GRAVESEND FOOTBALL LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2007

WELCOME

We are pleased to welcome you to the third Newsletter of the 2007/08 season.

PREMIER DIVISION - DEVELOPMENTS

As you will recall from the September Newsletter, there are now only eight teams in the Premier Division.

The clubs have now agreed that they will play one another three times this season.

Clubs are reminded that the referee’s fee for the third game should be shared but it is the home club’s responsibility to pay the referee.

KENT JUNIOR CUP

There was a reduction in the number of clubs from the League entering the Kent Junior Cup this season, but we would offer our congratulations to Culverstone United and Heathview United who have already reached the county wide stage in Group ‘C’.

In matches to be played on Saturday 24th November 2007:

Craggs Farm and Viewpoint will meet to see who will go through to the county wide stage of Group ‘A’.

Craggs Farm Reserves are away to Bexley of the South London Alliance in Group ‘B’.

Woodlands Athletic are away to Old Town New Boys of the South London Alliance in Group ‘B’.

Best wishes are extended to these teams for further progress in the Competition.

WEBSITE (at www.football.mitoo.co.uk)

There have been no significant developments on the website since the September Newsletter but you are reminded that:

Up to date contact details for clubs are available;

Results for each week are normally entered on the website on Saturday evenings and brief individual match reports (normally input on a Thursday or Friday) can also be accessed via the result pages; and

The input of the results automatically provides up to date League tables (see Appendix A) which show Lullingstone Castle (Premier Division), Guru Nanak Reserves (Division One) and Meopham (Division Two) leading the way on Tuesday 20th November 2007.

Details of suspended players are also inserted on the website, although these details should not be regarded as definitive and if there is any doubt, the matter should be clarified with the Kent County Football Association Limited.

AMENDMENTS TO LEAGUE HANDBOOKS

All amendments notified since the September Newsletter have been consolidated in Appendix B.

Please take the time to update your League Handbooks now!

REFEREE UPDATE

We are pleased to advise the following coverage rates by officially appointed referees:

September – 59 out of 59 matches – 100%

October – 48 out of 49 matches – 98%

November – the first three weeks – 39 out of 39 matches – 100%

This represents an overall rate of 99.3% so far this season and we would extend our thanks to all of the referees on the League’s List for helping us to achieve this level.

We are still witnessing examples of players, club officials and supporters abusing referees and it is therefore appropriate to remind you that:

Referees do a very difficult job professionally and objectively under often very difficult circumstances.  They deserve respect from everyone in the game.

It should be remembered that they get the vast majority of decisions right.  They inevitably make a few mistakes, but so too do players and managers.

Whilst no one wants to take the passion out the game, it is not acceptable for referees to be subject to abusive and confrontational behaviour.  Players and managers have a responsibility towards the game to conduct themselves properly.  It's about getting the balance right.

The long-term health of football at all levels relies on recruiting and retaining referees.  Without a referee, there is no game.

DONATIONS BY THE CHARITY CUP COMPETITIONS

The Management Committees of the Charity Cup Competitions met recently to discuss the distribution of funds from the proceeds of the Competitions for the 2006/07 season.

We are pleased to advise that donations totalling £2,250 will be made, as follows:

Gravesend Hospital Challenge Cup Competition:

· Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust Fund (Lollipop Appeal)           £400

· The Ellenor Foundation                                                                  £200

· Kent Air Ambulance Trust                                                              £200

· Demelza House Children’s Hospice                                     £200

· Diabetes UK                                                                                     £200

· Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Mencap                           £200

KCFA Benevolent Fund                                                             £50

Gordon Charity Challenge Cup Competition:

· The Shaftesbury Society                                                                 £300

· The Helen Allison School                                                                £150

· The Lions Hospice                                                                           £150

· The Prostate Cancer Society                                                £150

KCFA Benevolent Fund                                                             £50

We would record our thanks to all those clubs which participated in the Competitions last season and especially to the players, officials and supporters of those teams which reached the final ties.

As we have recorded before, football is often given poor publicity, but we should all be pleased and proud that these donations are helping people in their various organisations – both locally and nationally.

Clubs should inform all of their players, officials and supporters of these donations.

ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY IN OPEN AGE FOOTBALL

You may recall from the July Newsletter that the Football Association has introduced a change of eligibility so that players must have attained age 16 to play in open age football this season.

A number of enquiries have been received as a result of John Bostock playing for Crystal Palace recently at the age of 15 years and 287 days.

The Football Association has clarified the position and confirmed that players in the approved School of Excellence at Football League level and the Academy programme at FA Premier League level are exempt from the restrictions set out in the Football Association’s rules.

The Football Association has also confirmed that the above ruling has no bearing on grassroots football where the age limit is 16 – in other words a player cannot play in open age football in the League until his 16th birthday.

POSTPONED MATCHES THROUGH BAD WEATHER

We are starting to experience some inclement weather and would take this opportunity to remind club secretaries of the procedure when, as the home team, you have to postpone a fixture on the day of a match.

You should notify:

· The secretary of the visiting team

· The referee

· The Referees Secretary so that the referee can be reallocated (if possible)

· The Fixture Secretary

The Result Secretary – if he has not been informed the match is off then you may be fined for failing to phone the result that evening (see Rule 11(B))

You are also reminded that there is a special arrangement for confirming the fitness of Gravesham Borough Council grounds on the match day and reference should be made to page 1 of the League Handbook.

SOME REMINDERS FOR CLUB SECRETARIES

Referees’ fees – you are reminded that for the League Cup, Gravesend Hospital Challenge Cup and Gordon Charity Challenge Cup Competitions the referees’ fees are shared between the clubs, although it is the responsibility of the home club to pay the referee.

Registrations – you are reminded that a stamp addressed envelope should be sent with registrations for the return of counterfoils.

Invoices – you are reminded that cheques should be made payable to the “Gravesend Football League” and not to individual officers (or the Kent County Football Association Limited).

Referee marks – you are reminded that if you mark a referee 50 (or less) you should submit a written explanation to Jeff Pearton.

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD

Fixtures are being arranged for Saturday 22nd December 2007 but there will be no fixtures on Saturday 29th December 2007.  A full programme will be arranged for Saturday 5th January 2008.

SMOKING IN CHANGING ROOMS

Gravesham Borough Council has asked the League to remind all clubs that, following the change in the law from 1st July 2007, smoking in the changing rooms at Kings Farm Playing Fields is no longer allowed.

The Council has warned that any club breaking this law will be banned from using their pitches.

This law should, of course, be observed in all changing rooms.

LITTER

Gravesham Borough Council has also asked the League to remind clubs that litter should be cleared from the pitch side after matches.

This practice should also be observed at all grounds.

ANNUAL PRESENTATION EVENING & DISCO

The Annual Presentation Evening & Disco has been arranged for Saturday 31st May 2008 at the Fleet Leisure and Sports Club, Nelson Road, Northfleet – please make a note in your diary!

The disco will be provided by Traviss.

The trophies for the winners of the Divisions and Cup Competitions will be presented along with individual mementoes for the winners and runners-up of these Competitions and match officials who receive final tie honours.

All clubs are expected to be present and it is hoped that match officials who receive final tie honours will also be in attendance.

CONCLUSION

Whilst it is still some weeks to Christmas, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all referees, players, club officials and supporters the compliments of the Season and best wishes for the New Year.

DKC/23.11.2007