1 (A) This Competition shall be designated the West Midlands Christian Football League and known as the West Midlands Christian Football League and shall consist of not more than 72 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.

All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form ‘D’ to the Birmingham County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be the West Midlands.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Birmingham County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 16 in number.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competition with the exception of F.A. or County F.A. Competitions except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have the power to decide or adjust the compilation of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.

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2 (A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be made in
Writing to the Secretary on the Official Application Form on or before 1st June each year and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £10.00 per team, which shall be returned in the event of non-election.

At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall be payable.

When Rule 12 (B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.

(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £120.00 per Team payable half yearly on or before the 31st August & 31st December in each year.

(C) Each Club shall within 14 days of election pay a Deposit of £20.00, which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.

(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.

(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 7th July of its
Birmingham County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £10.00. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.

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The Officers of the Competition shall be Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Referees' Secretary, Minutes Secretary, e-Secretary, and Disciplinary Officer to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).

The positions of President and Vice-President shall be appointed by the Management Committee subject to ratification at the Annual General Meeting by Member Clubs with terms of office being for three years after which time re-election / re-appointment may be sought.

At least half of the Officers of the League shall be practicing committed Christians; should there not be a sufficient number to fill all the above positions then certain positions shall remain vacant until such a time as this Rule can be applied. The Management Committee in such a situation will apply Rule 5 (G).

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4 (A) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and one member, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 31st May in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting.

(C) The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with Business as it arises.

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings

(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.

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5 (A) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.

(B) Subject to the permission of the Birmingham County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be deemed necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6 (E))

(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee). In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

(D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of the Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules.

(E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16.

Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.

(F) Four Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.

(G) The Management Committee, as it deems necessary, shall have the power to fill, in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.

(H) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management
Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(I) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to Attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.

(K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.

(L) The Management Committee have the power to veto applications from Clubs who may be discreditable to the League.

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6 (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 51% Members are present and entitled to vote:-

(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising therefrom.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee)
(v) Constitution of the Competition for the ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season.
(x) Other business of which due notice shall be given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.

(B) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Account and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting and to the Birmingham County Football Association.

(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Birmingham County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.

(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven day’s notice shall be given of any meeting.

(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least 51% of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.

(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club

(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.

(I) Officers and management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.

(J) In the absence of the Chairman at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting or a normal League Meeting the meeting shall be chaired by the League Secretary; should the League Secretary also be absent then the attending Committee Members shall mutually agree one of their number to chair.

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7 The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.

"We, A, _________________ of ___________________ (Chairman) and B, __________________ of __________________ (Secretary) of the _______________ Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the West Midlands Christian Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and behalf of the said Club to, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16".

Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Birmingham County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.

(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).

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8 (A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules are not permitted in this Competition.

(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other aspects eligible, has:- Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and who has been registered with the Secretary seven days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.

(C) Not applicable.

(D) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such a player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club or Clubs, for which the player last played.

(E) A fee of 50 pence shall be paid for each player registered.

Registration forms shall be obtained from the Secretary on prepayment of 10 pence per form.

(F) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.

In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

(G) It shall be a breach of Rule for a player to:-

(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete.

(H) (i) The Management Committee shall have the power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16)

(Note: Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute).

(I) Subject to the Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written
contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5.00. Such a transfer shall be referred by the Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or seven days after receipt of such transfer.
In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.

(J) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 1st March except by a special permission of the Management Committee.

(K) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.

(L) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations valid for one season only.

(M) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion, relegation deciding match (as a specified in Rule 12 (A)) or Cup Final unless the player has played two games for that team in this Competition in the current season except by special permission of the Management Committee.

(N) Not Applicable

(O) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined an amount not exceeding £20.00 and/or dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(ii) In addition the team may have three points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit.

(iii) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

(The following Clause applies to competitions involving players in full time secondary education).

(P) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organizations activities.
(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues).
(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)

(Q) A player may be de-registered provided that the registration is cancelled in writing to the League Secretary. A player de-registered by a club will be eligible to sign for another Club once de-registration has been confirmed by the League Secretary.

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9 (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 30 June, who shall decide their suitability.

Goalkeepers must wear colours that distinguish them from other players and the referee.

No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.

Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition, shall notify the colours in which they play to their opponents at least four days before the match.

If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home team shall make any change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £5.

The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.

(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and Management Committee.

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(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concludingdates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than 15th May must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.

(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have the power to order the venue to be changed. The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground. All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 70 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves. The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the AGM or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00 or to be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.

Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition. The home team must provide at least two footballs and the away team one football fit for play prior to the game and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used plus corner flags and pitch markings must be of a suitable standard. The referee shall make a report to the Competition if any of these requirements are not met; a fine of £5.00 for any infringement will be applied. Changing rooms and showering facilities must be available otherwise the fixture will be postponed. (No Facilities Means No Fixture).

(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Fixtures Secretary and Referees Secretary.

(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to the ground and time of kick-off to the Referee and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least two clear days prior to the playing of the match. The away Club shall be responsible to seek acknowledgement of such particulars. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £5.00

(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they shall be fined £5.00 for each missing player. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match.

(F) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine up to £100, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision the Management Committee shall have the power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfill its fixture within the Competition in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, 'A' Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £10.00 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.

Any club unable to fulfill a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the League Secretary, the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referee’s Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.

Two open dates may be applied for per season per team, giving a minimum of 28 days notice in writing to the Fixtures Secretary.

In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within ten days the Management Committee shall have the power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date. The Management Committee shall review all matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, The Management Committee shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club members the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Association.

(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from five players, who must be nominated to the Referee prior to kick-off. The Referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than five minutes before the start of the match.

A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.

(H) The half time interval shall be of ten minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.

( I ) In the event of a match being scheduled as a night game the Fixtures' Secretary shall set an appointed date for the match to take place and shall notify all relevant parties, i.e. home and away clubs, Referees' Secretary and League Secretary.

(J) The Match report forms must be completed with the names and registration numbers including substitutes and handed to the referee prior to the game by both Clubs. Failure to do so will result in a £5.00 fine.

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(A) The Secretary must receive within four days of the date played the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5.00 and / or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.

(B) Both the Home and Away Club shall telephone the result of each match including relevant scorers to the e-Secretary within three hours of the match being concluded. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5.00.

(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have the power to take such action as the deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information

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12 (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points, with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.

In the event of two or more teams being equal on points, team rankings may be decided in the following ways:-

(i) Goal difference

(ii) Goals scored

(iii) Matches played between teams

(iv) Deciding matches played under conditions determined by the Management Committee

(B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first three and last three teams in each Division, except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(B).

(i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced, an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.

(ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on any one of the following ways:-

(a) Retention of otherwise relegated team(s)

(b) Additional promotion of the next ranked team(s)

(c) Election

(C) In the event of the team not completing 100% of its fixtures for the season, all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table.

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13 (A) Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association. For matches where Assistant Referees have been appointed it is the responsibility of the Referee to confirm the details of the fixture with the Assistants and where possible to arrange joint travel.

(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the senior Assistant Referee (Appointed by the Referees' Secretary) shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee shall be appointed by the competing teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.

(C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.00 being imposed on the defaulting team.

(D) The appointed Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final. In the event of a game being called off by the Referee the Home Team are to await the arrival of the Away Team up to twenty minutes after the appointed kick-off time, to advise of the Referee's decision. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.00.

(E) Match Officials appointed under this rule shall be entitled to the following match fess; Referee £20.00. Registered Referees appointed by Management Committee as Assistant Referees £14.00, subject to limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s). The Home club shall pay the Referee his fee and expenses before the match. The fee of Assistant Referees, where appointed shall be paid equally between home and away clubs. These fees are to be paid before the game. Failure to adhere to this shall result in a £5.00 fine.

(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and expenses.

(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association with which he is registered.

(H) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by the Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Match Report Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.

The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and on the form provided by the prescribed date each season shall submit a summary to the Football Association or County Association.

(J) The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of kick-off to the Disciplinary Officer within four days of the match.

(L) If the Referee has received no confirmation of details of a fixture as per Rule 10 (D) the Referee is to contact the Referees' Secretary to confirm details.

(K) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied each season with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.

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14 (A) After 31 December in the current season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfillment of all other obligations to the Competition, must notify the Secretary in writing by 31 March each season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £20.

All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following season, must confirm their intention to do so in writing to the Secretary by 31 May.

(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £20 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call made under Rule 5 (B).

(C) Not Applicable

(D) In the event of a member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding, it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition. In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one days, then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a member's pro-rata obligation is discharged in full, the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club's parent County Association for a suspension order.

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15 (A) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.

(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars on the grounds on which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within four days (excluding Sundays) of the of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such a protest or complaint is being determined.

(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties to Rule 16.

(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £10. This may be forfeited in whole or part in the event of complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have the power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint, to pay the expenses of the enquiry, or order that the costs be shared by the parties.

(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received seven days' notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint, the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.

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17 (A) At the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose Notice of Motion having being duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting or at a SPecial General Meeting called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in the opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken, shall be excluded from voting.

(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either misconduct, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.

(D) Any Club failing to complete 51% of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.

(E) Where the integrity, values and good name of the League have been brought into disrepute by any member or spectators of a Club, through cautions, dismissals or any behaviour of an unsatisfactory nature, a fine may be imposed at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(F) ALL CLUBS ARE SUBJECT TO THE LEAGUE'S CLUB AND PLAYER DISCIPLINE CODE AS LAID OUT BELOW:-

The monitoring of club/player discipline will be based on a points system, where points are awarded against a player and Club on the following scale for cautions, dismissals and against a Club for misconduct by a club official or spectator.

Cautions (1st and 2nd offences each) - 1 point

Cautions (3rd and 4th offences each) - 2 points

Cautions (5th offence and above each) - 3 points

Dismissal with a 7 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 2 points

Dismissal with a 14 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 3 points

Dismissal with a 21-28 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 4 points

Dismissal with a 35-42 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 5 points

Dismissal with a 49-56 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 6 points

Dismissal with a 63-70 day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 7 points

Dismissal with a 77+ day suspension confirmed by BCFA - 8 points

Dismissal with a sine-die suspension confirmed by BCFA - 10 points

For each subsequent dismissal after a player's first dismissal, an extra point will be added to the relevant awarded points. Where a player has already been cautioned twice for each dismissal thereafter, an extra point will be added to the relevant above awarded points. Where a player has already been dismissed for each caution after and including a second caution, an extra point will be added to the relevant awarded points.

ACTION TO BE IMPLEMENTED AGAINST PLAYERS:-

When a player reaches a total of six points, his Club Secretary will be sent a letter advising the player's discipline record has been noted and warning the player as to his future conduct.

When a player between the start of the season and 31 December accumulates six points, then the player will be summoned to meet with a disciplinary commission to explain his indiscipline.

On accumulating ten points at any point during the season, the player will be summoned before a disciplinary commission which will inform him that his League registration is in doubt.

The above actions are covered by Rule 10 (G) (ii) and Note thereon.

The League reserves the right to take whatever action is considered necessary to maintain the high standards of the League. Should any player fail to attend a disciplinary commission as requested, then he will be placed under League suspension until such time as he does appear.

ACTION TO BE IMPLEMENTED AGAINST CLUBS:-

All registered players with the Club will have their points collated to give an overall club total. On reaching 15 points the Club will be warned in writing as to its future conduct. On reaching 20 points, the Club will be called before a disciplinary commission to explain its misconduct. If a satisfactory explanation is not given, or they have no proposal to eradicate the persistent misconduct it will be censured, warned and may be charged with Bringing the League into Disrepute and fined as per Rule 17 (E). On reaching 25 points, the Club will be charged with Bringing the League into Disrepute and fined as per Rule 17 (E) regardless of explanation.

On reaching 30 points, the Club will be charged with Bringing the Club into Disrepute and fined as per Rule 17 (E) regardless of explanation and consideration will be given to expulsion from the League.

Should any Club, officer or spectator be found guilty of serious misconduct by BCFA, one point will be added to the cumulative total for every £10 of fine levied. If correspondence is received by the League advising misconduct, the Club may be called before a disciplinary commission to explain its misconduct. Pending the outcome of this hearing, the League reserve the right to fine or take appropriate action.

The Management Committee will convene and appoint the disciplinary commissions at its discretion.

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19 Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership, the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. At least seven days' notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled one vote only. Not less than seven days' notice shall be given of any meeting. Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings and League Meetings.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £10.

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20 Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take affect until the following season.

Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31 March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee shall be circulated to the Clubs by 31 May and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 14 June. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the Notice of the Annual General Meeting.

A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if 51% (a majority) of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.

A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 21 days prior to the date of the meeting.

Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.

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21 Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct.

The dates for League Meetings including the following Annual General meeting shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting each year and are to be printed in the Rule Book and Directory for the forthcoming season.

Each Club is to send a delegate to each League Meeting; for each meeting missed a fine will be applied in increments of £15 (i.e. for the first meeting missed, a fine will be £15, for the second meeting missed £30, for the third £45 and so on).

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22 (A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.

(B) All expenditure in excess of £50 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two officers nominated by the Management Committee.

(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31 May.

(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

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