1. Objectives & Purpose.

1.1 The Club is called ‘Sebastopol Association Football Club, hereafter referred to as ‘the Club’.

1.2 The purposes of the Club are to promote and provide facilities for the amateur sport of football in Sebastopol, Pontypool and community participation in the same.

1.3 The Clubs objectives are to provide:

• Training facilities;
• Participation in appropriate League football matches;
• Social activities;

which, will be available to all members.

2. Membership

2.1 Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis.

2.2 The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

2.3 Club membership will be classed as playing members and non playing members. All Club members must abide by the Clubs constitution and rules. All members must also abide by all rules of any ‘Affiliated League’s’, that the club is a member of. Club members must also abide by any rules that apply to the premises used for any social activities.

2.4 The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause, such as, conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members.

3. Property and Funds.

3.1 The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club.

3.2 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 the Finance Act 2002.

3.3 The Club may also in connection with the purposes of the Club;

• Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
• Employ members, (though not for playing), and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
• Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
• Indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of running the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club, (but only to the extent of its assets).

3.4 The Committee of the Club will have due regard to the law on discrimination and child protection.

4 The Committee and Meetings.

4.1 The affairs of the Club shall be administered by the Club Committee, which shall consist of 10 persons or less, who shall determine the level of subscriptions payable by all members.

4.2 The Club Committee have ultimate responsibility for the running of the Club at all times.

4.3 The Club Committee will be responsible for management of all funds and property of the Club and its administration.

4.4 The Committee of the Club should be made up of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who will be the senior Club Officers, with the other Committee members being called ‘committee members’.

4.5 The Committee will hold a meeting once a month and these dates will be provided by the Club Secretary to all members.

4.5.1 The League Secretary should give a report on all league affairs and the Club Secretary should report on Club affairs.

4.5.2 The Treasurer should provide the Committee with a financial report of the Club, then other business can then be discussed at the meeting.

4.6 Each senior Club Officer position should be held by one person.

4.7 The senior Club Officer posts and that of committee members will be eligible for re election every 3 years and voted for at the Clubs AGM.

4.7.1 If a Committee member stands down in mid season, the Committee will be permitted to select a replacement with no advertisement of this position.

4.7.2 If any member steps down at the end of the season, his/her replacement will be elected at the Club AGM from within the Club’s membership.

4.8 Any member of the Club can call an emergency AGM, but must have a written reason for doing so. It must be signed by at least 8 Club members and be delivered to the Club Secretary 7 days before a meeting can be called.

4.9 An emergency committee meeting can be called as long as the Chairman or Vice Chairman is present along with 3 committee members.

4.9.1 If the meeting is for financial reasons, the Treasurer should also be present, or his deputy of his choice to represent him.

4.10 Any member who appears before the committee can appeal any decision they disagree with. The appeal will be heard by the senior Club Officers.

4.11 At the Clubs AGM the League and Club Secretary will give a season report, the Treasurer will provide a season financial report that must be approved by the committee prior to the AGM.

4.12 The Club constitution governs the Club, giving the committee full powers to manage the affairs of the Club for the benefit of its members. The committee must abide by the ‘League Rules’ to which the Club are affiliated.

5 Winding Up of the Club.

5.1 The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened AGM.

5.2 The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.

5.3 After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following;

• To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered charity and/or:
• To another club with similar sports purposes which is registered CASC and/or;
• To the clubs governing body for use by them for related community sports.

6 Priority of Rules.

6.1 Where there is any conflict between any of the above rules (key rules) and any other rules or rules, the Key Rules will take priority. Interpretation of all the rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002).