Constitution

In this constitution the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:-

"Members" shall mean all categories of members of the Club
"Full Members" shall mean have the meaning intended by clause 5 (c )
"Playing Members" shall be males and females playing football for a team of the Club
"Honorary Members" shall have the meaning as intended by clause 5 (d)
"the Club Committee" shall have the meaning intended by clause 8(a)

1. Name
The Club shall be called Summertown Stars Football Club (the Club)

2. Objects

The object of the Club shall be to arrange Association Football matches and social activities for its Playing Members and to promote and further football in the local community? The Club will encourage and support the ongoing development of it's playing members.

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 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 Oxfordshire Football Association 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) 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.

5. Club Membership

a) Playing Membership is open to any player registered with one of the club teams provided that the subscription for the season is paid by the due dates decided by the Club Committee. Playing Members under the age of 18 have no voting rights and may hold no elected Office within the Club.

b) All Playing Members must have completed ( or have completed by their parent or guardian if they are under the age of 18 ) a Club Membership Registration Form within 4 weeks of first training with the Club or before they take part in a match.

c) Full Membership is open to parents or guardians of registered Players who are under the age of 18, provided that the Player's subscription is paid by the due dates decided by the Club Committee. Full Membership is also open to registered Players over the age of eighteen ( but not their parents) providing that the Players subscription for the season is paid by the due dates decided by the Club Committee.

d) Honorary Membership is open to Players who have completed their final season and their parents or guardians, upon application to the Club Committee. Honorary Membership is also open, on application to the Club Committee, to any individual who by their efforts and involvement will further the interests of the Club.

e) Any person who wishes to be a Member must apply on the Membership Application Form and deliver it to the Club Membership Secretary.Membership shall become effective upon an applicant's name being entered in the Membership Register.

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 Oxfordshire Football Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

6. Annual Membership Fee

a) An annual fee payable by each Playing Member shall be determined from time to time by the Club Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for Membership and annually by each . Fees shall not be repayable. The Club Committee shall have the authority to waive a Member’s subscription if it deems it appropriate. For additional guidance, those Members who are parents or legal guardians of the Playing members who have financial hardship may apply to the Club’s Treasurer to have their Annual Membership fees waived. This will require, prima facie, that they supply original documentation from the Inland Revenue that proves that they are on Income Support. This evidence must be provided each time a subscription call by the club is made.

b) The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the Playing 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 Club Committee of their resignation. A Member whose annual Membership fee or further subscription is more than two months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.

b) The Club 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.

c) A Member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the Club Property.

8. Club Committee

a) The management and day to day running of the Club is entrusted to a committee ("the Club Committee")

b) The Club Committee consists of :-

Elected Officers of the Club being the Chairman; Vice Chairman; Treasurer; Club Secretary; Registration and Subscriptions Secretary; Fixtures Secretary; Child Protection; Equipment; Overseas Fixtures; Schools Liaison;
Co-opted Committee Members appointed in accordance with clause 8 (i)
One Team Manager for each team (or one other representative of that team)

c) A quorum for a Committee Meeting is at least 3 Elected Officers or Co-opted committee Members plus at least 3 Team Manager representatives

d) Committee meeting will be chaired by the Chairman or in his abseence the Vice Chairman. In the absence of both the Secretary will chair the meeting.

e) Each Officer is entitled to one vote in Committee. If an individual Officer holds 2 post he/she is entitles to one vote only.

f) Each co-opted Committee Member is entitled to one vote in Committee.

g) Decisions in Committee will be reached by a simple majority vote of the Officers, Co-opted members and team managers/representatives at the meeting. In the event of a tie the chair of the meeting will have an additional casting vote.

h) A team manager/representative cannot vote in a disciplinary matter relating to a team or a player in the team. An Elected Officer who is also a team manager is not allowed to vote in this circumstance.

i) The Committee has the power to co-opt Full or Honorary Club Members onto the Committee to fill vacant Officers positions or as an additional co-opted member. Co-options are for the remainder of the year only. A co-opted Officer or member has the same voting rights in Committee as an Elected Officer.

9. Annual and Special General Meetings

a) An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held 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 previous year
iii. elect the Members of the Club Committee
iv. decide the level of subscription for the year
v. consider any other business.

b) An AGM will be held each year on a date to be decided by the Club Committee but no later than the end of June in each year. The Club Secretary will notify all Full and Honorary Members of the date, time, and venue of the meeting at least 4 weeks before it is to be held by writing to them at their last known address

c) The quorum for an AGM is not less than 10 Full or Honorary Members.

d) The AGM will be chaired by the outgoing Chairman or in his absence the Vice Chairman. In the absence of both the Club Secretary will chair the meeting

e) Each Full and Honorary Member present will be entitled to cast one vote for or against any proposal made and seconded at the AGM and one vote each for each Officers post in any election.

f) Committee Officers will be elected at the AGM and will hold office until the completion of the following year's AGM . Unopposed nominations for these posts are automatically elected; in other instances a simple majority of those Full and Honorary Members attending the AGM will be sufficient to elect the remaining Committee Members.

g) Nominations for the elections to Committee should usually be submitted in writing to the Club Secretary no later than two weeks prior to the date of the AGM.

h) Proposers, seconders and nominees must have paid the agreed subscription in respect of themselves (if an over 18 player) or their child .It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the nominee is willing to serve on the Club Committee if elected .Members may propose themselves.

i) Each Full and Honorary Member is entitled to vote for one candidate only in each position.

j) Unopposed candidates for Club Committee posts are automatically elected .In all other instances candidates are elected by a simple majority of the Full and Honorary Members attending the meetings.

k) An outgoing Officer of the Club Committee may be re-elected at an AGM in line with the voting process previously referred to.

l) Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled in accordance with this clause 8

m) A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by Full or Honorary Members and shall be called within 10 working days of the receipt by the Club Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than ten Full or Honorary Members stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolutions proposed. Business at an SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM.

n) The quorum and notice and voting procedure for an SGM shall be the same as for an AGM.

10. Amendments to the Constitution

Any change to this constitution can only be made following a vote at an AGM or SGM and requires a 75% majority of those Full and Honorary Members attending the AGM/SGM

11. Codes of Conduct

The Club's Codes of Conduct are an integral part of this Constitution. Specifically the Clubs code of Conduct, relates to the following:-

a) Code for Football
b) Code for Coaches
c) Code for Players
d) Code of Conduct for Club Officials
e) Code of Conduct for Parents/Spectators
f) Club Equity and Anti-discriminatory Policy
g) Club Complaints procedures
.

12. Public Liability Insurance

The Club will take out it's own Public Liability Insurance (PLI) if it's automatic PLI insurance scheme through it's affiliation with the Oxfordshire County FA is no longer available.

From season 2005/2006, The Club will, at the Executive committee's discretion, take out additional cover for each of it's teams through a Group Personal Accident Insurance scheme, to cover injury claims resulting from personal accident to any players.

13. Child Protection

The Club's policy on Child Protection is included in it's Heath and Safety Policies and Procedures and is an integral part of this constution.

14. Property and Funds

(a) The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of Members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club.

(b) The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.

(i) sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;

(ii) employ Members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Club Committee without the person concerned being present;

(iii) pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;

(iv) indemnify the Club Committee and Members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).

15. Winding Up

(a) The Members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.

(b) The Club Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.

(c) After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Club Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:

(i) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered charity and/or

(ii) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or

(iii) to the Club’s governing body for use by them for related community sports.

16. Priority

Where there is any conflict between any of Rules 14, 15 or 16 (“key Rules”) and any other rule or rules the key Rule(s) will take priority. Interpretation of all the Rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002.)

Constitution ammended and passed unanimously by a special resolution at a Special General Meeting on 5th March 2007