BOURNE BLADES F.C. CONSTITUTION

1. The club shall be called Bourne Blades Football Club (the “Club”)

2. Objects
The objects of the Club shall be to

provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of football
to arrange and promote the game of Association Football, to arrange matches and social activities for its members and community participation.

3. Status of Rules
These rules (the Constitution and Club Rules) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

4. Rules and Regulations

The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of The Football Association by virtue of its affiliation to / membership of The Football Association Limited. The Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited, Surrey County Football Association Limited and any League or Competition to which the Club is affiliated shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Club Rules.
The members of the Club shall so exercise their rights, powers and duties and shall, where appropriate use their best endeavours to ensure that others conduct themselves so that the business and affairs of the Club are carried out in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited (“The FA”), County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated (“Parent County Association”)
No alteration to the Club Rules shall be effective without prior written approval by the Parent County Association.
The Club Rules will be amended as and when deemed necessary, or when required, to incorporate any legal or procedural policies and regulations administered by the Club or an affiliated party.
The Club will abide by The FA’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.

5. Club Membership

Membership of the Club shall run from the 1st July to the 30th June of each season unless terminated beforehand and shall be renewable on an annual basis
The members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the “Membership Register”) which shall be maintained by the Club Secretary.
Any person who wishes to be a member must apply on the Membership Application Form and deliver it to the Club Secretary. Election to membership shall be at the discretion of the Management Committee and granted in accordance with the anti- discrimination and equality policies that are in place from time to time. An appeal against refusal may be made to the Management Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time to time.
The following persons shall be entitled to apply for membership of the Club: -

Players or prospective Players.
A legal guardian representing a player(s) or prospective player(s) under the age of 18 years.
Any person who is interested in furthering the objectives of the Club, including, but without limiting the foregoing, persons involved in the training, managing or officiating of Club games, sessions or events

Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of football as a particular sport

The Membership Register will also include all personnel involved in the management or administration of Club issues and responsibilities

Membership shall become effective upon an applicant’s name being entered in the Membership Register.

In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register.

A Membership Committee consisting of the Secretary, the Club Welfare Officer and one other member of the Management Committee shall be responsible for administering admission to or expulsion from the Club.

The Football Association and Surrey County Association shall be given access to the Membership Register providing that they have valid reason.

The Bourne Blades Football Club is affiliated with the Bourne Sports Club and membership will grant access to their facilities.

6. Annual Membership Fee

An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined from time to time by the Management Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.
The Management Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objectives of the Club.

7. Resignation and Expulsion

A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Management Committee of his/her resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than two (2) months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.
The Club, acting through its Management Committee may refuse or expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. A person refused membership shall have the right of appeal to the Management Committee.
A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the income and assets of the Club (the “Club Property).

8. Management Committee

The Management Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, , Treasurer, Secretary, Club Welfare Officer and Communications Officer plus up to 5 other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.
Each Club Officer and Management Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) unless otherwise resolved at an Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”). One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. The Management Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. Decisions of the Management Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Management Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Management Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Management Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence any member of the Management Committee. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be three.
Decisions of the Management Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.
Any member of the Management Committee may call a meeting of the Committee by giving not less than seven days’ notice to all members of the Management Committee. The Management Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year.
An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Management Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Management Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Management Committee members.
The Management Committee shall have the power to declare a seat vacant should a member be absent for two consecutive meetings without satisfactory explanation.
Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The FA, the Surrey County Association and Management Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

Chairman -Shall chair the meetings of the Management Committee. He or she will be responsible for initiating or assisting as required in the furtherance of the Club. He or she shall have the casting vote when votes counted are evenly split.
Secretary - Will be responsible for the administration of the Club.
Treasurer - To be responsible for the accounts and finances of the Club and to keep such bank accounts as required by the Management Committee and to present an audited balance of the accounts at the AGM. To supply to any person having reasonable cause any statement of account as required by the rules of that person's organisation with which the Club is registered. To ensure that all the Club assets are covered by the necessary insurance and that the Club is insured for public liability.
Club Welfare Officer - Co-ordinates child protection and welfare policies within the club.
Minutes Secretary - To be responsible for taking minutes of all Management Committee meetings and the keeping of minutes record. Distribute minutes to Committee members.
Communication Officer - To be responsible for the communications to Members.

9. Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings

An AGM shall be held in each year (April +3 months) to:

receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year;
receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year;
elect the members of the Management Committee; and
consider any other business.

Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 21 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 21 days before the meeting.

An EGM may be called at any time by the Management Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt by the Club Secretary of a requisition in writing, signed by not less than five members stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed. Business at an EGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM.

The Secretary shall give notice to each member of the date of any General Meeting together with the nature of the business to be conducted at least 7 days before the meeting. Notices under this section shall be satisfied by publication of a notice on the Club’s website.

The quorum for a General Meeting shall be four members

The Chairperson, or in their absence a member selected by the Management Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Management Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

10. Club Teams
At its first meeting following each AGM the Management Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. The appointed members shall present to the Management Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report of the activities of the team.

11. Club Finances

A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the “Club Account”). Designated account signatories shall be the Club Chairperson, the Club Secretary, the Treasurer and two other members of the Management Committee.. No amount exceeding £250.00 shall be drawn from the Club Accounts without the consent of a majority of the Management Committee. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account.
The Club is a non-profit making organisation and all income, profits and assets of the Club (the Club property) shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
The Club Property shall be applied only in furtherance of the objectives of the Club. The distribution of profits or proceeds arising from the sale of Club Property to members is prohibited.
The Management Committee shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club (although the Club will not remunerate a member for playing) and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.
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.
The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:

sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
employ members (although not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Management Committee without the person concerned being present;
pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests; and
indemnify the Management 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).

The 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 Club. The Club must retain its accounting records for a minimum of six years.

The Club shall prepare an annual “Financial Statement”, in such format as shall be available from The FA from time to time. The Financial Statement shall be verified by an independent, appropriately qualified accountant and shall be approved by members at general meeting. A copy of any Financial Statement shall, on demand, be forwarded to The FA.

The Club Property, other than the Club Account, shall be vested in not less than two and no more than four custodians, one of whom shall be the Treasurer (“the Custodians”),who shall deal with the Club Property as directed by decisions of the Management Committee and entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence of such a decision. The Custodians shall be appointed by the Club in a General Meeting and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.

On their removal or resignation a Custodian shall execute a Conveyance in such form as is published by The FA from time to time to a newly elected Custodian or the existing Custodians as directed by the Management Committee. The Club shall, on request, make a copy of any Conveyance available to The FA. On the death of a Custodian, any Club Property vested in them shall vest automatically in the surviving Custodians. If there is only one surviving Custodian, an EGM shall be convened as soon as possible to appoint another Custodian.

The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the Club Property for all expenses and other liabilities reasonably incurred by them in carrying out their duties.

The Bourne Blades FC shall be responsible for its own fund raising and shall have no financial dependency on the Bourne Sports Club and visa versa.

12. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.
The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.
Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall not be paid or distributed among members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:

A registered charitable organisation(s)
Another Club which is a registered Community Amateur Sports Club
The sports national governing body for use by it for related community sports

13. Sponsorship
There shall be a sub-committee set up to deal and report on matters of any form of sponsorship and advertising. This committee shall consist of The Chairman, The Vice- Chairman, The Secretary, The Treasurer, and a team manager. If needed members may be co-opted by the committee.

The sub committee shall review the criteria for sponsorship on a requirement basis, which will be:
Team kit and players kit.
Requirements of Club pitch furniture, clubhouse and general finance
Requirements of age group not covered in 13.1

All sponsorship received by the Club shall be within the rules of the Football Association. All ground advertising shall be with the permission of the Management Committee No person shall enter into any form of sponsorship deal without the permission and agreement of the Management Committee.

14 Club Colours
All Teams are required to play in official Club colours that are white/green shirts, white shorts, white socks.
Managers should consult The Management Committee before purchasing any strips to ensure that all teams are playing in the same trim. The Management Committee will be happy to speak to any prospective sponsor regarding Club colours.

15 Presentation / Fun Day
All team are expected to participate in the Clubs Presentation /Fund Day on a day set by the Management committee.

Bourne Blades Football Club

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