Constitution


1.The Club shall be called Oakwood Football Club.

2.OBJECTS OF OAKWOOD FOOTBALL CLUB

The object of the club shall be to arrange association football matches,
training and coaching sessions for both senior and youth teams, and to support
social activities of the Oakwood Sports & Social Club.

3.RULES AND REGULATIONS

a)The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of the Football
Association by virtue of its affiliation to/membership of the Football Association.
The Rules and Regulations of the Football Association Limited and parent
County Association can be incorporated into the Club Rules.

b)The Club will abide by the Football Association’s Charter Standard Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policies.

c)As provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association and the County Association, to which the club is affiliated, the Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

d)Any complaints or queries on the interpretation of the rules or proposed alteration of the Rules must be submitted in writing to the Chairperson, Secretary or Team Manager.

e)The Committee shall decide any matter appertaining to the Club and not covered by these Rules.

f)The Committee's ruling on the interpretation of the Rules or any other matter concerning the Club, shall be deemed as final.

g)The Committee are empowered to co-opt any person deemed to be of service onto the Committee. Co-opted members shall not have the right to vote.

h)The Committee is empowered to elect any other Sub-Committee it deems necessary to expedite and discharge its business, each of which shall have a Committee Representative.

4.OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

a)The Officers of the Club shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson Secretary
and Treasurer and General Manager, who will be elected at the Annual General
Meeting (AGM). These Officers will form the Executive Committee (to be known
as 'The Committee') and will deal with the daily affairs of the Club.

b)The Officers will be responsible for electing a Club President and
appointing the Team Managers and/or Coaches, at their earliest convenience.
The Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of
the Club.

c)Each Club Officer and Committee Member shall hold office from the date of
appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at
a Special General Meeting. Any out-going officer may be re-elected. Any
vacancy must be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another
of the remaining Committee and approved by a simple majority (see point c).

5.MEETINGS

a)The AGM will be held no later than July 31 each year.

b)An Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) can be called at the discretion of a Committee member or on request of one-third of the membership providing the Committee Secretary has received a written request 21 days before the meeting date.

c)The Committee shall meet as deemed necessary. Any member of the Club Committee can call a meeting of the Club Committee by not giving less than 7 days notice to all members of the Club Committee.

d)Seven days' notice of meetings should be given by the Secretary to all members in a suitable format including letter, email or phone call direct from the Secretary.

e)A copy of the Rules shall be available at the AGM and, if considered necessary by the Chairperson, shall be read out to the members present.

f)Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their
absence the Vice-Chairperson.

g)The Secretary shall record the Minutes of all meetings which will be approved and signed at subsequent meetings. In the absence of the Secretary, another member of the Committee will be nominated to record the minutes.

h)Decisions of The Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those
attending the Committee meeting (one vote per member). For AGM’s and EGMs decisions will be made based on a simple majority with one vote per member attending. The Chairperson of the Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

i)A member may be fined for non attendance at an AGM, EGM or players meeting.

j)Any decision taken by the Committee shall be final and binding.

6.MEMBERSHIP

a)The Committee has the authority to refuse membership of the Club to any person they consider unsuitable.

b)A 'player' member is one who has signed a current registration form for the Oakwood Football Club and is a fully paid-up member of Oakwood Sports and Social Club.

c)A 'player' member shall declare ALL other Football Clubs that they are registered with for the previous and current season.

d)An application form must also be completed and accepted by the Committee to confirm membership to the Club. The Secretary will maintain an up to date Membership Register.

e)The Committee will decide each year if a membership fee is to be charge for membership to the Club. All those wishing to become members must pay the fee in full before being membership is deemed successful. The Committee has the authority to decide whose fees can be wavered and have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.

f)When a player is transferred to the club and a transfer fee is paid by Oakwood. If that same player wishes to transfer to another club in the same season. The original transfer fee must be repaid to the club before a transfer form is signed.

g)Any player requesting a transfer away from Oakwood Football Club must ensure that any monies owed to Oakwood FC or Oakwood S&SC are paid in full and that any property belonging to either Oakwood FC or Oakwood S&SC is returned in advance of the transfer form being presented to the appropriate signatory for consideration of signing.

h)A member shall cease to be a member of the Club from the date on which
he/she gives notice to the Committee of their resignation. Membership fees are
only reimbursed on the agreement of the Committee.

i)The Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. There shall be no appeal procedures.

j)A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the Club Property.
7.FINANCE

a)The latest set of preliminary accounts and forecasts should be submitted in writing to those present at the AGM.

b)All payments must be authorised by the Committee or appointed Sub Committee.

c)Expenses and other claims will be presented to the Committee on the last Thursday of each month for settlement of the previous month's expenditure. Settlement will only be made when a claim is accompanied by a receipt.

d)A bank account for the Club will be maintained for processing Club payments and receivables. No sum can be drawn from the account except in cheque form. Cheques can only be signed by the signatures of two of the following Officers: CHAIRPERSON, VICE-CHAIRPERSON, TREASURER, SECRETARY. GENERAL MANAGER

e)The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping records of income and expenditure, and for presenting a statement of accounts at each meeting of the Committee, and an audited balance sheet at the AGM.

f)The Committee shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.

g)Any player fined for disciplinary reasons by the County FA, will be responsible for payment of that fine unless the Committee decide that the Club is responsible for payment of APPEAL expenses.

h)Any player who falls into arrears with fees, etc, or who owes money to the Club, without a valid reason, will be suspended from the Club Membership and will not be allowed to transfer

i)The Club Property, other than the Club Account, shall be vested in not less than two and no more than four custodians. The Custodians will deal with the Club Property as directed by decisions of the Club Committee and entry of the decisions shall made into the minute book.

8.DISSOLUTION

a) A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.

b) The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to the parent Association who shall determine how the assets shall be utilised for the benefit of the game. Alternatively, such assets may be disposed of in such other manner as the members of the Club with the consent of the parent Association shall determine.

9.TEAM SELECTION

a)Each Team Manager will be responsible for the selection of their Team.

b)The First Team Manager shall have priority in the selection of their Team from available players, subject to the Rules of the Club.

c)A Team Manager may not sign on a player who has previously played for the Club with a poor disciplinary record under the Club's Code of Conduct, unless previously authorised by the Committee.

d)A ‘player’ signed-on after the start of the season, must play one full game in a lower team before being considered for the First Team unless the Managers agree otherwise.

e)If any player who normally plays for the First Team is prevented from
doing so because of injury, illness or merit, they must prove their fitness, with the consent of the Club Trainer, by playing in the Second Team first.

f)No player declared unfit by the Club Trainer on training night will be selected for a match on the following Saturday unless their fitness can be proved.

g)The Teams for the following Saturday will be displayed in the club house by 10.00 pm Thursday evening. Player members must confirm their availability by or before 9pm Thursday.

10.DISCIPLINE

a)The Committee or appointed Sub-Committee may take disciplinary action against players 'SENT OFF' during a match or who have received 'TWO CAUTIONS' within two months.

b)The Committee shall interview and take any appropriate action in a situation where a member has 'bought the game and/or Club into disrepute'. Such situations cover all aspects of football such as dissent to a referee, abuse to a linesman, colleague or opponent, or abuse from the touchline, a spectator or member of the Club.

c)The Committee shall take disciplinary action against any member whose actions could damage the reputation of the Club.

d)Match players will meet at a pre-arranged point. Any players failing to meet by the appointed time may be nominated as 'substitute' for that match. Persistent late attendees are subject to disciplinary action by the Committee.

e)Players are required to play in kit provided by the Club. All kit and equipment provided on match day must be respected by the players.

f)Players' boots will be cleaned and polished, and in good condition.

g)Player members will attend match days,smartly dreesed in the club tracksuit as provided by the club. This dress code may be varied if the Manager has given prior permission.

11.TRAINING

a)Periods and times of training sessions will be notified by the Club Trainer at the beginning of each season.

b)All players should attend for training unless prevented by mitigating circumstances, (e.g. business commitments, sickness etc).

c)Normally a player will not be considered for selection if they fail to arrive for training unless a valid excuse has been telephoned to the Manager or Club Trainer by 7.30pm on the night of training.

d)Any player reporting late for training without reasonable excuse and has not contacted the Manager or Trainer, will be reported to the Committee and may be disciplined.

12.F.A. CUP FINAL: TICKETS ALLOCATION

a)Allocation will be by draw

b)Draw to take place at Oakwood Club House the weekend after finalists are known.

c)Only fully paid up members at 31st September, of present season, committee and sub-committee members may enter the draw.

d)Must be a supporter of team competing in final.

e)Any person allocated a ticket/s MUST sign written agreement to comply with Football Association rules of sale. Any non-compliance of these rules will carry a life ban from receiving ticket/s from Oakwood Football Club.