Amateur Football Alliance

Southern Amateur League

Firstly training has started on Tuesdays at 7pm so get down to the club for some hard work and then go into the clubhouse for a drink afterwards. My pre-season circular is attached and you should print it off and keep it as it is full of useful information. There is a membership form attached which you should fill in and send to Simon Jones together with subscription payment cheque(s).

Main Points 

1         Training Tuesdays at 7pm. Use of MUGA (floodlit astro) starts 1 September and we have Mondays 8.15 to 10.15 and Tuesdays 7.15 to 10.15. No hard studs or blades on MUGA. Simple rules

a) No food or drink within MUGA area
b) All rubbish to go in bins
c) No smoking in or around MUGA
d) Do not climb fences.

2         Friendlies start Sat 16 August. League season starts for some sides on 13 September.

3         Subscription for year is £90 but is reduced to £75 if paid by 31 October. Suggestion – send 3 cheques now, for £25 each, dated for 20 August, 20 September and 20 October to Simon Jones and it is then all out of the way. Simons details in attachment. Under 19s and full time students at 1 September pay £65

4         Match fees are £10 for seniors. Under 19s and full time students pay £5. Please do not slip away after games without paying. It cheats your team-mates and puts unnecessary pressure on the club finances.

5         After home games please do 3 things

a) Orange netting across goals
b) Bring in corner flags
c) Pick up litter around pitch and place in bins provided.

Many thanks everyone.

Have a great season

Bob Gyles
Chairman


Ø           Please note these telephone numbers:

SUBSCRIPTIONS
There is more and more pressure to meet the increasing costs for the running of the club but we still provide value for money given the quality of our facilities. It is important to pay your subscription as early as possible, especially if you want the benefit of the discount.

The simple solution is to pay your subs now in full or with three cheques  for £25 each dated August, September and October and it's then all done and dusted and will have been relatively painless.  Send those cheques off now to Simon Jones. 

Treasurer – Simon Jones, 199 Lonsdale Drive, OAKWOOD, EN2 7JY 
Tel:  020 8366 0467

Playing Arrangements for 2008 / 2009
This year we are entering ten sides in the Southern Amateur League (SAL) and all sides will enter the AFA Cups.  The 1st XI and 2nd XI will also enter the Middlesex/Essex AFA cups and the 3’s to 10’s will enter the SAL cups.  The Vets will enter two sides in the AFA Open and Closed cups. Our success in recent seasons means the 4’s and 5’s are in the top Minor division and with regionalization affecting the lower sides we will have the 6’s in Div 2 North, the 7’s and 8’s in Div 3 North, the 9’s in Div 4 North and the 10’s in Div 5 North. A glance at the SAL website www.southernamateurleague.co.uk  shows that all our teams from 5’s downwards are playing against higher ranking sides in other clubs which just underlines the strength we have in depth.

We will have 7 youth teams from Under 9’s to under 15’s, plus development groups run by Andy Russell for under 7’s and 8’s.  Andy always needs qualified coaches so, if you already have a badge or want to get one, give Andy a call as soon as possible 07931 205424.

Simple Guidelines
Some basic principles are fundamental to the successful running of the club and if everyone follows them life will be a lot easier, more enjoyable and more rewarding:-

Subscriptions for the year are £90 but will be reduced to £75 if paid by 31st October. If nothing is paid by 30th November YOU WILL NOT BE SELECTED TO PLAY. Under 19’s pay less – see later

Match fees are payable for each game – do not expect to be subsidised by others or “escape” without paying – you only cheat your team mates. 

Do not fail to turn up for the game – it causes no end of problems to Captains – if you treat your team with contempt we will do the same to you.

Wherever possible avoid crying off. If you have to drop out make sure you do so in good time and let your captain know – See phone numbers below. 

Make sure you meet for away games at the time you are asked – 15 minutes late (or more) is simply not acceptable. 

If you wear your own shorts or socks they MUST be in the colours of your team– nothing else is acceptable.  When it is your turn to wash the kit please do so willingly and responsibly.

Be disciplined on the pitch – Fines for all offences are levied by both the Club and the AFA and second or subsequent bookings and sendings off may mean an internal disciplinary hearing with the possibility of bans on top of the fines – see later.

Be respectful to referees no matter their competence. They seldom change decisions and will invariably brandish their cards given half an excuse (yes, they watch too much television as well).  We cannot play football without them so do more to build relationships and get them on your side. 

Try and commit to be available every week.  Work does intervene more now than ever before but colds, shopping and “girlfriend wants to spend the afternoon with me” are soppy excuses.

If you have not received a phone call or email for a game by Thursday, ring your captain or one of the Chairmen of Selection to find out if you have a game.  If there is not a fixture, the chances are that you can get a game or a substitute position somewhere else. 

Accept that you will be a substitute sometimes.  Captains will try and spread the subs. around to ensure fairness so don’t get grumpy just because you are on the bench.  Also, once the season is underway there is not just one side you will play in.  It is likely both the teams above and below your usual one will be graced with your presence – this is all influenced by overall availability from one week to the next – it also helps you to meet other club members.

Socialise afterwards please – this is an important part of our football and must involve your referee and the opposition. You must return to opposition clubhouse for food if you play at a satellite ground.

Make sure footballs, etc, are looked after and returned to the clubhouse – especially when playing at Firs Farm.   We provide good quality balls but they come at a price.  If we keep ‘losing’ them at the rate we did last year it will mean an increase in subscription to compensate!

THree after match requirements for home games –
1) bring in the corner flags
2) put the orange netting across the goal
3) pick up litter around your pitch and put it in the bins provided.

If you see children playing in the goalmouths please ask them nicely to move off the pitch.

DISCIPLINE
Our record last season slipped a little and we must aim to improve on this.  We have club fines to cover the administration costs and to contribute to the AFA fines if we reach stage 1, 2 or 3 of their disciplinary code.  In addition to the club fine for all offences the AFA levy an administration fine as well.

Bookings
£15 fine (this includes the AFA fine)

Note: 5 Bookings leads to an automatic ban by the AFA. The 5th booking will mean additional fines from the club and the AFA together totalling approximately £55. You have been warned.

You will be notified of the fine following a booking. This MUST be paid within two weeks otherwise it is likely you will be banned from playing until the debt is settled.

Any player achieving more than 2 bookings may be summoned to a disciplinary committee compiled from the club committee. The club reserves the right to suspend or ban any player guilty of repetitive ill discipline.

Sendings off
£25 fine (for serious offences the AFA will levy higher fines and the total fine could be at least £55).

The punishment for sendings off can be severe. The club accumulates points against for all disciplinary offences, and s/o are at least 5 points. Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the AFA disciplinary code (on accumulated points) lead to club fines and possible suspension from AFA cup competitions. That is why we take a dim view of offenders. And if you play for a lower side and the referee does not report it to the AFA you will still be subject to fines to ensure fairness throughout the club

PITCH ALLOCATION
Generally speaking the senior home side will have the priority use of the centre pitch and, for most weeks, this will be the 1st or 2nd XI.  All other teams will rotate around the club pitches and the additional pitch(es) at Firs Farm and the Fixture Secretary will have the responsibility to allocate use.  His decision will be final.  Never assume a pitch is unfit for play and the game postponed unless you receive a telephone call to that effect.  If in doubt ring the club or your captain. 

The top and bottom pitches are used by the Vets and Youth on Sunday with the centre pitch for Vets only.  The smaller 4th pitch will be used by the youngest youth team each time.

CLUB COLOURS
It is essential that club colours are worn in all league and cup games including socks and shorts.  The kit is provided although items often go mysteriously missing.  Please ensure everything is returned to the bag after the game and, if it is your turn to wash the kit, you do so responsibly and check for any missing items. Some people tend to keep socks to themselves – Please do not do this as it leaves the kit short when you are not playing

AFA FOOTBALL
The spirit of AFA football does not end with the final whistle.  When playing at home we are the hosts to our opposition and we should entertain properly in the bar afterwards and also ensure they know where they are to eat.  Similarly when we are playing away we are their guests representing our club and we have a duty to behave properly and to socialise with the opposition in the bar.  Even when you are in a hurry to depart it does not take much effort to have a drink and a chat for a short time before leaving.  We expect opponents to stay and use our facilities and it is our duty to do the same when playing away. If we fail to return to the opposition clubhouse for food we will be fined about £30 and the cost will be passed on to the guilty team.  Please do not ignore referees – they do a difficult job and we are lost without them.  Be courteous and helpful before, during and after the game – you will find you are far more likely to get decisions in your favour!  I would remind you that referees have to submit marks for hospitality in respect of both teams for every game.

[page updated 21 August]