CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL CLUB CONSTITUTION 

1.

NAME

 

The club shall be called California Football Club for Boys and Girls (The Club)

 

 

2.

OBJECTS

 

The main object of the club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of football.

 

 

3.

STATUS OF RULES

 

These rules (the Club Rules) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

 

 

4.

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 the Berks and Bucks Football Association. The Club is also affiliated to the North East Hants Youth League and the East Berks Youth Football League. Membership to any other Football Association would require a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. The Rules and Regulations of the Football Association Limited and the Berks and Bucks Football Association Limited and any League or Competition to which the Club is affiliated for the time being shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Club Rules.

b)       No alteration to the Club Rules shall be effective unless altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Executive Committee.

c)       The Club will also abide by The Football Association’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy, and any other policy which is a requirement of The Football Association Limited’s Charter Development Status which the Club holds

 

 

5.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

 

a)       The members of the Club (mainly players and officials) shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the Membership Register) which shall be maintained by the Club Secretary.

b)       Membership of the Club shall be open to boys and girls at the respective age groups regardless of disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.

c)       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.

d)       The Executive Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote. Any person who wishes to be a member must apply on the Registration Form provided by the Football Association in which the player’s team shall be competing in the forthcoming season and/or on the Club’s Membership form for members not competing under the Football Association’s competitions. Election to membership shall be at the discretion of the appropriate team Manager.

f)        In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register.

g)       The Football Association and the Berks and Bucks Association Limited shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

 

 

6.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE

 

a)       An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.

b)       The Executive Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.

 

 

7.

RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

 

a)       A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Team Manager of their resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than 2 months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.

b)       The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel a member in accordance with the Code of Conduct when, in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member.

c)       A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be released to another club until all property is returned and all outstanding monies are paid.

 

 

8.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

a)       The Executive Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Child Protection Officer, plus up to 5 other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting.

b)       Each Club Officer and Executive Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Executive Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence the Vice Chairperson. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Executive Committee shall be three.

c)       Minutes of the Executive Committee meetings shall be taken by the Club Secretary or in his absence by another member of the Executive Committee.

d)       Any member of the Executive Committee may call a meeting of the Executive Committee by giving not less than 7 days’ notice to all members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year.

e)       An outgoing member of the Executive Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Executive Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Executive Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Executive Committee members.

f)        Save as provided for in the rules and Regulations of the Football Association and of other bodies to which the Club is affiliated, the Executive Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

 

 

9.

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

 

a)       An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held not later than 30 July in each year to:

 

                                  i.            receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year

                                ii.            receive a report of the Club’s finances over the past year

                               iii.            elect the members of the Executive Committee

                               iv.            consider any other business, including agreement to registration fees for the                                     forthcoming  season

 

b)       Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Executive Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing Managers or Officers of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the Meeting.

c)       A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Executive Committee. Business at an SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM, or to discuss matters of misconduct or of other exceptional circumstance.

d)       The Secretary shall send to each Executive Committee Member written notice of the date of a SGM or a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the Meeting.

e)       The quorum for a General Meeting shall be three Executive Committee Members and 4 Teams Managers or Assistants.

f)        The Chairperson or in their absence a member selected by the Executive Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

g)       Minutes of SGMs and General Meetings shall be taken by the Club Secretary or in his absence another member of the Executive Committee.

h)       The Minutes of the AGM will be made available to Members and Parents/Guardians if requested. 

 

 

10.

CLUB TEAMS

 

         a) At the AGM, the Executive Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s teams (Team Manager). The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team.

        b) The Club teams colours are predominately White and Blue, although second strips allow for other colours to be used.

        c) The Club shall establish and maintain good relationships with local Junior Schools and all Club teams shall respect the facilities, whenever the Club utilises School Grounds.

 

 

11.

CLUB FINANCES

 

a)       A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the Club Account). Designated account signatories shall be the Club Chairperson, the Club Vice Chairperson, the Club Secretary and the Treasurer. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two of the four designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the treasurer and deposited in the Club Account. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.

b)       The income and assets of the Club (the Club Property) shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club.

c)       The Executive Committee shall have 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.

d)       The Club shall prepare an annual Financial Statement in such form as shall be published by the Football Association from time to time.

e)       The Club Property, other than the Club Account, shall be vested in not less than two and no more than four custodians, one of whom shall be the Treasurer (the Custodians), who shall deal with the Club Property as directed by decisions by the Executive Committee and entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence of such a decision.

f)        The Custodians shall be appointed by the Club in a General Meeting and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.

g)       On their removal or resignation a Custodian shall execute a Conveyance in such form as is published by The Football Association from time to time to a newly-elected Custodian or the existing Custodians as directed by the Executive Committee. On the death of a Custodian, any Club Property vested in them shall vest automatically in the surviving Custodians. If there is only one surviving Custodian, a SGM shall be convened as soon as possible to appoint another Custodian.

h)       The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the Club Property for all expenses and other liabilities reasonably incurred by them in carrying out their duties in furtherance of the Club objectives.

 

 

12.

DISSOLUTION

 

a)       A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a SGM 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 Executive Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

c)  Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:

1. A registered charitable organisation (s)

2. Another Club which is a registered CASC

3. The sports national governing body for use by them for related community sports.