Cheltenham League Notice Board

• 10/06/2005 - Annual General Meeting Update

5 new clubs and eight new sides were admitted to the Cheltenham League following the unanimous approval of the League's constitution for next season at the AGM last Wednesday. Charlton Rovers and Naunton Park have eached formed a reserve side whilst Belmore Jags, whose first team were promoted to Division One for the first time, are starting up a third team. All three of these teams enter the League in Division Five, as do four of the new Clubs who were voted into membership of the League on Wednesday night. AFC Southside, Churchdown Panthers, Sherborne Harriers and Tewkesbury Town will all start off in Division Five in September but it was agreed that Gaffers, the fifth and final new club, would be ceded straight into Division 4. This web site will be remodelled over the next few weeks to reflect the new constitution for next season.

In addition, several changes to rules will be introduced next season with the two main alterations being the removal of the requirement to send stamped addressed envelopes for the return of registration form counterfoils and the introduction of a requirement that all clubs should take responsibility for the dispatch of referees cards to the League's Results Secretary after every match.

The meeting was also informed that the League has been experiencing difficulties in its relationship with Cheltenham Borough Council, specifically with regard to the Block Booking Arrangement that relates to the hire of local pitches for about 10 of the League's Clubs. At the moment, the League is awaiting a response from the Council to its request that it must be provided with a unit price, per pitch, for the whole season before the beginning of the season if the arrangement is to continue. Once there are any developments or any progress is made, those clubs affected will be the first to know.

All the League's serving officers were re-elected en bloc and the meeting concluded with the presentation of the Bill Meadows and the John Ingram Trophies. The former, which is presented annually to the Referee who has achieved the highest average marks in the League over the course of the season, was won by Gary Pearson, who achieved an excellent average with 8.35. As Gary was away working, the trophy was collected from the League's President, Mr Dennis Barrett, by his wife. The John Ingram Trophy, awarded to the team who registers the highest average Sportsmanship mark during the campaign, was presented to Kings Reserves by the League's Chairman, Mr Gordon Cook.

Further details on the meeting and other matters currently affecting the League will be available from the latest edition of the Newsletter, which will be posted on this website shortly.