LVFC - POLICIES
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
• Lea Valley Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all
members and requires all members of whatever level or authority, to abide and
adhere to this general principle and the requirements of the Codes of Practice
issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality.
• All members are expected to abide by the requirements of the Race Relations
Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Specifically discrimination is prohibited in:
1. Treating any individual on grounds of gender, colour, marital status, race,
nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or
disability less favourably than others.
2. Expecting an individual solely on the grounds stated above to comply with
requirement(s) for any reason whatsoever related to their membership, which are
different to the requirements for others.
3. Imposing on an individual, requirements which are in effect more onerous on
that individual than they are on others. For example this would include applying
a condition (which is not warranted by the requirements of the position) which
makes it more difficult for members of a particular race or sex to comply than
others not of that race or sex.
4. Victimisation of an individual.
5. Harassment of an individual (which for the purposes of this policy and the
actions and sanction applicable thereto is regarded as discrimination).
6. Any other act or omission of an act, which has as its effect the
disadvantaging of a member against another, or others, purely on the above
grounds. Thus, in all the club’s recruitment, selection, promotion and training
processes, as well as disciplinary and other matters (in other words all
instances where those in control of members are required to make judgements
between them) it is essential that merit, experience, skills and temperament are
considered as objectively as possible.
• Lea Valley Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any
claims of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the
case, a requirement that the practice cease forthwith, restitution of damage or
loss (if necessary) and to the investigation of any member accused of
discrimination.
• Any member found guilty of discrimination will be instructed to desist
forthwith. Since discrimination in its many forms is against the Football Club’s
policy, any members offending will be dealt with under the disciplinary
procedure.
• Lea Valley Football Club commits itself to the disabled person wherever
possible and will treat such members, in aspects of their recruitment and
membership, in exactly the same manner as other members. The difficulties of
their disablement permitting, assistance will be given wherever possible to
ensure that disabled members are helped in gaining access. Appropriate training
will be made to such members who request it.
ANTI-DICRIMINATION POLICY
• Lea Valley Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to
apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be
enjoyed by everyone, equally. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate
discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality,
ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.
• Equality of opportunity at Lea Valley Football Club means that in all our
activities we will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favourably,
on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour,
religion or disability.
This includes:
1. The advertisement for volunteers.
2. The selection of candidates for volunteers.
3. Courses.
4. External coaching and education activities and awards.
5. Football development activities.
6. Selection for teams.
7. Appointments to honorary positions.
• Lea Valley Football Club will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment
or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and will work to
ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it
occurs.
• Lea Valley Football Club is committed to the development of the programme of
ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote
the eradication of discrimination within its own organisation and in the wider
context, within football as a whole.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
1. Lea Valley Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the
welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and
is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members.
A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club
football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s child protection
and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy
statement contained in that document.
2. The key principles of The FA child protection policy are that:
• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse
regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin,
religious beliefs or sexual orientation
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded
to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with other organizations, children and young people and
their parents or carers is essential.
We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in
football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be
protected from poor practice and abuse.
Lea Valley Football Club recognizes that this is the responsibility of every
adult involved in our club.
3. Lea Valley Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of
all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or
emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The
Football Association’s child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies
to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes
those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach,
club official or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s child protection and best practice guidelines
for recruiting volunteers and will:
• Develop a role profile
• Request identification documents
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct
interviews before appointing
• Request and follow up with two references before appointing
• Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA
guidelines.
All current Lea Valley Football Club members with direct access to children and
young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA
CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual
who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Lea Valley
Football Club guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted
and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the
information
Obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions
will be made in the best interests of children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and
significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the
opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people.
This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimize
the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.
5. Lea Valley Football Club supports The FA’s whistle blowing policy.
Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by
contacting The FA Child Protection Manager on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The
FA Case Manager at The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or
by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC.
Lea Valley Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilize it if
necessary.
6. Lea Valley Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line
with The FA’s role profile and required completion of the child protection and
best practice workshop. The post holder will be involved with designated
person’s training provided by The FA.
The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents or
guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They
will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures
for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing
an awareness of poor practice and abuse amongst club members.
7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category
of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does
occur, all players, parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that
incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO,
a member of the committee or, in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.
8. Codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches
have been implemented by Lea Valley Football Club.
In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal
with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential
sanctions which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious
circumstances. All prospective members will be informed of these codes.
9. Further advice on child protection matters can be obtained from:
• The County Football Association’s Child Protection Officer, whose details can
be found in the County Handbook
• The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection
• 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
• www.TheFA.com/Goal
• The FA child protection team 0207 745 4649.
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
1. Name
The Club shall be known as Lea Valley Football Club.
2. The Club colours
The club colours shall be sky blue and white shirts, black shorts, white socks.
3. Object
The objects of the Club shall be to arrange Association Football Matches to be
played in a sporting and competitive manner and to encourage participation from
the whole community.
4. Status of rules
These rules (the Club rules) form a binding agreement between each member of the
Club.
5. Rules & Regulations
a) 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. The Rules & Regulations of The Football Association Ltd and the
London County 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) Amendment to the Club’s rules may only be made at an AGM or EGM by simple
majority voting and shall only be effective after written approval by the London
County Football Association.
c) The Club will abide by the Football Association’s Child Protection Policies
and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination
Policy.
6. Club Membership
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. There will be two categories of membership of the Club.
a) Registered Members – Any player registered to the Club during a season will
be deemed to be a Registered Member for the duration of that season.
b) Club Management Committee Members (“Management Committee”) – All elected
Officers and other Members and/or Co-opted Members of the Management Committee
will be deemed to be members of the Club.
All elected Management Committee members may vote at any AGM, EGM or General
Meeting in accordance with Club rules. Registered Members and Co-opted Members
have no voting rights whatsoever at any Club meeting.
All elected Management Committee Members, with the exception of the team
managers, shall be known as Club Officers.
Each Registered Member will be expected to sign and abide by the Club’s Code of
Conduct which will be supplied to them at the time of registration.
The Football Association or an Affiliated Association shall be given access to
the Membership Register on demand.
7. Membership Fee
All applications for Registered Membership must be supported by the applicant’s
subscription where appropriate.
An annual subscription as determined by the Management Committee to be payable
in two equal portions will be payable by every Registered Member and the amount
will be determined by the Management Committee at the AGM each year for the
forthcoming season. Fees shall not be repayable. The Management Committee shall
have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the Registered Members as
are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.
Subscriptions will be paid by 1st September and 15th January each year, unless
otherwise agreed by the Manager and either the Club Secretary or Chairman.
8. Resignation & Expulsion
The Management Committee reserves the right to decline an application for
Membership of the Club and to nullify any existing membership if deemed
necessary. There shall be no appeal procedures.
A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which,
he gives notice to the Club Committee of his resignation. In the event of a
member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the
Membership Register. A member whose annual membership fee or further
subscription is more than one month in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.
9. Management Committee
The Officers and other members of the Club Management Committee shall be
appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall hold office until the
next AGM unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. They shall
comprise:
• Chairman
• Vice-Chairman
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Minute Secretary
• Match & Press Secretary
• Web Manager
• Club Welfare Officer
Non-Officers of the Club Management Committee shall comprise:
• Adult Team Manager
• Youth Team Manager
The Management Committee shall also have the power to appoint a maximum of three
co-opted positions as they deem fit.
A quorum of three Management Committee members, one of whom must be the Chairman
or Secretary, is required for every meeting.
One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time.
The Club 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
Management Committee members. The Chairman may vote on issues as an Officer of
the Management Committee but not in addition to any other Management Committee
position he or she may hold. In addition he/she may hold the casting vote should
any issue remain undecided by simple majority.
Meetings of the Management Committee shall be chaired by the Chairman or in his
absence the Club Secretary.
The Officers of the Committee will meet on the first Monday of each month unless
agreed otherwise.
Decisions from meetings of the Management Committee 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 Club Management
Committee by giving not less than seven days notice to all members of the
Committee.
The Club Management Committee shall hold not less than four meetings each year.
An outgoing member of the Management Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on
the Management Committee arising between AGMs shall be filled by a member
proposed by one and seconded by another of the Club’s remaining Committee
members and approved by a simple majority of the Management Committee.
Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association
and the London Football Association, the Club Management Committee shall have
the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue
concerning the Club Rules.
10. Annual and Special General Meetings
The Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall take place no later than 31st July
each year and will be subject to 21 days notice to Club Members. It will:
a) Receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year.
b) Receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year and to approve
the Audited Accounts.
c) Elect the members of the Club Management Committee.
d) Elect the Auditor for the next financial year.
e) 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 Chairman not less than 14 days
before the AGM. If nominations for positions on the Management Committee exceed
the number of places available the Management Committee members present will
take a vote at the AGM.
Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to
the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the meeting.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (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 three
Management Committee 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 Club Secretary shall send to each member written notice of the date of a
General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days
before the meeting.
The quorum for a General Meeting shall be four.
The Chairman, or in his absence a Member selected by the Management Committee,
shall take the chair. Each Management Committee member present shall have one
vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an
equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
The Club Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Management Committee,
shall enter minutes of the General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.
11. Club Teams
At its first meeting following each AGM the Management Committee shall appoint
an Adult Team Manager and a Youth Team Manager to be responsible for each and
any of the Club’s football teams. The appointed team managers will be
responsible for managing the affairs of the teams at their respective levels and
will be Members, but not Officers, of the Club Management Committee.
The team managers shall present to the Club Management Committee at its last
meeting prior to an AGM a written report of the activities of the team(s).
The team managers will ensure that shin guards are worn by all players during
training sessions and matches and that measures are taken at all times to
protect the health and safety of all players in their care.
The team managers will ensure the equipment of every player taking to the field
of play conforms to Football Association safety standards.
The team managers will be responsible for the maintenance of team and individual
player discipline and will be empowered to take appropriate action necessary to
deal with any incident, reporting all such incidents to the Club Secretary
and/or Management Committee for further action.
The team managers will ensure that all discipline fines and/or expenses are paid
by the offending player.
12. Club Finances
The Club’s financial year shall end 31st May each year.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall take place no later than 31st July
each year and will be subject to 21 days notice to Club Members.
Bank accounts shall be opened and maintained in the name of each of the Club
teams. Designated account signatories shall be the Club Chairman, the Club
Secretary, the Club Treasurer and the Club Match & Press Secretary. No sum shall
be drawn from any of the Club accounts except by cheque signed by two of the
four designated signatories at least one of whom shall be the Club Chairman or
the Club Treasurer. All money payable to the Club shall be received by the
Treasurer and deposited in the appropriate Club account.
The income and assets of the Club (the Club Property) shall be applied only in
furtherance of the Objects of the Club.
The Club Officers shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration
and expenses to any member of the Club and to any other person or persons for
services rendered to the Club.
The Club shall prepare an annual Financial Statement in such form as shall be
published by the Football Association from time to time.
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 Club 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 General Meeting and shall hold
office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a
General Meeting.
The Club will take steps to insure its players in accordance with at least
minimum Football Association requirements for affiliation.
Public Liability Insurance will also be taken out in the Club’s name.
The Club and members of the Management Committee accept no responsibility
whatsoever for any loss or damage to any equipment or personal effects belonging
to any Club Member.
13. 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 Management 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 be transferred to the London County Football Association who
shall determine how the assets shall be utilised for the benefit of the game.
Alternatively, such assets may be disposed of in such other manner as the Club
Management Committee, with the consent of the London County Football
Association, shall determine.
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