1.       The name of the Club is “FC Crusaders”.

 2.       The formation of the Club was approved by its founding members, who formed a provisional Management Team, at a meeting on 1 May, 2001.  Until the election of a fully representative Management Committee, all references to “Management Committee” in this document mean “provisional Management Team”.

 OBJECTIVES

 3.       The objective of the Club is to create and promote an environment where children may play competitive football in a sporting manner and develop their skills, physical fitness and football awareness in a safe and friendly environment.

 4.       Parents of the children who join the Club are also welcomed into its organisation and social framework. The Club aspires to sporting ideals, creation of a team spirit and recognition of each child’s contribution and performance, irrespective of results, with which parents may be comfortable and in which they will wish to participate wholeheartedly.

 MEMBERSHIP

 5.       Each member of the Club is either a Player Member or a Parent Member.  Player Membership is by application and subscription and is subject to acceptance by the Management Committee, whose decision is final.  Parent Membership is automatic on commencement of the Player Membership to which it is associated.

 6.       Player Membership is open to any child who is within the age range of any team the Club enters for competitive matches.

 7.       Player Membership numbers will be limited to ensure the Club is always in a position to meet its stated objectives.  As a guide, training will be limited to a maximum of 15 players for each Coach and no more than 10 players will be selected for any competitive match.

 8.       Parent Membership is open to up to two adults related to or living at the same address as one or more of the Player Members.  Parent Members are the adults who have given their permission to their child(ren) joining the club and have paid the required fees and subscriptions.

  ORGANISATION

 9.       The Club will keep an up to date register of its Player Members.

 10.   The Club will hold an Annual General Meeting of the Parent Membership each July to discuss its organisation, reflect on achievements in the broad context of its objectives, agree the financial statement and elect a Management Committee for the next season.  No Player Member will have voting rights.

 11.   The date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting will be announced to Parent Members at least 21 days before the meeting.

 12.   An annual report and financial statement will be issued to Parent Members no more than one calendar month after the Annual General Meeting.

 13.   The Management Committee will be represented by at least three Parent Members and will consist of at least the elected Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and the appointed Manager of each team.

 14.   The Chairperson, a Team Manager and one other Management Committee Member will form a quorum for any enforceable decision to be made except for any decision about financial expenditure, which requires the other Management Committee Member to be the Treasurer, and changes to Team Management, which are subject to the agreement of the majority of the whole Management Committee.  The Chairperson has a casting vote in the event that there is no clear majority in any matter.

 15.   The Management Committee appoints the Manager of each team and any additional Coaches and its decision in this regard is final.

 16.   The Manager of each team selects the Player Members required to play in each match and his or her decision in this regard is final.

 17.   All kit supplied remains at all times the property of the Club and must be returned immediately on request.

 18.   An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by any 10 Parent Members.  A written request must be made to the Club Secretary stating the exact purpose of the meeting.  The meeting must be called within one calendar month of receipt of notice by the Club Secretary.

 19.   These Articles of Association may be altered only with the agreement of a majority of Parent Members attending the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for that purpose.

 20.   There will be regular training and competitive matches throughout the football season.

 21.   The Club will enter one or more teams in a League allowing all matches to be played within a reasonable distance of Guildford.

 22.   Each Player Member’s regular attendance at training sessions is essential if the Club is to achieve its objectives.  Each Player Member is similarly required to be regularly available for selection for matches.

 FINANCE

 23.   The finances of the Club will be managed entirely by the Club.

 24.   Membership is annually renewable and is subject to subscription due on 1 August each year (which includes a League registration fee) and payment of a fee on the day of each training session and match attended.

 25.   The subscription and training/match fee amounts will be set for the following season at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. 

 26.   The subscription for members joining one calendar month or more after the Club’s first competitive match of the season has been played will be the amount agreed at the last Annual General Meeting reduced according to the number of days elapsed since 1 August of the season of joining.

 27.   Membership will be withdrawn at the discretion of the Management Committee if the annual subscription due remains unpaid after 1 August and/or training and match fees remain unpaid for more than one calendar month after they become due.

 CODE OF CONDUCT

 28.   The Club believes that training should be enjoyable for all and Coaches seek to develop players’ personal and team skills through fun activities.  Players are expected to work hard in training and to try their hardest to win matches by fair and stylish play, taking satisfaction from success and seeing defeat as part of an overall learning process.

 29.   Unsportsmanlike conduct by players (swearing, arguing, fighting or refusal to accept the Referee’s decision or a Coach’s instructions) will not be tolerated by the Club and, in such instances, Managers or Coaches will remove players from the field of play or the training ground at their sole discretion.  Players are asked to remember that inappropriate behaviour reflects badly on themselves as well as on the Club as a whole.

 30.   The Club asks parents to be supportive and encouraging during matches but to avoid coaching, as this may cause confusion to the players, and aggressive or abusive behaviour, as, again, this reflects on the Club as a whole.

 31.   At matches, parents and players are encouraged to applaud and congratulate the opposing team, particularly at the end.

 32.   Appropriate footwear (usually football boots) must be worn for all training and matches.

 33.   Shin pads must be worn for all training and matches – referees will not allow players to start a match without them.

 34.   Each player must be accompanied before, during and after matches by his parent(s) or by an adult to whom the parents have delegated responsibility.

 35.   Transport for matches is not the Club’s responsibility and should be arranged by parents.  A parent contact list is held by Management Committee Members if anyone has difficulty making arrangements.