Cove Walking Football Club Constitution

Cove Walking Football Club (the Club) was formed on 15 January 2019 and is based at the MUGA, Cove Football Club (Cove FC), Squirrel Lane, Farnborough, GU14 8PF

Contacts: chairmancovewfc@gmail.com or secretarycovewfc@gmail.com

  1. Constitution

The Constitution can only be changed by a vote of members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Club. Changes require a simple majority of those in attendance and voting at the meeting

  1. Affiliations and Registrations

The Club is affiliated to Hampshire FA through its membership of Cove FC. The Club may also be affiliated to other Associations and organisations to and with whom the Committee of the Club (the Committee) chooses it to be affiliated with.

  1. Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the Club are:

  • To offer and organise opportunities for members to play Walking Football.
  • To adopt an approach which makes all members feel valued and welcomed and reflects the principles of inclusivity, openness and respect, irrespective of age, disability, footballing ability, gender, race, religion or beliefs.
  • To arrange for teams to represent the Club in competitive leagues and competitions and, in such circumstances, to ensure the strongest team possible is chosen to represent the Club. Teams representing the Club in such events are bound by the Constitution with regard to behaviour and approach.
  1. Membership

The Club consists of Officers and Members. An officer must be a member of the Club. The Officers of the Club (the Officers) will form the Committee (the Committee).

All members are subject to the rules and conditions of the Constitution and, by becoming a member of the Club, are deemed to accept these and such codes of conduct and policies that the Club has adopted, together with the policies and rules of Hampshire FA and other bodies to which the Club is affiliated.

Membership is open to all men and woman over 45 years, both male, female and transgender. The Committee may approve membership for younger individuals where they deem exceptional circumstances exist.

Membership fees will be set by the Committee.

  1. Officers of the Club

The Officers will be the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Welfare Officer and will form the Committee of the Club. Officers will be elected annually at the AGM.

Members can be co-opted to the Committee by the Officers where it is deemed beneficial for the operation of the Club. These members of the Committee will be subject to confirmation by the Officers annually after the AGM.

  1. Management

The Club will be managed through the Committee.

All members of the Committee, Officers and co-opted members, have an equal vote in the event of a vote of the Committee.

Committee meetings will be held no less than 4 times per year. The quorum required at these meetings for business to be conducted will be three, two of whom must be Officers of the Club.

The Committee is responsible for, but not limited to, ensuring the policies of the Club are applied, adopting new policies, managing finances, health and safety policy and compliance, attracting new members, setting codes of conduct and matters that affect the day-to-day operation of the Club.

The Committee has the authority to form sub-committees as necessary to fulfil its business. The members of these sub-committees may or may not be members of the Committee. The sub-committee will provide regular updates to the Committee and members of the sub-committee may be invited to Committee meetings, but may not vote at Committee meetings.

The sub-committees will advise and make recommendations to the Committee, but the Committee is not bound by this advice or any recommendations.

The Committee is responsible for all disciplinary matters where members infringe the Constitution, Code of Conduct or other rules of the Club. The Committee may delegate responsibility for collection of information and/or seek a recommendation with regard to any action of discipline, such as suspension or expulsion, from a sub-committee appointed to investigate such infringements or any complaints raised by a member or a third party.

  1. Finance

The Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the Club.

A minimum of three Officers should each be a signatory to the bank account of the Club. One signatory should be required to operate the account.

All club funds should be held in an account, in the Club’s name, with a reputable bank. Cash receipts should be deposited on a regular basis.

The Treasurer is responsible for administering the account and general finances of the Club.

A financial report should be presented to all meetings of the Officers.

The financial year end of the Club is 31 January. A statement of annual income and expenditure should be presented at the AGM by the Treasurer.

  1. Annual General Meeting

The Club will hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of all members within 3 months of the financial year end. The Secretary will issue a notice of the AGM at least 21 calendar days before the planned date. An AGM will require the attendance in person of 15% of the membership on the day before the meeting to be quorate.

The AGM will receive a report from the Chairman on the state of the Club and a statement of accounts from the Treasurer.

Election of Officers of the Club will take place at the AGM. Nominations for positions as Officers of the Club, including current Officers seeking re-election, should be sent to the Secretary (secretarycovewfc@gmail.com) at least 7 calendar days prior to the meeting. All nominations should be supported by confirmation of the nomination by 3 members.

All members have the right to attend, vote on resolutions and ask questions at the AGM.

All resolutions will be passed on a simple majority of those in attendance and voting at the AGM.

An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Officers or at the written request of 10 members. Procedures for the notice and operation of an EGM will follow those as for an AGM.

  1. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the Club can voted on at an AGM or EGM and will be passed on a simple majority of those in attendance and voting at the meeting.

In the event of dissolution, a vote will be held at the meeting as to the distribution of any remaining assets of the Club. The options open to may include, but are not limited to, passing these to a successor or nominated Club or donated to a Charity nominated by the Chairman.