Membership Rules 26/27

Shropshire Football Association membership rules of the shropshire football association Limited

2026/27

Membership Rules These Rules are made pursuant to the Association's Memorandum and Articles of Association and may only be changed in accordance with Article 7.

If there is any conflict between these Rules and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Memorandum and Articles of Association shall prevail.

1.0 Title, Affiliation & Interpretation (a) The title of the Association shall be the Shropshire Football Association Limited. (b) The Association shall be affiliated to the Football Association. (c) Defined Terms (i)“The Association” means The Shropshire Football Association Limited. (ii)“Board” means the Board of the Shropshire Football Association Limited as constituted under Article 5. (iii)“The Football Association Limited” means the governing body of Association Football in England as defined in Article (1) of the Articles of Association of the Shropshire Football Association. (iv)“Recognised football association” means a body constituted in accordance with the Rules & Regulations of the Football Association Limited and affiliated thereto. (v)“Committee/Focus group” means a group as constituted under Article (7) of the Articles of Association of the Shropshire Football Association Limited. (vi)“Member” means a club or competition in full membership of The Shropshire Football Association. (vii)“Club” means an organisation constituted in accordance with the Rules & Regulations of the Football Association Limited and as constituted under Article (37) of the Articles of Association of the Shropshire Football Association Limited. (viii)“Team” means part of a Club separately identified. (ix)“Player” means a member of a Club who participates in Association Football. (x)“Headquarters of a Club” means the place declared by the Club to the Association as its Headquarters. (xi)“Competition/League” means a body as constituted under Article (37) of the Articles of Association of the Shropshire Football Association Limited. (xii)“Club Official” means a member of a Club appointed to hold office within that Club, Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Club Welfare Officer. (xiii)“NLS” means National League System. (xiv)“NNLS” means Non National League System.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 2.0 Membership Club and League membership shall be single category, i.e., Full Member. Member Clubs and Leagues shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings. Admission to Club Membership shall be defined by the status of the League or Competition in which they play, and, this shall be determined by the Directors, whose ruling shall be final. All clubs, before being admitted to Membership shall satisfy the Association that they are properly constituted Clubs playing football according to the Laws of the game. Clubs having membership are required by the SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION to enter, and compete in, one of the Competitions of the Association, at the appropriate level, and such Competition shall take precedence over other Leagues or Competitions other than those of the Football Association. No change in name to be made without permission of the SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION and this will not normally be granted after 30 June, in any season, other than for exceptional circumstances.

All clubs having membership at feeder league level or above must affiliate by 30th June each year.

3.0 Annual Subscription (a) All Clubs and Competitions in membership shall be required to pay the subscription (affiliation) fee appropriate to the category of membership as defined in Rule 1 or as laid down by the Football Association or by the Board. (b) All Clubs whose parent Association is this Association shall have Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance in respect of all teams registered under this Rule. The Association shall arrange such cover to a level agreed annually by the Board, on behalf of all Clubs/Competitions, who shall be required to pay upon affiliation. (c) The subscription for NLS teams becomes due by the (30th June) and NNLS teams 31st July. A Club which has not paid the subscription/affiliation by the above dates, and which subsequently desires to renew its membership shall be required to pay a fine as determined by the Association from time to time.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 4.0 Leagues and Competitions and Clubs All Leagues and Competitions before being affiliated to this Association shall consist of properly constituted Clubs. Each League and Competition shall affiliate to The Shropshire Football Association using the on-line Whole Game System on or before the 31st of July each year. Leagues Rules of the Competition must be uploaded using the same process. If available leagues/competitions may post an electronic copy of their rules on the appropriate website.

The Secretary of each affiliated League or Competition must ascertain that each Club in membership with their respective Competitions is duly registered with their own or this Association before being allowed to take part in the Competition for the current Season.

All Leagues, Competitions and Clubs registered with the Shropshire FA shall, on or before 15 June each year, hold their Annual Meeting for the election of Officers and Committee for the ensuing Season.

5.0 Financial Records 5.1 Records to be Kept An Affiliated Competition (League) or Club shall keep accounting records for recording the fact and nature of all payments and receipts so as to disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position including the assets and liabilities of the Affiliated Competition (League) or Club.

5.2 Records to be Retained An Affiliated Competition (League) or Club must retain accounting records for six years.

5.3 Corporate Bodies and Charitable Bodies – Accounts An Affiliated Competition or Club which is formed and registered under the 2006 Act, the Cooperative and Benefit Societies Act 2014 or is registered as a charity or charitable incorporated organisation with the Charity Commission shall, on demand, forward to the Association a copy of its annual accounts most recently approved by its board of directors. Such accounts must be prepared and reported on in accordance with any legal and any other applicable regulatory requirements.

An affiliated Competition or Club is required to file a set of annual accounts with any applicable Regulator (e.g the Registrar of Companies) within the period available for delivering such accounts in accordance with any applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 5.4 Unincorporated Bodies – Financial Statements An Affiliated competition or Club which does not prepare annual accounts in accordance with Rule (5.3) or Rule (5.5) shall prepare annual accounts that must: (a)Include a profit and loss account and balance sheet. (b)Be forwarded to The Association on demand. (c)Be prepared within nine months of the accounting period end of the Affiliated Competition or Club; and (d)Be prepared, approved and reported on in accordance with the constitution of the Affiliated Competition or Club and any applicable regulatory or legal requirement.

5.5 Bodies Required to Prepare only a Receipts and Payments Statement.

An Affiliated Competition or Club that is not a member of the Premier League, the EFL, the National League, the Isthmian League, the Northern Premier League, or the Southern League and is not a Full Member or Associate Member of The Football Association and does not own gross assets exceeding ten thousand pounds, and is not required to prepare accounts under the provisions of Rules 5.3 or 5.4 must as minimum prepare annual Receipts and Payments Statement in a form acceptable to Shropshire Football Association.

Such a Receipts and Payments Statement must be prepared within nine months of the accounting end of the Competition or Club and must be approved by its Management Committee.

A copy of any Receipts and Payment Statement shall, on demand, be forwarded to the Shropshire Football Association 5.6 Errors and Omissions to be Reported Any material errors or omissions in the accounting records of an Affiliated Competition or Club must be reported by such body to the Shropshire Football Association.

5.7 The Association may call for the Books/Accounts of at least six (6) from any of it’s Members in Full Membership of the Association each season.

6.0 President The President shall be nominated by the Board of Trustees and this nomination shall be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for approval. The President will hold office for a term of three years. This term maybe extended at the approval of the board of Trustees.

7.0 Chairman The Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be nominated by The Board of Trustees for terms of 3 years and be ratified at an Annual General Meeting .annually.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 8.0 Annual Meeting The Annual General Meeting shall be held on or before June 5th each year. The Chief Executive shall give twenty-eight days’ clear notice to all members of the place, the day, and the hour of such meeting. An Agenda specifying the nature of the business to be transacted at that meeting, and printed abstract of the professionally prepared Accounts of the Charitable Trust/Association, covering all matches and activities for which The Board of Trustees are responsible for, shall accompany the notice. Each Club, League or affiliated Competition shall be entitled to send one representative, who must be a bona-fide member of the same. No two Clubs shall be represented by the same individual. The Annual Statement of accounts, as prepared by the Charitable Trust/Association’s accountants shall be submitted to the Meeting for approval.

9.0 Notice of Alteration of Rules Notice of alteration in Rules and any business intended to be introduced at the Annual General Meeting shall be forwarded to the Chief Executive in writing, under the names of the Proposer and Seconder, on or before the 31 March each year, and a copy of such notices shall be put upon the agenda and issued to Clubs at least ten days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

The Proposer and Seconder must be present at the Annual General Meeting.

10.0 Board of Appeal The CEO, or Chairman of the Regulatory Board, shall have power to appoint a specials Appeals Board, on behalf of the SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, when it is considered necessary.

11.0 Players and Payment The status of the players and payment to players is to be defined by the Rules of the Football Association and FIFA.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 12.0 Discipline Misconduct

(a)A player of a Club of which this Association is the Parent Association (excluding a Club in Full Membership of the Football Association) who, whilst participating in a match, is the subject of a report by a referee- for violating the Laws of the Game, shall be dealt with by the Association in accordance with the “Memorandum of Procedures for dealing with by this County FA and other Affiliated Associations but not by the Football Association”. (b) If the report of the Match Official referred to in section (a) of this Rule contains allegations that a player has assaulted a Match Official or player, the Association shall, without delay, investigate the report and if the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Association or their nominees are satisfied that a Prima Facie case can be made out against the player, shall take steps to ensure that a disciplinary charge is made against the player within 28 days of the assault. The player shall not participate in any football activity from the date he is notified of the charge until the Association, or its Service Provider (Staffordshire FA) has heard and adjudicated on the charge. (c) If, following the investigation of a referee’s report under sections (a) and (b) of this Rule, the Association decides that a fine, with or without additional costs, shall be imposed, the Club of which the player is a member shall be responsible to the Association for payment. The player shall be liable to reimburse the Club for any such payments made and if he/she shall fail to do so, the player may be charged with misconduct. (d) If a player on receipt of a communication from the Association or its Service Provider, which alleges they have been guilty of a violation of the Laws of the Game, desires to have a personal hearing, they must deposit with the Association or Service Provider the sum so prescribed. The deposited sum shall be returned to the player if he is found not guilty of the charge. (e) The deposited sum shall be returned to the Club or Competition if they are found not guilty of the charge. (f) The Association shall have the power to charge a player with continuingmisconduct after the player has received five cautions in the then current season. (g) A Club of which this Association is the Parent Association whose players are persistently found guilty of misconduct may be censured, with or without a fine and, at the discretion of the Association, may have its membership of this Association suspended or terminated (subject to section (i) of this Rule. (h) All Competitions and Clubs in membership of this Association shall be responsible for the conduct of their officials, members, volunteer helpers, spectators and supporters and shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent misconduct. (i) When a report of misconduct is received by the Association (including a report from a Match Official alleging misconduct by a person other than a player) it shall be dealt with in accordance with the FA’s Disciplinary Procedures Section 2 of the FA Handbook.

MEMBERSHIP RULES (j) If after due investigation by the Commission appointed, there is a finding of guilt, the Association or its Service Provider shall have the power to (i) impose a fine, (ii) to censure, (iii) to suspend for a period of time, (iv) to impose such other penalty as thought fit. However, the Commission shall not have the power to expel a Club from membership but may so recommend to the Board.

If the Board excepts the recommendation, it shall then be put to a Special General Meeting to be held at least 14 days after the Competition, Club or Official has been informed of the proposal. (k) It shall be misconduct for any Member Club to engage in any football activities with a Club under suspension during the period of suspension or with any Club after exclusion by this Association. Should the Association receive a report alleging a violation of this section of this Rule, the procedure as set out in sections (h) and (i) of this Rule shall be operated.

13.0 Leagues and other Appeals (a) Other than appeals under section (c) of this Rule, all appeals under this Rule must be lodged with the Association within fourteen (14 days) of posting of the original decision or decisions appealed against. If sent by post, it must be sent by Recorded Delivery or Registered Post. Every appeal must be accompanied by an appeal fee/deposit of £50. (b) A Club or individual may appeal against a decision of its League or Competition which is sanctioned by the Shropshire Football Association, provided all domestic appeals procedures have been exhausted. (c) A Club may also appeal against a decision of the Association’s County Cup Sub Committee in accordance with the County Cup Rule 22. (d) In lodging an appeal, an appellant shall state full reasons for the appeal and specify on which one or more of the following clauses the appeal is based. An Appeals Board shall adjudicate only on a clause or clauses specified. (i)The Competition failed to give the Appellant a fair hearing. (ii)The Competition misinterpreted or failed to comply with their Rules and/or regulations of the Association. (iii)The Competition came to a decision to which no reasonable such body could have come to. (iv)Imposed a penalty, award, order or sanction that was excessive. (e)Appeals shall not be withdrawn except with the consent of this Association. (f)The Appeals Board shall consist of members of the Associations Football Regulatory Board unless the Board otherwise directs. (g)An Appeal Hearing shall not be conducted as a re-hearing of the case. Fresh evidence shall not be permitted except by permission of the Appeals Board. (h)The Appeals Board shall have the power to adjourn the hearing wholly or in part and, having heard the submissions of both parties, shall make the following decisions:

MEMBERSHIP RULES (i) To allow or dismiss the appeal (ii) Exercise any power which the body against whose decision the appeal was made could have exercised, whether the effect is to increase or decrease any penalty, award, order or sanction originally imposed. (iii) To order a re-hearing of the case by the Competition. (v) Order that any costs, or part thereof, incurred by the Appeal Board be paid by either party or be shared by both parties. (vi) Make such further order as it consider appropriate (i)In the event of an appeal hearing being dismissed or the decision is varied, the Appeal Board may order the appeal fee to be forfeited. (j)In the event of the appeal being allowed, the appeal fee will be returned. (k)The decision of the Association’s Appeal Board shall be final and binding and there shall be no further right of challenge. (l)A Club, Player or Official may appeal against a decision of the Association (But not against the Association’s Appeal Board whose decisions are final as shown in (k).

The appeal must be sent by Registered Post or Recorded delivery to The Football Association Limited, not later than fourteen (14) days of posting of the decision against which the appeal is lodged and be accompanied by a fee as determined by The Football Association Limited. At the same time an exact copy shall be sent to the Chief Executive in a similar manner.

It shall set out the exact grounds of the appeal as specified in section (d) of this Rule. The decision of the Appeals Board of The Football Association Limited shall be final.

14.0 Miscellaneous (a) Benevolent Funds – The Association shall maintain such funds and may order that the proceeds of specific matches be paid thereto. The Trustees who shall be the President, Chairman, Chief Executive and Finance Director, shall manage the funds and shall have the power to make grants to players and others#, including their dependants. The Trustees shall make an appropriate report to the main Board from time to time.

All players (b) Publication of Proceedings – The Association shall be entitled to publish in any manner which the Chief Executive shall think fit or as the Board may direct, reports of its proceedings, acts and resolutions, whether such publication shall or shall not reflect on the character of any Competition, Club, Official or Player and every such Competition, Club, Official or Player shall be deemed to have assented to such publications.

MEMBERSHIP RULES (c) Competition Benevolent Funds – A Competition may establish and administer a Benevolent Fund (or similar) provided the Board has given prior consent. The consent must be sought annually by the Competition and the application must be accompanied by the final accounts and balance sheet for the most recent financial year of the fund. Payments out of the fund shall be restricted to grants in respect of injury or illness suffered by players and others arising from participating in football. (d) Unaffiliated Football – Clubs, Players, Officials, and registered match officials under the jurisdiction of this Association shall not take part in matches with or against any Club which is not a member of this Association or another recognised football association. (e) Documentary Evidence – The Association shall have the power to call upon any Competition, Club, Club Officials, Match Officials or Players to produce any books/accounts, documents or other evidence the Board may require.

15.0 Complaints Procedure Any complaint or claim made by a Club or Player shall be in writing, at the time to the Association’s Chief Executive. In the event of a frivolous or vexatious complaint being made, the SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION shall have the power to compel the complaining Club or player to pay such expenses as may be deemed fit.

16.0 Barristers and Solicitors not to represent Clubs No barrister or solicitor shall represent a Club or League or Cup Competition or Player at the hearing of a complaint or claim or protest unless he be the Secretary or Chairman of the Club concerned.

17.0 Conduct of Member of THE SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (a) Representatives of the SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION may represent any Player, Club, Committee or Competition in any case of misconduct, protest, objection or complaint. (b) It may be desirable that representatives of the Shropshire Football Association attend periodically football matches in all Shropshire FA sanctioned Leagues without having to report their attendance to the Secretaries of the clubs involved.

18.0 Competitions and Referees The SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION are authorised to make such Rules and Regulations with reference to Cup and League Competitions and the control of Referees as it may deem expedient.

19.0 Shropshire Football Association Trophies Policy (a) Member Clubs who are in receipt of a Shropshire Football Association Trophy/Cup will be responsible for its upkeep and security for the term specified within the agreement/contract signed by the Club’s Officials on winning a competition. (b) The Member Club as laid down in Rule 18(a) and Rule 1(c) (vii) will return the trophy by the specified date and in a condition on which it was received. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £50.

MEMBERSHIP RULES 20.0 Long Service Awards (a) A Long Service Award may be presented to Club Officials on completion of 21 years’ service with an individual Club, League or Competition. The Club, League or Competition concerned shall have the option of making the application and producing the necessary supporting evidence. They can apply for individuals to receive a long service award from The Football Association after serving 50 consecutive years. (b) A Long Service Award may be presented to Referees on completion of 21 years’ service as an active referee affiliated to this Association. (c) The form of the awards will be a gold pin badge and medal.

21.0 Public Liability Insurance Working with Shropshire FA’s appointed brokers to deliver the countywide insurance scheme. The SFA are able to provide a bespoke “essential cover” for all member adult and youth clubs, specifically tailored to the needs of grassroots football. Public Liability Insurance is mandatory for all SFA member clubs and leagues.

22.0 Players Personal Accident Insurance As part of our membership package, Shropshire County FA provides a bespoke Personal Accident Insurance Policy for both its adult and youth teams.

Personal Accident Insurance is mandatory for all SHROPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION Members in line with the rules and Regulations of the FA. Policies will be paid for by individual teams/clubs.

23.0 Shropshire FA Equality Policy All participants, Clubs and Competitions must comply with the Shropshire FA Equality Policy.

24.0 Shropshire FA Safeguarding 365 Policy All participants, Clubs and Competitions must comply with the Shropshire FA Safeguarding 365 Policy.

25.0 Matters Not Specifically Provided for in These Rules In all matters which are not specifically provided for in these rules and in which common rules and practices of football are concerned, the rules, regulations and by-laws of the Football Association shall apply and all Clubs, Players and Officials, which have membership with this Association, either directly or indirectly are responsible for the observance of these rules, regulations and by-laws.