WhiteKnights Football Club

(Founded 1986)

Constitution

1. NAME The club shall be called WHITEKNIGHTS F.C. (the Club)

2. OBJECTS:

(a) To promote an interest and involvement in football as a team sport;

(b) To provide an opportunity for children in the area to meet and take part in football activities, and to encourage equal participation regardless of ability;

(d) To foster the sprit of good sportsmanship and fairness whilst encouraging the pursuit of excellence;

(e) To encourage parents to become involved in the activities, affairs of the club and in the development of skills in their children;

(f) The Club shall be to arrange association football matches and social activities for its members and;

(g) The Club recognises the role of the University of Reading and will strive at all times to avoid damage to any of the facilities put at the Club’s disposal and to maintain a good relationship with University staff.

3. STATUS OF RULES These rules (the Club Rules) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

4. RULES AND 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 and Regulations of The Football Association Limited and parent County 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) No alteration to the Club Rules shall be effective without a majority decision at a meeting attended by at least six parents, including committee members. Notice of such meetings shall be given at least two weeks in advance.

(c) The Club will also abide by The Football Association’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.

5. CLUB MEMBERSHIP

(a) 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.

(b) Any person who wishes to be a member must apply on the Membership Application Form and deliver it to the Club. Election to membership shall be at the sole discretion of the Club Committee. Membership shall become effective upon an applicant’s name being entered in the Membership Register.

(d) The Football Association and parent County Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

6. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE

(a) An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined from time to time by the Club Committee. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.

(b) The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.

7. RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

(a) A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of their resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than 2 months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned, unless agreed by the Club Committee.

(b) The Club Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. There shall be no appeal procedures.

8. CLUB COMMITTEE

(a) The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Minutes Secretary, plus up to fifteen other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting.

(b) Each Club Officer and Club Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence the Vice Chairperson. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be three.

(c) Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.

(d) Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than 7 days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year.

(e) An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members.

(f) Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association and the County Association to which the Club is affiliated, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

9. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

(a) An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in each year to:

(i) receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year

(ii) receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year

(iii) elect the members of the Club Committee

(iv) consider any other business.

(b) 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.

(c) A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the 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 SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM

(d) The Secretary shall send to each member at their last known postal address and/or e-mail address written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the Meeting.

(e) The quorum for a General Meeting shall be four.

(f) The Chairperson or in their absence a member selected by the Club 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.

(g) The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club 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 Club 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 Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report on the activities of the team.

11. CLUB FINANCES

(a) 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, Vice Chairperson the Club Secretary and the Treasurer. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account except by cheque signed by two of the four designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account.

(b) The income and assets of the Club (the Club Property) shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club.

(c) The Club Committee shall have 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.

(d) The Club shall prepare an annual Financial Statement in such form as shall be published by The Football Association from time to time.

(e) 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 Committee and entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence of such a decision.

(f) 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.

(g) On their removal or resignation a Custodian shall execute a Conveyance in such form as is published by The Football Association from time to time to a newly-elected Custodian or the existing Custodians as directed by the Club Committee. 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, a Special General Meeting shall be convened as soon as possible to appoint another Custodian.

(h) 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.

12. DISSOLUTION

(a) 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, providing that at least ten Club Committee members attend such a meeting

(b) 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.

(c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to the University of Reading who shall determine how the assets shall be utilised for the benefit of the community.

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