Cheltenham League Notice Board

• 07/12/2007 - November 2007 Newsletter (click here to link to a Word version of this newsletter)

PLEASE NOTE THAT CHARITY CUP GAMES ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH KICK OFF AT 1.45 PM AND THAT KICK-OFF TIMES FOR LEAGUE GAMES ALSO CHANGED TO 2.00 PM FROM THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER

1) Charity Cup Draw

The Charity Cup Draw for matches scheduled to be played on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 is as follows

Senior Charity Cup

Andoversford Nomads v Newton FC
Bishops Cleeve III v FC Barometrics
Charlton Rovers v Cheltenham Saracens III
Kings AFC v Endsleigh
Moreton Rangers v Finlay Rovers
Northleach Town v Whaddon United
Siddington v Winchcombe Town
Tewkesbury Dynamos v Star FC Res

Junior Charity Cup

Brockworth Albion III v Tivoli Rovers
Churchdown Panthers v Phoenix United
Falcons v Finlay Rovers Res
Gala Wilton III v Gaffers FC
Gloucester Elmleaze v Apperley
St Marks CA v Broadway United
Tewkesbury Rovers v FC Electrics
Winchcombe Town Res v Whaddon United

Minor Charity Cup

Charlton Rovers III v Cleevonians
FC Barometrics Res v Falcons Res
FC Electrics Res v Southside
Northleach Town Res v Cheltenham Civil Service IV
Star FC III v Sherborne Harriers
Tewkesbury Dynamos Res v C & G

All competing clubs are reminded that Kick-off for these games is to be 1.45 pm, to take into account the fact that any game may require extra time and a penalty shoot out to reach a conclusion. Please utilise the Charity Cup donation forms when forwarding any collections or donations that have been made, before, during or after these fixtures, to the League Treasurer

2) GFA Volunteer Club Referee's Course

It was announced at the recent Clubs Meeting, by Richard Melinn, the GFA's County Referee's Development Officer, that the GFA is prepared to run as many free-of-charge, 3 hour courses for club volunteer referees as might prove to be necessary. Would all clubs note that interest in attending such a course should be registered with the League's General Secretary in the first instance. Courses will be arranged once the minimum attendance level, which is 10 people, has been achieved.

3 Club Handbooks

As yet, none of the clubs who did not attend the last Clubs Meeting, which was held at the end of October, have contacted the League Secretary to arrange for the collection of the remainder of their allocation of League Handbooks for this season. This is despite the fact that each club is entitled to the handbooks and has already been charged for them, by way of the entry fee.
It is quite possible that each of these clubs believes that the one copy, which was sent through to the club secretary at the beginning of the season, is sufficient for their needs and, if this is the case, then this is entirely up to the clubs involved. Please note, however, that the League hardly ever accepts ignorance of the rules as acceptable mitigation for transgressions or violations of those rules and that, all other things being equal, it would seem to be in the best interests of each club to have as many people as possible who are at least able to refer to the rules whenever necessary.
Also included in the packs, which were available for collection at the club's meeting, were sufficient Match Result Cards to meet each club's needs for the rest of the season. It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to complete and dispatch these electronically for the rest of the season and, indeed, the League Registration Secretary has stated that he would prefer this method to be used. However, it should again be noted that the League will not accept computer failure as a viable reason for the non, or late, submission of these cards and that the 5 day deadline will still apply even if your computer is incapacitated for whatever reason.

4 Timing of Postponements

Now that the weather is beginning to worsen, it is time, once again, to consider matters relating to the postponement of matches. In general, if a fixture is in doubt, the League would advise the home club to contact the away team as soon as possible on the morning of the game. This would be to find out specifically the time at which they are likely to depart for the match and the telephone number of the person who is in charge of the team for that day. An initial decision about the suitability of the pitch and the weather conditions can then be taken just before the opposition leave. If there is no chance of play at that time, the opposition should be informed immediately to stop them travelling. However, if there is no reason to call the game off at that time - for example, if there is fog but it is possible it might lift, if the pitch is still slightly frozen but it might thaw - then the opposition should be told this but advised to still travel. The final decision will then rest with the Match Referee, who will make his decision with regard to the viability of the game when he arrives at the ground.
The key to these situations is to ensure that communications are maintained between the home club and the away side at all times, to make sure that everyone knows exactly what is going on all the time!

5 Matches on December 29th

In keeping with usual practice, no games were arranged for Saturday, 29th December, 2007 when the fixture lists were released at the beginning of the season. This does not mean, however, that games cannot be re-scheduled for this date. At the League Management Committee meeting that was held on Wednesday, 5th December, 2007, the Committee was informed, by the League's Referees Secretary, that, as far as he was aware, a number of referees were available to officiate at matches on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year and the League has no objection to clubs using the provisions of League Rule 10(c) to mutually agree to bring the date of a match forward . It should be noted, however, that this can only be done in conjunction with the League Assistant Referee, John Hunt, and the match can only be played once it has been sanctioned by Mr Hunt.
Please note that the last date on which notification of an intention to bring a game forward to December 29th can be communicated to John Hunt is Friday, 21st December, 2007.

6 Clubs Meeting in January

The next Cheltenham League Club's meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 and will be held at the Victory Club. Will all persons or clubs who have an item for inclusion on the agenda for this meeting please forward it to the League Secretary by Wednesday, 16th January 2008 at the latest.

7 Club Details

AC Olympia's Secretary has a new home telephone number. This is 01242 677828
Phoenix United's secretary has a new email address. It has now changed to geoffrey.e.west@btinternet.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHELTENHAM ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Regards,
Nick Oram
General Secretary, Cheltenham Association Football League