1)       Name

 a)    The name of the Club shall be Hurstpierpoint Football Club Colts

 b)    The Club shall be governed in accordance with the Rules, Regulations, Bye Laws and Practices of The Football Association.

 2)     Objective

        To provide coaching and football for the youth of Hurstpierpoint and     surrounding areas. 

3)     Affiliation 

a)     The club shall be a full affiliated member section of Hurstpierpoint Football Club.

b)    The Club shall be affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and to one or more local Football Leagues. 

4)         Membership

a)    Members of the Club shall be the parents and or guardians of each player registered with the Club or as otherwise determined by the Management Committee.

b)   Associate Members shall be the 0fficers and Team Managers.

c)   The membership year shall run from June 1st to April 30th each year. At an Annual General Meeting(‘ AGM’ ) members may only vote on matters relating to the previous year unless they have rejoined and have paid for the following year in accordance with clause 4g. Children who have not re-registered for the following season may participate in summer events (tours, tournaments etc) at the discretion of the Management Committee.

d)   Members and Associate Members are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM and any Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM') of the Club.

e)    Members are entitled to cast one vote per registered player

f)     Members and Associate Members shall behave in accordance with the Club's Adult Code of Conduct.

g)    Members and Associate Members shall not hold themselves out as authorised representatives of the Club except with the permission of the Management Committee.

h)    Members shall pay Club membership fees as determined by the Management Committee, except in cases of financial hardship recommended by the Team Manager and following consultation with the management committee.

5)         Officers

a)    The members of the management committee shall be  the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. These shall be the officers of the club, plus upto a maximum of 6 additional committee members.

b)    The Officers and other committee members shall be elected annually at the AGM.  In the event of a vacancy arising or subsisting between AGMS, the position may be filled by election at an EGM, or by appointment on an Acting basis by the Management Committee.  Pending such election or appointment, the duties of the position in question may be shared between the other  Officers. 

c)    Officers may be elected or re-elected at an EGM, and a person holding such position may be removed by a vote at an EGM.  An Officer may be suspended by a vote of the Management Committee, subject to ratification at a General Meeting.

d)    Nominations for the positions of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary not less than 14 days before the General Meeting.  Nominations may be made by or on behalf of any person, but shall be signed, or supported in writing, by two Members or Associate Members. 

e)    An Honorary Auditor shall be appointed annually, or as required, by the Management Committee  by a vote of those present and eligible to vote.  A person holding such position may be removed by the Management Committee or by a vote at a General Meeting.

 6)         Team Management

 a)    The suitability of a candidate for the position of Team Manager shall be considered by the management committee.  Existing Team Managers shall also be approved annually by the management committee.

b)    The Team Managers shall be appointed annually or as required, by the Management Committee by a vote of those present and eligible to vote.  A person holding such position may be removed by the Management Committee.

c)    Each Team Manager may appoint an Assistant Manager and a Parent Representative with the approval of the management committee.  A person holding such position may be removed by the Team Manager or by the Management Committee.

d)         Team Managers and Assistant Managers shall be required to uphold the Club's Adult Code of     Conduct and to undergo appropriate training in the safety and welfare of the players in their care.  They shall be required to subject themselves to appropriate checks as to their character and background, which will include  police checks.

e)         In the unlikely event of the team manager requiring to enlist the help of another adult approval should be sought first from an officer of the club.  

7)         Management Committee

a)    The Management Committee shall be the decision-making body of the Club.  It shall operate by considering formal proposals and recommendations made by its members or by any Sub-Committee.

b)    The voting members of the Management Committee shall be the Officers and other elected management committee members.

c)    The Management Committee shall meet at least six times per year. The quorum for such meetings shall be 50% of  voting members of the Management Committee.

d)    The management committee may form various sub-sommittees to assist with the running of the club. The sub-committee will elect a representative of their committee who wil be co-opteed on to the management committee and will have full voting rights.

8)         General Meetings

a)    An AGM shall be held annually, not later than 31st July each year.

b)    An EGM may be called at any time by decision of the Management Committee. An EGM shall be called within 14  days of the receipt by the Secretary of a request signed by not less than  30% of  Members or Associate Members, or following the suspension of an Officer.

c)    Written notice shall be given to all Members and Associate Members not less than 21 days before the date of any General Meeting. The Secretary shall provide all with anProposed Agenda of items submitted for discussion. Only if any additional nominations are received or any alterations are made to the proposed agenda The Secretary shall provide all Members and Associated Members with a revised adgenda.

d)    The business of an AGM shall include:

·    the approval of the minutes of the previous General Meeting

     Matters arising from

·    the election of the Officers

·    the consideration of an annual report of the work carried out by the Management Committee

·    the approval of the accounts

e)    It may also include:

·    the agreement of proposed amendments to the Constitution

·    the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be necessary.

f)     The business of an EGM may include any of the matters at (e) and (f) above, and may also include the re-­election or removal of Officers.  The business of an EGM shall be restricted to the notified Agenda items.

g)    For any general meeting to be quarat there must be 10% of the registered players represented by the members or associate members.

9)   Voting 

a)    Subject to clauses 9 (b) and 12 below, voting on any issue at any Club meeting shall be by a simple majority of persons present and eligible to vote, providing always that the meeting is quorate.

b)    In the event of a contested election for a position of Officer , voting shall be by an absolute majority of persons present and eligible to vote.  If there is no majority on the first vote the candidates securing the least number of votes shall be progressively eliminated until a majority is obtained or there is only one candidate remaining. This shall be by a secret ballot.

c)    If there is equality of voting on any issue, the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

10)  Finances 

a)    The income of the Club shall always be used to further the objective of the Club, charitable.

b)    The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Club.

c)    The accounts shall be audited annually, or as deemed necessary by the Management Committee, by the Honorary Auditor.

d)                  A statement of the accounts for the financial year, ending 31st March, shall be submitted by

        the Treasurer to the AGM.

e)    Bank account shall be maintained in the name of the Club by the Treasurer with such Bank or Banks as the Treasurer shall decide from time to time.

t)     The Treasurer and two other named Officers shall be authorised to sign cheques and other payment instructions on behalf of the Club.  These shall be signed by not less than two of the three authorised signatories.

g)    A Club budget shall be set for each financial year.  All budget submissions shall be reviewed and approved by the Officers  subject to ratification by the Management Committee.  All expenditures shall be effected through or with the consent of the Treasurer and will only be reimbursed upon the production of a valid receipt.

h)    Committee members may claim reimbursement for reasonable expenditures incurred on behalf of the Club.  The Treasurer will require appropriate proof of such expenditures. All such expenditure must be authorised by the Management Committee before it is incurred. 

11)       Termination of Membership 

a)    The Management Committee shall have the right to refuse or terminate membership of the Club where, in its opinion, the individual concerned does not abide by the Club's Adult Code of Conduct or has acted in a manner contrary to the interests of the Club.  The Management Committee shall be required to give reasons for its decision.

b)    Where membership is refused or terminated, the individual concerned shall have the right to appeal and make representations to a meeting of the Management Committee.

c)    Refusal or termination of membership does not affect the eligibility of any player for whom the individual concerned is a parent or guardian to be registered with or play for the Club, subject to the appropriate fees being paid as due.

d)     The Management Committee may suspend or dismiss from the Club a registered player whose conduct has, in its opinion, been contrary to the interests of the Club.  The Management Committee shall be required to give reasons for its decision.

e)     The Liability to pay any fines incurred by any player whilst representing Hurstpierpoint    Football Club Colts shall rest with the parent/career.

f)      Failure to pay these fines could lead to termination of registration.

g)     Where a player is suspended or dismissed, the player concerned shall, with their parents or guardians, have the right to appeal and make representations to a meeting of the Management Committee.

12)       Constitution 

a)    This document shall be the Constitution of the Club and shall be amended only by formal agreement at a General Meeting.

b)    The Secretary shall, in the first instance, provide the interpretation of the Constitution, which shall prevail unless overruled by the Management Committee or by a vote at a General Meeting.

c)    The Management Committee may determine, by a one-third minority of persons present and eligible to vote, that a matter is a Constitutional matter requiring agreement at a General Meeting.

d)    Any amendment to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of persons present and eligible to vote at a General Meeting.

e)    Where the notified business of a General Meeting includes the agreement of proposed amendments to the Constitution, details of such proposed amendments shall be provided or made available by the Secretary to all Members and Associate Members not less than 21 days before the General Meeting.

d)         Further proposals for amendments may be made in writing to the Secretary not less than 14 days before the General Meeting, and may be taken from the floor at the General Meeting at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting or by a vote  of those present and eligible to vote. 

13)   Dissolution 

The club may be dissolved by a Special General Meeting convened by direction of the management committee.  If the resolution of dissolution is duly passed, the management Committee shall forthwith liquidate the affairs of the club. Surplus assets on realisation shall be devoted to a local children’s charity to be decided by the management Committee