TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORESTERS F.C.
Affiliated to the Kent County Football Association and a member of the Crowborough and District League and Tandridge League
General
1. The name of the Club shall be Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club, hereinafter called the Club.
2. The Club shall be affiliated to the Kent County Football Association and any other League or Association deemed appropriate for the aims the club. The Club colours shall be Red and White, unless otherwise specified by the Management Committee.
3..The purposes of the club are to promote the amateur sports of soccer and netball in Tunbridge Wells and community participation in the same.
4. The Management Committee has the power to:
(a) acquire and provide grounds, equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, clubhouse, transport, medical and related facilities;
(b) provide coaching, training, medical treatment, and related social and other facilities;
(c) take out any insurance for club, employees, contractors, players, guests and third parties;
(d) raise funds by appeals, subscriptions, loans and charges;
(e) borrow money and give security for the same, and open bank accounts;
(f) buy, lease or licence property and sell, let or otherwise dispose of the same;
(g) make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits;
(h) set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves;
(i) invest funds in any lawful manner;
(j) employ and engage staff and others and provide services;
(k) co-operate with or affiliate to firstly any bodies regulating or organising the Sport and secondly any club or body involved with it and thirdly with government and related agencies;
(l) do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purposes; NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes consistently with the Rules below and the general law.
5. Membership
(a) Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis.
(b) The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
(c) The Management Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members.
(d) All Playing Members, Members, Team Managers and supporters of the Club are required to agree to adhere to The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club in their entirety and at all times
(e). The Club shall cover where possible the age range from Under 6 to under 18 and senior sides.
(f). Membership of the club shall comprise players registered with the Club, in accordance with Club rules.
A parent or guardian of the playing Member shall be eligible to represent that player at the AGM and/or Extraordinary General Meeting. An Executive Officer or a Permanent Coach with no playing members from his/her family shall be deemed as a Member of the Club whilst in his/her post.
(g) Annual Membership fees shall be reviewed and determined by the Management Committee and shall be approved at a General Club Meeting on, or before, the date of the AGM and levied accordingly.
(h) A Member is a person who has completed and returned the following
· A current Club Membership Form with membership fee attached· A parental consent form Both of these documents must be received by the Club Membership Secretary, for acceptance by the Club’s Core Management Group, and ultimately for inclusion on the Club Database
(i) Fees are non-refundable. Any player who has not paid the membership fee shall not be allowed to participate in any match sanctioned by the Club, unless otherwise agreed by the ManagementCommittee.
6. Management Committee
(A) Role
Subject to these Rules the Management Committee shall have responsibility for the management of the Club, its funds, property and affairs.
(B) Property etc
(i) The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the club.
(ii) The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002
.(iii) The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
(a) sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
(b) employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
(c) pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
(d) indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).
(iv) The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.
(C) Composition etc
(i) The Committee shall consist of the following “Executive Officers” and have a single vote
Chairman.
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Secretary
Child Protection Officer
The Management Committee shall meet regularly. The Committee members may co-opt club members to serve until the end of the next AGM.
(ii) Any Committee member may be re-elected or re-co-opted without limit.
(iii) A Committee member ceases to be such if he or she ceases to be a member of the Club, resigns by written notice, or is removed by the Committee for good cause after the Member concerned has been given the chance of putting his/her case to the Committee with an appeal to the Club members, or is removed by club members at a general meeting. The Committee shall fairly decide time limits and formalities for these steps.
(D) Committee Meetings
(i) Whenever a Committee member has a personal interest in a matter to be discussed he/she must declare it, withdraw from that part of the meeting (unless asked to stay), not be counted in the quorum for that agenda item and withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the matter concerned.
(ii) The Committee may decide its own way of operating. Unless it otherwise resolves the following rules apply:
(a) at least 3 members must be present for the meeting to be valid;
(b) committee meetings shall be held face to face;
(c) the Chair or whoever else those present choose shall chair meetings;
(d) decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting;
(e) a resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid without a meeting;
(f) the chair of the meeting shall not have a casting vote.
(E) Delegation etc.
The Committee may delegate any of their functions to sub-committees but must specify the scope of its activity and powers; the extent to which it can commit the funds of the Club; its membership; its duty to report back to the Committee. The Committee may wind up any sub-committee at any time or to change its mandate and operating terms.
(F) Disclosure
Annual club reports and statements of account must be made available for inspection by any member and all club records may be inspected by any Committee member.
7. Amendments
(a) These Rules may be amended at a general meeting by two-thirds of the votes cast but not (if relevant) so as to jeopardise the Club’s status as a Community Amateur Sports Club as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002 and not in any event to alter its purposes (unless the procedure set out in 9(b) has been followed) or winding up provisions.
(b) The Club Purposes may be changed to include another eligible sport if the Committee unanimously agree and the members also agreed the change by a 75% majority of votes cast.
8. Winding Up the Club
(a) The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.
(b) The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.
(c) After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
(i) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered charity and/or
(ii) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or
(iii) to the Club’s governing body for use by them for related community sports.
9. Rules
The Management Committee shall have the power, without prejudice to or inconsistent with the power conferred by this Constitution, to make rules for the following purposes:
The conduct of Management Committee, Annual General Meeting and for the regulation of its own proceedings.
¨ The Constitution of the Club.¨
The Rules and Codes of Conduct¨
Defining the respective powers and duties of any sub-committee or officer.¨ The review and revocation of any action or decision of any sub-committee or officer.
Membership provisions, and the rules of the Football Association(s), relevant League(s) and of the Club, and for the government of the Club generally.
Any rules recommended by the Management Committee shall be presented to the Club either at the next Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Any rules made by the Management Committee can only be rescinded, altered or amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and those entitled to vote at a Management Committee, Annual General or Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose.
10. Executive Officers/Members of the Management Committee.
Officers of the Management Committee will serve for one year and can be re-appointed at the AGM by simple majority of the eligible members present. Any officers appointed during the season shall cover for the remainder of the Season
Executive officers and members of the Management Committee are expected to operate according to their duty of trust to the Playing Members.
The Secretary shall be responsible to the Management Committee for the clerical work of the Club.
The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Management Committee for the financial record of the Club and shall present an audited statement of accounts to the Annual General Meeting.
Should the office of Chairman become vacant, the Vice-Chairman shall become Chairman for the remaining term of office, or until such time as a replacement Chairman is appointed.
Members of the Management Committee and Team Managers shall be reimbursed for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Club. All such claims require the approval of two (2) members of the Management Committee before payment.
The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse payment for any expense it considers to be excessive or in any way unrelated to the purposes of the Club.The Secretary, or nominated deputy, shall represent the Club at appropriate League meetings.
11. Team Managers.
The Management Committee shall agree that Team Managers shall be appointed within each age group annually.
All Team Managers, Coaches, or Assistants shall be required to;·
Agree to any appropriate checks being made as to their suitability for the post.
Adhere to and respect the rules (of the Football Association(s), relevant League(s) and of the Club) and to Operate in accordance with the policies and Codes of Conduct of the Club as determined by the Management Committee.
The Management Committee may terminate the position and or membership of any person for:
.Breach of the Club Constitution and any of the Codes of Conduct.
· Conduct which is in the opinion of the Management Committee prejudicial to the best interests of the Club.
Before terminating the membership of any person the Management Committee shall:
· Give notice in writing to the Member of its’ intention, and
· Allow the Member ten (10) days from the date such notice is served (in exceptional circumstances this period may be extended at the discretion of the Management Committee), to show cause why such membership should not be terminated.
During this 10 day period (or until the issue is resolved) the Member shall not be authorised to represent the Club.Any adult requested to officiate at a match will be given the status of Official of the Club for that day.
The club will take all reasonable steps to ensure players and officials are adequately insured when taking part in club activities.
The club requires parents to ensure that the children for whom they are responsible are delivered to and collected from all club activities.
All kit and equipment will remain the sole property of the Club and must be returned as requested by the appropriate official of the Club.
12 All General Meetings
(a) All members may attend all general meetings of the Club in person.
(b) Such meetings need 14 clear days’ written notice to members.
(c) The quorum for all general meetings is 10 members present or 5% of the total membership whichever is greater.
(d) The Chair or (in his or her absence) another member chosen at the meeting shall preside.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules every resolution shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast on a show of hands.
Formalities in connection with General Meetings (such as how to put down resolutions) shall be decided by the Committee and publicised to Club members.
13 Annual General Meetings
The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than the second Wednesday in July of each year.and shall be open to Officers, Members and Team Managers of the Club.
Only Paid-Up Members shall be eligible to vote at any Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.
Members who are unable to attend any Annual/Extraordinary General Meeting may transfer their voting rights to another Member.
At least fourteen (14) days notice shall be given of such an Annual General Meeting by notice to all Members.
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
· Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
· Receive and consider the Chairman’s report.
· Receive the Secretary’s Report
· Receive the Treasurer’s Report
· Agree membership fees for the next Season if not already agreed.
· Elect the Management Committee.
· Transact any other business for which seven (7) clear days notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary or which has been advised to the membership by the Management Committee in the notice of the Annual General Meeting.
Election of Executive Officers to the Management Committee shall be held in rotation at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations plus a seconder for each Executive Officer post must be sent in writing to the Club Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting Only Members entitled to vote may nominate or second candidates in any election.
14 Extraordinary General Meeting
An Extraordinary General Meeting of Members may be called by the Management Committee or on the delivery to the Secretary of a written request by at least 30% of the eligible members.
An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within twenty-one days of receipt by the Secretary of such written request. The reasons for the Extraordinary General Meeting must be specific and no business except that for which the meeting has been called will be permitted to be discussed at such a meeting.
At least fourteen (14) days notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be given to all Members and such notice shall clearly state the reasons for the request for such a meeting.
Members voting at an Extraordinary General Meeting shall have the power to deal with any business of which notice has been given.
The following powers can only be exercised by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and entitled to vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose.
· An EGM shall be called to dismiss the Management Committee, or any member thereof, if the Management Committee, or any member, have acted in a manner inconsistent with this Constitution or improperly.
· An EGM shall be called to overrule any decision of the Management Committee.
15 Constitution
This Constitution may be altered or amended by any Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, provided that:
· Written notice of motion, signed by the proposer and seconder, is submitted to the Secretary seven (7) days prior to the date of the Meeting.
· Notice of a Meeting proposing the alteration or amendment to the Constitution shall include an outline of the proposed alteration or amendment.
· The motion is carried by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and eligible to vote
16 Accounts
The treasurer shall maintain a complete set of up-to-date accounts for inspection at any time by any Member or Staff Member of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club.
A full and complete statement of accounts, along with a Treasurer’s report, must be presented to the Club AGM, at which point a vote must be taken to accept, or reject, the figures.
The financial year of the Club shall commence on each year on the completion of the AGM, and end on of the following year at the beginning of the AGM. Dates to be dictated by the Management Committee.
17 The Rules and Codes of Conduct of the Club
The club shall maintain a Documented Management System referred to as The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club which shall supplement and support the Club Constitution.
These Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club shall include
· General Club Management
· Coaching
· Child Protection and First Aid
· Financial
· Other
The Club Secretary is responsible to update Membership with any changes made to The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club.
The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club shall be placed on the Club Web-site and made available to all Members at all times.
The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club must document the Club’s policy towards :
· Child Protection and First Aid
· Public Liability Insurance
· Equality and Anti-Discrimination (Equity)
· Discipline
· Membership
· Coaching
· Recruitment & Retention
The Rules and Codes of Conduct of Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club can be amended as agreed by the Management Committee and such changes must be presented to the first General Meeting thereafter.