Cheltenham League Notice Board

• 12/06/2005 - June Newsletter

1) Welcome to Our New Clubs

5 new clubs were welcomed into the Cheltenham League fold at the AGM, which was held at the Victory Club on Wednesday, 8th June. Of the five, only Gaffers FC, who will be based at the Burrows Playing Fields in Leckhampton, will start life in the Cheltenham League anywhere other than Division 5. In deference to their anticipated playing strength, they have been ceded straight into Division Four whilst the other four all go into the bottom division. Sherborne Harriers will be playing at the Sherborne National Trust Property Playing Fields in the Cotswolds, Churchdown Panthers will be using the John Daniels Recreation Ground in Churchdown, Tewkesbury Town return to the league after an absence of two years and will be playing home games at the Vineyards Playing Fields, whilst AFC Southside, who make up the quintet, will initially establish their base at King George V playing fields in Brooklyn Avenue.
It is to be hoped that the all five enjoy a long and happy association with the Cheltenham League.

2. Final Trophies of the Year

The final two trophies of season 2004-2005 were awarded at the recent AGM. The Bill Meadows Memorial Trophy was presented to Mrs Gary Pearson, in Gary's absence, after Gary had achieved the highest average mark, a very noteworthy 8.35, of all the Cheltenham League's Referee's during the course of the season. Meanwhile, the John Ingram Sportsmanship Trophy went this season to Kings Reserves, of Division 4. Congratulations to all concerned.

3 Result Cards.

Unfortunately, the League was not able to obtain its full supply of Result Cards from the printers in time for the AGM and the small number that were included in the envelopes that were provided to each club at the meeting are only meant to act as a stop gap. It is intended that sufficient cards to ensure that each club will be able to cover the games to be played in September will be sent out along with the Club Secretary's

4 New Rules

A number of significant changes to the League's Rules were agreed at the Annual General Meeting and the words of the League Chairman, Mr Gordon Cook, should be reiterated as clubs come to terms with the new requirements that have been placed upon them. If anyone is in any doubt as to what is now expected of them, they are urged to contact the League Secretary, or any other League officer, for help and guidance as soon as it is required. The Officers of the League will welcome your calls and they would much prefer it that questions were asked than to have to resort to fining clubs who may only have transgressed the rules because they were unsure of how to comply!

5 New Secretary's Guide

In conjunction with Marc Fowler, the incumbent Secretary of Elmbridge Old Boys, the League intends to produce a brief and straight-forward, step by step guide for New Secretaries and Secretaries of clubs new to the League. It is intended that the Guide will provide, in checklist form, an aide-memoire relating to the routine generally followed on Match Days by most Secretaries of clubs in the Cheltenham League. In separate sections, it will cover home games, away games and days on which Postponements have to be dealt with. Our thanks are due to Marc, who not only came up with the idea but who has also produced the draft copy and it is hoped that this guide will prove useful to anyone who is new to the job of Secretary within the Cheltenham League. If anyone else would like a copy of this guide, they should apply in the first instance to the League Secretary.

6 Cheltenham Borough Council

As detailed at the Annual General Meeting, discussions are still taking place with Cheltenham Borough Council with regard to the arrangements for Pitch Hire to cover next season. Those clubs who are affected should rest assured that the League will endeavour to keep them fully informed of any developments or progress made over the next few weeks.

Thanks,

Nick Oram
General Secretary,
Cheltenham Association Football League