Welcome to the 2017/18 season we are now just under 3 weeks away from the kick off and there is the usual preseason meeting in a couple of weeks, details below.
WEBSITE
We will be using the Football Mitoo website again this season and passwords will be issued to Clubs nearer to the start of the season. The direct link to the site is:
www.football.mitoo.co.uk/News.cfm?LeagueCode=SEIFL2017
FULL COUNCIL MEETING 1
Please note the Pre season Council meeting will take place at Abbey Rangers Football Club, Addlestone Moor, Addlestone, KT15 2QH on Wednesday 16th August 2017, as usual food will be supplied after the meeting.
REGISTRATIONS
Don’t forget that each Club must have deposited 11 registrations per team with the League at least 7 days before the season starts, if you have any already these can be handed to the Registration Secretary at the above meeting, or sent to him in advance.
CONSTITUTION
As per the AGM the Intermediate Division will start with 14 teams and the Reserve Division with 12 teams.
FIXTURES
League fixtures in the Intermediate Division start on Saturday 26th August 2017, with the Reserve Division start a week later on 2nd September 2017.
Fixtures for the early season will be issued shortly.
Please ensure that the comments on the Fixture Bulletin issued are noted and adhered to.
REFEREES FEES
Referees fees have been increased to £40.00 per game for this season, Please make sure that the correct amount is available, the fee should be offered before the game or immediately after, do not make referees chase around after Club Officials to obtain payment nor to have to wait around after the game while there is a “whip- round” in the changing room, resulting in the referee leaving the ground with a pocket full of “shrapnel”!
BULLETINS
It is intended to issue a weekly bulletin on a Sunday throughout the season’ except where there is a Bank Holiday, when it will be issued immediately after, this will cover results, notices, fixture changes and changes of referees etc, with batches of fixtures from time to time. The Bulletin will be sent to all League Officers and Club Secretaries and those who received it last season plus / minus any amendments I have been asked to make following the recent email sent to all clubs, I have presumed that any Clubs who have not replied are happy with the persons already nominated, but it is not too late to make changes if there are others in your Club who you wish to receive a copy, please just advise the League Secretary so that they can be added to the distribution lists, similarly if anyone no longer needs a copy or is no longer part of your Club please advise so that they can be deleted from the lists.
TEXTING OF RESULTS
A reminder that results should be texted to Roger Hall the Results Secretary on 07887 730218 before 5.30pm, on a Saturday, allowances will obviously be made where a club have had to hire a pitch, resulting in games having to kick off later than normal.
KICK OFF TIMES
Kick off times are included in the Rules, and must be adhered to as far as possible, there will be times when kick offs have to be varied such as early & late season when clubs may have to hire pitches and that has to be accepted. If for any reason a Club need to amend their kick off time the reason needs to be advised to the League who will give permission. Kick off times may not be amended purely because a team would prefer to kick off at a different time. Although times are set for Bank Holiday games, if Clubs wish to amend the times subject to mutual agreement this is acceptable. Any changes of kick off times must be advised to the League so that the website can be amended accordingly
HANDBOOK INFORMATION
As soon as you receive the handbook please check the information for your Club and advise any changes or errors so that these can be distributed as soon as possible. If there have been any changes since the information for the handbook was supplied please advise before the meeting on 16th August and an amendment sheet can be issued with the handbooks.
CLUB CHANGES DURING THE SEASON
In addition to the above, it is most important that any changes to the information published in the handbook are advised to the League Secretary without delay during the course of the season so that these can be issued out with the next Bulletin, and it is equally important that all club members who need to know of changes are kept advised. Temporary absences of the main Club contact during the season with alternative contact(s) also need to be advised.
MATCH BASED SUSPENSIONS
A reminder that any suspensions or part of suspensions carried over from last season will take effect from the start of League Fixtures for whichever team they were incurred for, the only exception to this is if any time based suspensions for misconduct offences have been imposed in which case specific dates will have probably been issued. The information on the website will be updated each week.
THE FA VASE
Saturday 9th September 2017 will see history made for the Competition as 2 teams Tooting Bec & Westside play in the First Qualifying round of the FA Vase, the first teams in the League to do so. Both have been drawn at home against Step 5 opponents from Sussex – Littlehampton Town & Steyning Town respectively, who are both members of the Southern Combination League, formerly the Sussex Senior League. The draw for the Second Qualifying round has already been made and if either or both are successful they will be at home again in that round. The best wishes of the league go with them.
COUNTY FA CLUB SUSPENSIONS
Any Clubs suspended by their parent FA, must clear the suspension by the close of business on a Thursday or in some cases midday Friday or remain under suspension until it is cleared. Any Clubs in this competition who find themselves suspended will have the games scheduled for that weekend awarded to their opponents as unfulfilled fixtures, and could incur further fines and or expenditure to cover any loss by their opponents. Any Clubs currently under suspension with their County FA, are reminded of the need to clear these suspensions as soon as possible and definitely before the League season starts or before any preseason friendly games are played, as such suspensions are from “ALL FOOTBALL”.
USE OF 3G OR OTHER ARTIFICIAL PITCHES
Tooting Bec in both Divisions and AFC Cubo in the Intermediate Division will be playing all their games on a 3G pitch, and Clubs who may need to obtain alternative pitches are given permission to use artificial pitches, they are reminded that they are responsible for ensuring that opponents and the match referee are made aware of the footwear requirements for the particular surface.
MATCH RESULT SHEETS
Don’t forget these forms as fully completed as possible need to be exchanged at least 30 minutes before the game in the presence of the Referee. Club copies must be sent to the Registration Secretary within four days of the game. Again this season the Referees copy will be sent to the League Secretary who will extract any fines and pass these on to Clubs as soon as possible on a regular basis. On Club copies, away teams must ensure that their copy is honestly FULLY completed and this includes the section regarding the facilities etc, this information is frequently used to either back up or rescind fines imposed from the referees copies.
Teams sheets must be prepared on arrival at the ground and should not be pre signed by players before arrival.
MATCH FOOTBALLS
The League have purchased a supply of Mitre match footballs which have had the league badge additionally printed on them, these will be issued to all teams free of charge on the basis of 3 per team, all Clubs are encouraged to use these balls for all matches under the jurisdiction of the league. Once issued if any Club / Team wish to purchase a further supply this can be arranged please contact the Hon Secretary / Treasurer.
THE FA INTERLEAGUE COMPETITION
The League have entered this competition again this season and the draw for the First Round made recently saw us drawn away to the Guernsey Senior League, I suppose this could be considered to be an “overseas” match! Further details will be issued once they are known.
FULL COUNCIL MEETING 2
Hope to see everyone at the meeting on the 16th when team sheet pads, new season handbooks and the match balls will be distributed.
Gordon Worsfold