SHINFIELD RANGERS FC CLUB CONSTITUTION 1. NAME OF CLUB The name of the Club shall be known as "Shinfield Rangers Football Club", referred to as the "Club" in this constitution and Codes of Conduct. 2. OBJECTIVES To provide supervised learning and social opportunities for all members and players of the Club by participating in structured football coaching and competitive and friendly football matches for age groups up to and including 'Under 18' years of age as part of the Youth FC. Adult teams may work under the umbrella of the Club. They may be known as Shinfield Rangers FC, shall be completely self-financing and will be bound by the rules and regulations of the Club and all FA rules and regulations. In furtherance of this objective the Club may: Engage in activities which provide financial support for the Club. Develop relationships between the Club, local schools and the community and any other associated football Clubs. Provide and assist in the provision of such facilities, any items required for training and social functions after prior consultation with the Shinfield Association committee as necessary. 3. RULES AND REGULATIONS 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 Football Association and any League or Competition to which the Club is affiliated to for the time being shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Club Rules. No alterations to the parent County Association's section of the Club Rules shall be effective without prior written approval of the parent Association. The Club will abide by the Football Association's Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy, including any Club specific policies previously agreed with the parent County Association. 4. INSURANCE The Club shall take out Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance for youth teams to cover training sessions, competitive and friendly football matches, organised tournaments, sporting tours, social activities and meetings. Adult teams shall take out Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance independently. Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Shinfield Rangers FC 1
5. CLUB MEMBERSHIP Membership shall consist of all parents and/or guardians of the registered youth players of the Club, adult registered players, Executive Committee members, team managers and coaches and honorary members of the Club. Only Club members over the age of 16 may vote at meetings, hold office or be elected to the Executive Committee. Registered players are adults or youths (whose parents or guardians have signed the Club's parent consent forms) who pay membership fees. HONORARY MEMBERS Honorary life membership maybe confirmed by officers of the Club upon any member the Executive Committee may think suitable in recognition of services to the Club. Honorary members shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges of membership. SUSPENSION, EXPULSION AND RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel or suspend 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. A Club member may also be permanently expelled on the recommendations or approval of the local league the Club is a member of, or the parent County Football Association. A Club member ceases to be a member from the date he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of their resignation or the Club gives notice of expulsion. A Club member who resigns or is suspended or expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or share of any, of the Club Property. 6. EXECUTIVE/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE The management of the Club shall be vested in the Executive Committee, which will consist of the following officers: Chair Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer Child Welfare Officer OPTIONAL MEMBERS MAY INCLUDE Vice Chair Social Secretary Team managers (up to one per team) Marketing/Publicity Officer Website and Online Communication Officer One Parent/Guardian representative Volunteer Coordinator Schools Liaison Officer Development Officer Others where FA rules or footballing practice require member involvement Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Club Constitution 2
7. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The officers and committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall serve until the commencement of the next Annual General Meeting. At each AGM serving committee members may be re-elected and new members proposed and seconded for that forthcoming year. 8. VOTING QUORUM Five members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No decision can be made by less than the declared quorum of five. In the event of a split decision on any Club matter the Chair or Vice Chair (Vice only in the absence of the Chair) will have the casting vote. 9. CO-OPT COMMITTEE MEMBERS The committee may fill casual vacancies that may occur during the year by co-option until the next AGM or Special General Meeting (SGM), whichever occurs sooner. 10. SUB-COMMITTEES The committee may appoint sub-committees as it deems necessary and shall prescribe their function, provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee are reported to the Executive Committee at each meeting or when prescribed to do so. No such sub-committee shall expend Club funds other than in accordance with a previously agreed budget approved by the Executive Committee. 11. MEETINGS The Executive Committee will meet regularly. This meeting will always be chaired by the Chair, Vice Chair or Honorary Club Secretary. The meetings will be minuted and sent to all members of the Executive Committee before the next meeting. Members of the Club may also view copies of the minutes upon request. The meeting minutes must be agreed as a true record and signed by the Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Club Secretary and Chair (or Vice Chair) at the next meeting. 12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) The AGM will be held at a convenient date in May or June of each year. At the AGM (or SGM) the Chair or in his/her absence or request may be permitted to offer the chair to either the Vice Chair or Honorary Club Secretary of the Executive Committee. Nominations shall be proposed and seconded by the members and members should have advance warning of the nominee. Nominations may be made in writing no less than 7 days prior to the commencement of the AGM. Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Club Constitution 3
THE BUSINESS OF THE A.G.M. SHALL BE To receive the annual report from the outgoing Chair and/or Secretary. Receive the Treasurers Statement of Accounts. Elect the Club Officials and Committee. Nominations for committee members should be notified to the Secretary in advance of the meeting. Fix membership subscriptions. Receive, discuss and adopt, if vote so decides, amendments to the Club Rules and Constitution. Discuss any other business 13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING (SGM) Special General Meetings may be called at the written request of a minimum of eight members of the Club. Twenty one day s notice shall be given of any proposed Special General Meeting to all members of the Club. Any notification will be given by letter complete with a proposed agenda detailing the issues for discussion at that meeting. 14. CLUB ACCOUNTS The finances of the adult teams shall be maintained separately from those of the parent Club. The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping account of all income and expenditure and shall present a financial report to all committee meetings and present the accounts summary duly audited for approval by the members at the AGM, including sending a copy summary to the parent County Association. Bank/Building Society accounts shall be operated in the name of the above named Club. Cheques and withdrawals shall only be made on the signatures of the nominated signatories. These approved persons will only be Executive Committee members authorised for this function. They will be the Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Club Secretary and the Club Chair. The financial year shall commence on 1st May each year and finish at least two weeks before the declared date of the AGM. During the closed accounting period the books will be audited and approved prior to presentation of the audited accounts at the AGM. Two auditors who are not members of the committee shall be elected during the prior AGM to audit the accounts and books of the Club. 15. SUBSCRIPTIONS/ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES/FINES Subscriptions of registered playing members shall be proposed and voted on a simple majority at a committee meeting prior to the AGM and shall be confirmed as the sum payable for the next football season. PAYMENTS OF THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: A deposit will be paid on registration of a player Subscriptions are to be paid in full by 1st October each year Any player signing for the Club after 1st October will pay a reduced registration fee. Depending on the month in which the player signs, the player will only be charged for full calendar months left to play in the football season. (Playing months are deemed to be from 1st September to the End of May the following year). At the discretion of the Executive Committee, payment by installments can be arranged throughout the football season until full payment of annual registration fees has been collected. Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Club Constitution 4
DISCIPLINARY fines incurred by a Club player or Club member Any disciplinary fines incurred by a Club player or Club member shall be paid for by that player or member. The Club, at the committee's discretion, may decide to pay administrative fines imposed by the affiliated league, competition or parent Football Association. 16. EQUITY OF MEMBERSHIP AND CLUB ETHICS All Club members and players shall support anti-discrimination, equal opportunities and sporting ethics towards everyone associated with the Club, other Clubs and the community. 17. CODES OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE All members and players of the Club shall abide by the Codes of Conduct published by the Football Association Limited, the current League or Competition the Club is affiliated to or a member of and the Club Rules and Code of Conduct. Any player or Club member who is reported to be in breach of these Rules or Codes of Conduct shall be requested to attend a committee meeting to explain the circumstances and accept the committee's decision or recommendation. 18. CHILD PROTECTION POLICY The Club shall adopt the policy and procedures as set out by the FA Child Welfare and protection procedures and practices effective for the current season. This includes the appointment of a Child Welfare Officer who is available to offer advice, guidance and action where required, completion of Disclosure and Barring Service (previously CRB) checks by all personnel involved, and for Child Protection and Welfare to remain an agenda item each meeting to allow for discussion, advice and learning opportunities. 19. OTHER MATTERS Any matter not provided for in this constitution or the Club Rules that will concern the Club organisation and its activities that may occur during the term of the elected Executive Committee. Any such items shall be agreed at the committee meetings and temporarily incorporated if the committee considered the matter in the interest of the Club or require urgent and immediate attention. Such temporary revisions to the Club constitution or rules will be discussed and approved at the next available AGM or an SGM will be called immediately, giving the required twenty one day s notice to all members. 20. ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION No permanent alterations to this constitution may be made except at the AGM or SGM called for this purpose. No amendment will be made without prior written permission of the members of the Club other than as item 15. Alterations to the constitution shall receive a simple majority of the members present and entitled to vote at the AGM or SGM and will then become a permanent revision to the constitution. 21. CLUB ASSETS The Honorary Club Secretary will hold an up to date list of all Club assets. All equipment or playing kits purchased from Club funds or purchased through sponsorship for the Club's use will remain the property of the Club and listed as an asset. Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Club Constitution 5
22. DISSOLUTION The Club may be dissolved by a resolution presented at an SGM called for that purpose in the event the Club is deemed as no longer justified or circumstances under the Club to be unnecessary or undesirable. Such resolutions may give instructions for disposal of any Club assets remaining after satisfying any outstanding debts or liabilities. Any monies left in credit will be handed to the Shinfield Association in anticipation of forming a new football Club. Affiliated to the Shinfield Association. Reg. Charity: 300201 www.shinfieldrangersfc.com Club Constitution 6