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Cheltenham League Notice Board
Minutes of the Club Meeting at the Victory Club Cheltenham on Wednesday 25th January 2006 at 7-55 pm Management Attendees: G.Cook, J Crowther, R. Attwood, N Oram, L Fisher, J Hunt, A Stiley, B Hill, M.Lytheer, P Newcombe, R Overington, P Tustain Club Attendance: 35 Clubs
The Chairman welcomed those clubs that had chosen to stay on for the clubs meeting following the EGM and detailed the concepts under which the meeting was held. General Secretary. The League Secretary, Nick Oram, referred the club delegates to the envelopes with which they had been issued as they entered the meeting room. He explained that the contents of the envelopes included entry forms for next season and the club declaration forms, both of which were habitually issued at this time of year. He pointed out that these forms had to be returned to the League by March 31st at the latest. He also made reference to the Newsletter that had been issued by the League's recently appointed Historian and explained that a name for the newsletter was still being sought. A competition was being run to come up with a name and delegates were asked to send all entries directly to the League Historian, Linda Wilson. The General Secretary ensured that everyone had been issued with a copy of the revised fixtures for Saturday, 28th January and Saturday, 4th February. The original Schedules for these dates had been significantly altered because of the postponements to which the League had agreed in deference to Cheltenham Town's FA Cup 4th round match at home to Newcastle United on January 28th. It was confirmed that everyone present was in possession of the revised schedule. The attention of the meeting was drawn to the club player debt forms, with which each delegate had also been issued. It was explained, for the benefit of all delegates but especially new Secretaries, that these forms were to be used at the end of the season to report any players that owed money to clubs. The General Secretary went on to point out that any player so reported would not be allowed to register with a club in the Cheltenham League for the following season, including the club that had reported him and to whom the money was owed, until that club had written to the League to discharge him of the debt. The General Secretary concluded by asking all clubs to make sure that they did not write anything on the Official Referees result cards that they were required to send to the League Results Secretary following every home match. It was requested that clubs should try and ensure that the Referee had signed the card but it was stressed that, beyond that, the club had no obligation with regard to entries on the cards at all. Clubs were reminded that they were merely the conduits through which the League now received Official Referee's Cards and had no responsibility at all for their contents. Clubs were asked to send in all cards as they were received from the referee and were assured that if they contained no details, the matter would be taken up with the referee in question. Clubs were also asked to report any instances in which the referee refused to fill out the card at all to the Results Secretary when they rang in the result of the match in question. It was confirmed that these matters would also be taken up with the referee in question. The General Secretary was asked by High Tech Rangers whether or not the club's home Junior Charity Cup Quarter Final tie, which had been originally scheduled for January 28th but which had now been postponed at the request of their opponents because of the Cheltenham Town FA Cup match, would be rearranged for a date which would still allow High Tech Rangers to enjoy home advantage. The General Secretary assured the High Tech Rangers delegate that this matter would be discussed in the Management Committee meeting that followed the Clubs Meeting Finances / Benevolent Fund. A statement of the League's accounts had been distributed. The League Treasurer, Mr Les Fisher, informed the meeting that he was very disappointed with the income so far received in fines, which had increased significantly since last season. This, he informed the meeting, was one of the main reasons that he had been obliged to transfer £3000 to the investment account. He pointed out that there had not been any claims paid by the benevolent fund yet this season and he urged everyone who was entitled to claim against this fund to do so. The Chairman reiterated this sentiment and confirmed that a payment of £20 a week would be made to anyone who was off work and in possession of a sickness certificate, for a maximum period of 10 weeks. It was also confirmed that this did not apply to students and that it, also, did not apply to persons who were paying for physiotherapy treatment to enable themselves to continue going to work. The Chairman did emphasise, though, that it would be up to the clubs to change the conditions of the scheme if they felt that this was warranted and that this could, if agreed, include an increase in the amount that might be payable to a claimant each week.. Fixtures John Hunt, the League's Assistant Secretary, informed the meeting that
until recently all postponed and cancelled matches had been rearranged
and that this meant that a significant number of games had already been
scheduled for midweek dates in April. He stated that about 15 games now
needed to be rearranged because of the effect of the postponements on
January 28th, which related to Cheltenham Town's FA Cup match with Newcastle,
and on February 4th, which had been caused by the movement of Charity
Cup matches from January 28th. The Assistant Secretary informed the meeting
that an agreement had been reached with the Sunday League under which
midweek Cheltenham League matches would only be arranged for Tuesdays
and Thursdays in April, whilst the Sunday League would restrict itself
to Wednesday evenings. Registrations Terry Onions, the Registration Secretary, was absent from the meeting
so there was no specific report relating to Registrations. Star FC asked
if the League could return to the system through which the counterfoils
attached to Registration Forms were returned by to the Clubs by the Registration
Secretary. This was noted. Referees Arthur Stiley, the Referees Secretary, informed the meeting that the League now had more referees at its disposal and that, as a consequence, the vast majority, if not all, of the games each weekend were benefiting from an officially appointed referee. He emphasised to clubs that changesto originally notified appointments do happen quite regularly, however, and that these can quite often occur on Saturday mornings. He stated that, in such circumstances, he always tried to inform the home side at the very least but could not promise to have the time to get in touch with the away side. He stressed, therefore, that it was very important to ask the referee his name at the end of each game, to ensure that the correct details were entered on the match result card sent to the League. He also pointed out to club delegates that, if they were in any doubt as to the identity of a referee, they could always call him on the Monday following a fixture. Star FC asked for confirmation of the time at which the list of referee appointments appeared on the League's website each week. It was confirmed that efforts were always made to try and ensure that these details were uploaded to the website on Thursday evenings but that, on occasion, this was not possible because of reasons beyond the League's control AFC Southside asked for confirmation of what constituted a suitable alternative referee and aired their concern that it seemed as if clubs had been given the go ahead to cancel any game they pleased if there was no officially appointed referee. The General Secretary detailed the process which would be employed for each game that was postponed because of the absence of an officially appointed referee and stressed that, in such circumstances, the League's Management Committee would decide which club was at fault and act accordingly. It was stressed that the best way for each club to be certain of having a suitable alternative was to have a fully qualified referee within their ranks on whom they could call if needs be. The point was then made that the Sunday League actually make the need for each club to have at least one qualified referee a requirement of membership but it was generally agreed that this had not worked in the past for the Cheltenham League. Mr John Crowther, the League's Vice Chairman and the President of the Cheltenham Referee's Association, informed the meeting that the next referee's course would be held in early March. Club Hand Book Changes. The General Secretary informed the meeting that a list of the latest Club handbook changes was available for collection at the rear of the meeting hall. The changes reported were The new Secretary of Falcons is Simon Hancock and his address is 27 Lime Road, Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 7RJ. His telephone numbers are 01684-295612 (H), 0121 6985753 (W) and 07764 282191 (M) The new secretary of Finlay Rovers is Yashar Nasser and his address is 15, Coney Hill Road, Gloucester. GL4 4QL. His telephone numbers are 01452 542280 (H) and 07949 032088 (M) The Sherborne Harriers secretary has a new mobile telephone number and this is 07810 524472 GFA The General Secretary informed the meeting that a number of points of interest had arisen from the latest meeting of the GFA Council, which had been held on Thursday, 5th January. Firstly, a new system would be introduced for the marking of referees from the beginning of next season. This would see the range of marks change to 1 - 100 from the current system, which uses a range between 1 -10. It was explained that this change had been made at the behest of the FA. Also, following the completion of a review of the pyramid system in Gloucestershire, the Cheltenham League would be obliged to change its rules to allow for the entry, into Division One, of the Champions of the Cirencester League, should they choose to make application to join the League. In addition, the GFA was looking into the possible removal of the requirement for referees to undergo Criminal Records Bureau Checks if they had no involvement whatsoever with junior football. Finally, it was reported that the GFA had appointed a new Football Development Officer. Her name is Rebecca Skinner and it was explained that Rebecca's major roles were to work with Charter Standard Clubs and Schools. The meeting was informed that Rebecca was hoping to be present at the meeting in September. In the meantime, however, in conversation with the League's General Secretary, she had informed him that clubs could achieve senior charter standard by having a constitution, a code of conduct for its members and a coaching structure. Rebecca had also emphasised that she is keen to forge links between schools and senior clubs and asked that her telephone number be passed on so that clubs interested in contacting her could do so straight away. This telephone number is 01454 619518 Any Other Business. Winchcombe Town asked if the requirement within the League rules, which states that clubs should only allow outfield players to wear numbers 2 - 17, could be removed. The General Secretary stated that he had been in contact with the GFA to confirm whether or not this stipulation formed part of the standard code of rules. He informed the meeting that the GFA had confirmed that it was not part of the standard code of rules and that, as a consequence, the League was now considering a revision of the rules for next season There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.42 pm NB: NEXT MEETING - AGM - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7TH, 2006 AT 7-15 PM |
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