1. Purpose

The Thorney Colts Football Club exists to provide a local facility for the children of Thorney to play football in an organised environment.

 

Thorney Colts are affiliated with Cambridgeshire county football and compete in the Peterborough and District Junior Alliance League.

 

The Club will proactively promote development of football within the village so as to introduce new teams each year in the under 8s age group – while maintaining an active programme to maintain existing teams and bring them into the next age group each year. It may be necessary to include players from outside the village, but every effort should be made to promote development locally.

 

2. Aims and Objectives

Though Thorney Colts teams will seek to be as competitive as possible on the field, it is recognised that winning at any cost is not the Club’s, players’ or parents’ primary interest. Therefore, the Club’s objectives are to teach the children principals of teamwork, sports discipline and football skill – and the Club acknowledges the favourable contribution that a supportive sporting environment can have in a child’s growth and development.

 

3. Committee and Meetings

The Club’s Executive Committee shall consist of a minimum of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The post of Vice-Chairman may be introduced if required, and further posts may also be added as deemed necessary.

 

All parents of players and others involved with the Club will be entitled – and, indeed, encouraged – to attend all Club meetings, participate in discussion and actively cast votes where such matters are put before them.

 

The Club will have meetings as are necessary and notice of these meetings will be given in good time beforehand.

 

The Annual General Meeting will take place each year before the end of May. The Club financial year will run from May 1st to April 30th.

 

Extraordinary General Meetings may be called either by the Executive Committee at its discretion or after a written request to the Club Chairman made by a minimum of 10 members of the Committee (parents).

 

The Chairman will have the casting vote, if and when it is necessary.

 

The Committee will be able to form ad hoc committees from willing helpers outside the Club for various functions as required.

 

Executive Committee members will not be required reapply for their post annually.

 

A motion may be brought by any Committee member to remove an Executive Committee member, which will require two nominees and the majority vote of Committee members present at the meeting to pass.

 

Should an Executive Committee member decide to step down, the vacancy will be promoted among Committee members, expressions of interest solicited and a majority vote of Committee members present required to accept the nomination.

 

4. Parent Roles

Parents may be called upon to help fulfil the positions of parent representative, fixture secretary, equipment secretary, fund raising, first aid, etc – and should be prepared to assist the referee for home matches.

 

5. Club Funds

Subscriptions will be set at £2.00 per week that players attend training or matches; £1.00 per week for age groups younger than under 8s. Subscriptions will not be charged for midweek training where there is a match that weekend. In addition, players will be asked to pay a £5.00 ‘membership fee’ to assist in meeting Club registration, affiliation and insurance costs.

 

Funds will be banked by the Club Treasurer and cheques will require the signature of both the Secretary and Treasurer.

 

Team managers have the freedom to order required equipment so long as the amount is within reason. Amounts over £150 must be cleared by the Club Chairman before proceeding with the order.

 

Ordering of Club kit, jackets or other Thorney Colts branded items must conform to the established colour / logo scheme. Any orders for such items should be first cleared with the Club Secretary.

 

Reimbursement may be from cash (taken from subs with receipt) made for nominal expenditure – the preferred procedure is for receipts to be given to the Club Treasurer who will issue a cheque.

 

6. Dissolution of the Club

The Thorney Colts Football Club may be dissolved if there are no teams to compete in the age groups or no prospect of new teams forming; the decision to be made by a majority vote of the remaining committee members. Any funds in the Club account at time of dissolution will be donated to the Duke of Bedford Primary School for the purchase of sporting goods equipment.

 

7. Website

The Club website has been set up to provide information relating to schedules, results, training and event information, contact details and a table of match scorers. If parents do not wish for their children’s names to appear on the website or if there are other issues of concern, then they should notify the Club Secretary.

 

8. Child Protection

The Club recognises the guidelines issued by the FA, Cambridgeshire FA and the Peterborough and District Junior Alliance with respect to child protection. The Club will also apply a perspective of common sense for issues relating to parents wishing to video or take photographs of matches.

 

9. Responsibility for Players

It is the responsibility of parents to look after their children before and after stated training / match times; and also if players undertake activities during training sessions that are not part of the training itself. Team managers and other parents will, naturally, assist where possible and practical, to keep an eye on all players but cannot be expected to adopt responsibility outside of the stated training time and routine.

 

10. Discipline

Parents - any parent who acts in a manner which the Club deems inappropriate and / or which is contrary to the stated Parents Code of Conduct may be asked to refrain from attending training sesssions and matches. In extreme cases, or where the Club feels taking such action would yield no benefit or change in behaviour, the children of the parents may be automatically de-registered from the Club and may take no further part in Club activities.

 

Children - in the unlikely event that children act in a manner which the Club deems inappropriate and/ or which is contrary to the stated Players Code of Conduct may be suspended from training sessions and matches as the Club sees fit. In extreme cases, or where the Club feels that taking such action would yield no benefit or change in behaviour, the players may be automatically de-registered from the Club and may take no further part in Club activities.

 

Managers / Coaches - any manager or coach who acts in a manner which the Club deems inappropriate or which is contrary to the Coaches Code of Conduct, may be asked to step down from their role for a period of time and may be asked to attend specific training sessions which may address the issue. In extreme cases, or where the Club feels that taking such action wuld yield no benefit or change in behaviour, the manager / coach may be relieved from duty.

The Club may, in its discretion, refuse any right of appeal in disciplinary matters.

 

11. Amendments to Club Constitution

Amendments to the constitution may be made at the request of any Committee member, having been presented in writing and countersigned by at least two other Committee members. If a meeting is not immediately forthcoming, an extraordinary general meeting will be called for presentation of the proposed amendment. A majority vote of Committee members present will be required to adopt the amendment.