looking very healthy, as was the Charity account, which would be significantly increased towards the end of the season by the revenue gathered at the Semi Final and Final matches. Mr Fisher explained to the meeting that the League had not yet been in receipt of an invoice from Cheltenham Borough Council for pitch hire for the second half of the season, although invoices had been issued to the relevant clubs by the league.

There had been three claims on the funds available in the Benevolent Fund

4 Fixtures
The General Secretary, Nick Oram, outlined plans for season 2005-2006 to the meeting. It had been decided to start next season on Thursday, September 1st and to play a whole programme of League matches over the course of that day and Friday, 2nd September. This was in order to leave Saturday, 3rd September free of League fixtures as this was the day on which the World Cup Qualifier between Wales and England would be held in Cardiff.
Further proposals relating to the Saturdays of the festive period in 2005 were put to the meeting. It was suggested that there should be no league matches on Saturday, 24th December but that fixtures would be arranged for Saturday, 31st December 2005. Initial reaction to this was favourable but, after limited reflection, doubts were expressed about the availability of players on New Years Eve. Delegates were asked to go back to their clubs to canvass opinion and to let the League know whether New Years Eve 2005 was felt to be a viable day on which to hold league matches
The League's Assistant Secretary, John Hunt then informed the meeting that over 80 rearrangements had been made to fixtures since the end of October. He reported that, overall and in general terms, he had received excellent co-operation from the clubs and emphasised the need for every club to utilise email facilities as it meant that the whole process of informing clubs of rearrangements and receiving their acknowledgements was significantly expedited.
A question was received from the floor with regard to the League's attitude towards matches being played under floodlights. In reply, it was pointed out that there was nothing in the rules to prevent matches being played under lights and that, indeed, there was precedent for this so it was not anticipated that there would be any problem

5 Registrations
The League's Registration Secretary, Terry Onions, reported that there were 1715 registrations to the league at present, which was very similar to the numbers from last season. Mr Onions reiterated to the meeting that the best way to get hold of him was via his mobile, the number for which is printed in the handbook. He explained to the meeting that he had exercised considerable leniency over the acceptance of registration forms, 75% of which he estimated to be substandard. Particular areas of concern were the omission of the post code and a failure to include Stamped Addressed Envelopes. It was suggested from the floor that the area on the form for addresses should be increased and that Post Code should be afforded its own titled area on the form and this was agreed. Mr Onions also reminded delegates that all unused forms should be returned to him as a discount would then be credited to the appropriate clubs
In answer to a specific question from the floor, Mr Onions confirmed that the last date on which players could be registered for this season and on which transfers could take place was 1st March.

6 Referees
Mr Arthur Stiley, the League's Referees Secretary, reported to the meeting that there was a very strong body of referees at the disposal of the league this year and that, as a result, he had been over subscribed with referees on some Saturdays. He ascribed this healthy position to the hard work of the Referees association in recruiting and training new referees. He thanked the secretaries of all clubs for their help, understanding and co-operation over the season so far.
Mr Stiley then passed on to the meeting some of the comments that he had received from Referees. He requested that Shirt numbers correspond to those assigned to players on the teamsheets. It was pointed out that compliance of this nature was a requirement according to rule. He emphasised the fact that teamsheets must be handed to referees and asked clubs to report to him any instance in which the referee informs a club that he doesn't want a teamsheet. He also implored clubs to pay referees promptly after every game.
Mr Stiley then informed the meeting that all referees were now being compelled to complete questionnaires that related to Child Protection. He asked delegates to make sure that any of their members who might be involved in refereeing at any level under the age of 16 is made aware of these new requirements.
A question from the floor was received from Newton Heath relating to the wearing of jewellery and pointing out that there seemed to be a lot of inconsistency relating to what was acceptable. Mr John Crowther referred the meeting to Law 4 of the game of Association Football which forbade the wearing of anything which might be dangerous to either the wearer or other players. Mr Stiley explained that all referees had been told that the only jewellery that was acceptable on the field of play was a wedding ring and that this had to be taped up. He assured the meeting the referees had been informed of these regulations at the start of the season and undertook to reiterate this to the refereeing body as soon as possible.
Bishops Cleeve commented that they had perceived a raising of the overall standard of refereeing in the league this season and this comment met with general consensus.

7 Club Handbook Changes
Nothing reported to the meeting but post meeting these details have been received.

Finlay Rovers

New Secretary
New Assistant Secretary and alternative contact
Nathan Wheatley,
6, Southfield Road
Gloucester GL4 6UD

Tel + fax 01452 503725 Roger Buchanan
5, Cromwell Street
Gloucester GL1 1RE

Tel 01452 543340

Tewkesbury YMCA

Rob Morris is unavailable from Wednesday 2nd to Friday 11th February inclusive.

Contacts during this time will be Paul Dean for the first team on 07803 311523 and Jason Allen for the second team on 07946 586683

8 GFA
Nothing to report

9 Any Other Business
There had been no other business notified to the General Secretary

NB: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8TH, 2005 AT 7-15 PM