Point of Contact: Fixture Secretary - Malc KERSHAW

 

What should we do if we believe that our home ground will not be playable?

 

You should notify your opponents, match referee and the Fixture Secretary at the earliest opportunity. If it may be possible to reverse the fixture, the teams should agree provisional arrangements as soon as possible and notify the match referee and Fixture Secretary.

 

For clarity, teams may reasonably NOT agree to reverse a fixture where this would involve significant changes to the time necessary for travel, or the kick-off time, where arrangements will have already been made regarding family or work commitments and similar.

 

Where clubs propose to hire a third-party facility to enable a fixture to be played, the same conditions apply regarding the agreement of your opponents, and the final details MUST be agreed and notified to ALL participants, the Fixture Secretary and Referees Secretary by 6pm on the Friday before the scheduled fixture. NO further changes should be made after this deadline. This is to ensure that there is minimal inconvenience or confusion.

 

Is support available if we can source a third-party facility when our home ground is not playable?

 

Yes, it is. Venue Assistance is available for 50% of a venue hire fee up to a maximum of £60. A copy of the receipt or an invoice should be forwarded to the Fixture Secretary for a payment to be made.

 

ALL third-party facilities MUST be sanctioned for use in the League, and details can be found in the List of 3G/4G Facilities circulated by the League. The provision of dressing rooms and showers for ALL participants is ESSENTIAL.

 

Clubs should be mindful that should an opponent not fulfil a fixture scheduled at such a third-party facility, a maximum of £120 can be clawed back.

 

So, if your grass pitch is unplayable here is the procedure to book a 3G/4G.

 

1. Make sure it is approved on the 3G/4G Facilities Guide.

 

2. Book and pay for the pitch.

 

3. Send me a copy of the paid invoice along with your bank details and I will secure a Venue Assistance Payment for you.

 

Can we move a fixture?

 

Yes, teams can agree to bring the date of a game FORWARD but must notify the Fixture Secretary with enough notice to enable the appointment of a match official.

 

Teams are NOT allowed to move a fixture to a later date than that scheduled by the League.

 

Can we change the venue or kick-off time of a fixture?

 

Yes, you can, but SEVEN DAYS' notice MUST be given to your opponents and match official(s). Any changes notified with less than seven days' notice require the agreement in writing of your opponents, which should be forwarded to the Fixture Secretary for the changes to be actioned.

 

If your opponents do NOT agree to the changes, the original scheduled venue and kick-off time will apply.

 

The failure of a team to host a fixture in these circumstances may result in a charge being raised for Failure to Fulfil.

 

Can we postpone a fixture?

 

Yes, you can, but only with a minimum of TEN DAYS' notice in writing to the Fixture Secretary. Clubs should be mindful, however, that not playing fixtures earlier in the season may mean that they have to play in midweek at the end of the season.

 

Any requests made with LESS than ten days' notice will be considered but CANNOT be guaranteed to be accepted. In these circumstances, if a team cannot then play, it will be treated as a Failure to Fulfil and dealt with by the LMC.

 

Tell players they have a game every Saturday.

 

I want to conclude any Full-Time changes by the Friday night the WEEK BEFORE the game. Then, on Saturday afternoon after the game the Manager can confirm next week’s fixture to his team.

 

There will be emergencies, but I aim to have the final Full-Time fixtures showing by the Sunday night before the next Saturday game, so DO NOT stand your players down until then.

 

There were far too many failure-to-fulfils last season and stronger sanctions have been brought in this season to avoid a repeat.