Constitution Crown Green

ELLESMERE PORT & NESTON BOWLING LEAGUE

Mid Week League, Friday League & Veterans League

1. Open to Clubs within the Borough of Ellesmere Port & Neston and surrounding districts. Applications for membership shall be made in writing to the Hon. Financial Secretary. Such application should give the names of Officers and the situation of the green.

2. A Council consisting of a President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Vice Presidents, Hon. Financial Secretary, Assistant Hon. Financial Secretary, and Registrar who are elected at the Annual General Meeting shall govern the League. In addition two representatives from each Club. Only two votes per Club are allowed. Ten members are required to form a quorum. In the event of any item being equal the item shall be considered not carried.

3. The Council shall have the power to deal with all matters of government according to the rules of the League.

4. The Council shall have power to deal with any matters not covered by the League rules.

5. The Council shall select from its members such sub committees as they deem desirable and necessary whose duties shall be defined by the Council.

6. Clubs intending to resign membership must notify the League Secretary not later than 1st October. Failure to comply with this rule renders the Club (s) concerned liable for all fees in respect of the following season.

7. All applications for membership must be in the hands of the League Secretary by 1st October. Any changes of Club Secretary to be notified to the League Secretary as soon as possible.

9. Clubs shall receive 7 days notice of all meeting. In the event of the elected representative being unable to attend a deputy must attend. Any Club failing to attend will be fined according to the rules.

10. Any Club may send a requisition in writing to the Financial Secretary to call a meeting of the Council accompanied by a fee of £1.00. This shall be placed before the Council who if they deem it of sufficient importance shall instruct the Secretary to call a special meeting of the Council. The Delegates of the teams concerned in a protest shall not sit in judgement while the matter is being discussed, except for giving evidence to the Council if so requested. The fee may be returned at the discretion of the Council.

11. The end of year meeting will be held in October for a report of the financial affairs of the League for the season and allocation of team prize awards.

12. No alteration or amendment shall be made to the League rules except at the A. G. M. To be held in November Proposed alterations to be submitted to the Hon. Financial Secretary not later than 30th September. All Clubs must abide by the rules but have the right to appeal to the Cheshire County Bowling Association.

13. At the A. G. M. each Club shall be entitled to be represented by two of its members each with voting powers. If only one representative is present he shall have two votes.

15. Accounts submitted to Clubs should be paid within 14 days of receipt. Failure to do so will result in a fine according to the rules.

16. The amount of prizes to be distributed at the end of season shall not exceed the amount from the season’s workings.

17. The league Council shall be allowed to allocate funds from the bank balance to augment special events.

21. Each new team shall deposit £3.00 with the league returnable if or when they resign from the league, providing they have fulfilled their obligations.

22. All annual subscriptions, league fees and registration fees shall be paid by the September 30th.

23. The funds of the league shall be lodged with the Yorkshire Bank in the name of the league. All cheques shall bear the signature of two Officers of the league.

24. The financial year ends 31^st October; the Hon. Financial Secretary shall ensure that proper accounts of league funds are kept.

25. The auditors appointed and submitted to the A. G. M shall audit the accounts at least once a year.

26. Fines.
Late payment of accounts - per week or part thereof             £1.00
Non attendance at meetings -                                              £1.00
Playing unregistered player -                                               £2.00
Short players -                                                                     £0.50
Late card -                                                                          £1.00
Postponed match - per team per week or part thereof.            £1.00

27. Donations to charity. Clubs have agreed that each registered member will donate 10p per person to Claire House Hospice. & Ellesmere Port League of Friends.

28. Each team shall be debited 20p per player per match (merit money) for each Mid Week, Friday League game. & Veterans League

30. The League shall comprise of divisions.
Mid Week        Div. 1               Compete for the Walker Cup.
Mid Week        Div. 2               Compete for Mid Week Div. 2 Cup.
Friday              Div. 1:             Compete for Dr. Smith Cup.
Friday              Div. 2:              Compete for Peter Hickson Trophy
Veterans           Div. 1               Compete for Veterans Shield
Veterans           Div. 2               Compete for Veterans Shield

36. Veterans Div 1 & 2 will consist 10 teams in Div 1 & 11 teams in Div 2 teams playing home & away

37. Mid Week & Fri Div Teams to consist of twelve players with games 21 up played in accordance with the B C G B A Laws of the Game.

38. Veterans League Match will be six singles games 21 up and then three pair’s games 15 up. Teams: A minimum of six team members to be available for each match

40. Registrations: All registrations to be lodged with Secretary not later than the first match of the season.

42. To commence the game four cards with the names of the players must be written on cards and placed face down on the table by the home team captain the visiting captain will place his four cards with his players names written on the cards on the top of the cards on the table face down. All twelve players will be drawn by this procedure.

43. Any team not having sufficient players to keep the green fully occupied during the match, in accordance with the times laid down, shall on the claim of the opposing captain forfeit 21 point for each absent player, the team will be fined according to rule 26 under finance plus the merit money for each player short.

45. No practice for visiting team members in the 12 hours preceding a league match, with the exception of any play in other fixture or League competition.

46. No player shall be allowed to play for any club unless he has been registered 7 days prior to the game in which he intends to play.

48. Penalty for playing unregistered player, all points scored will be deducted and game awarded to opponent and a fine imposed under rule 26 Finance.

49. Players shall be only be allowed to compete for one team in the Mid Week 1 and Mid Week 2 or one team in the Friday Div. 1 and Friday Div.2 during the same season unless a valid transfer has been completed. This rule will apply to Veterans League

50. The home captain shall forward the result card to the League Secretary within 72 hours of completion of the match or a fine will be imposed as per rule.

52. This date may be brought forward if agreed mutually and the League Secretary informed as soon as possible

53. No postponements shall be allowed because of team difficulties including holidays

54. All matches postponed or abandoned due to inclement weather to be played off as mutually agreed as soon as possible within 14 days and the Secretary informed. In default of agreement of captains as to the fitness of the green, It should be noted that the decision on whether a green is fit for play will be made by the greens man but in his absence the decision will be left to the Captain of the home team. If After 14 days no agreement reached The League Secretary will set a date for match to be played. Both teams will be fined £1.00 each of the following 7 days or part thereof until the match has been played

55. Matches, which have been postponed or abandoned, all games finished to stand and unfinished games to resume where left off if the match is abandoned. For unfinished games the jack shall be noted and it will from this position that the game will be resumed.

56. If one or both players in any game are unavailable on the re-arranged date, substitutes will be permitted, but the scores and position of commencement as mentioned above will apply.

57. In the event of failure to observe rule 51 the team not in default should report the matter to the League Secretary

58. Two points awarded for a win or one point for a draw with an additional point for winning aggregate score over the two fixtures.

59. The team gaining the most number of points at the end of the season shall decide the league winners. If points are the same, the aggregate points difference will apply, this should avoid having to arrange play offs

60. Winners to be promoted from Div. 2 (2 up) and the bottom (2) teams in Div. 1 will be relegated. Subject to equalisation of Leagues

61. If during the seasons play any Club withdraws a team from the League that teams matches both played and not played shall be automatically be expunged and all moneys into the league forfeited.

62. Clubs with two teams who at some point decide to withdraw a side shall keep their highest standing team.

63. The league prize money to be shared between the first three (3) teams in all leagues of ten teams or more. The percentage split to be 50%, 35%, and 15%.

64. All Clubs and individual members receiving trophies cannot win them outright they must be returned prior to end of year meeting will be held in October. Holders will be responsible for any damage whilst in their possession.

65. £100 to be set aside each year to a maximum of £500 for the repair or replacement of existing Trophies.

66. Transfers to be agreed between club secretaries and valid transfer forms completed. (Applies to member who has played in the team in current season.)

68. Objects: To develop and encourage bowling among men over 55 years of age, being registered members of a club.

69. Subs: The annual registration fee shall be 20p for each person; all players for each game played shall pay a match levy 20p.

70. Registrations: see Rule 40 all registrations to be lodged with Secretary not later than the first match of the season.

71. Teams: A minimum of six team members to be available for each match. Any number of bowlers can be registered. Match will commence at 1.30pm.

73. Team member allowed to play one singles game and one pair’s game at discretion of team captain.

75. Match result cards: It shall be the responsibility of the home team captain to complete the card, sign it and obtain the signature of the visiting captain, and return it to the League Secretary.

77. The draw for opponent: The draw to take place in two separate parts, with three cards in each draw in singles matches

79. In event of teams finishing with equal points ‘highest total aggregate points’ would be judged the winner.

81. Secretary to keep record of all handicaps and this record shall be the only one referred to when future revisions are made.

82. All individual competitions will be drawn on the day of the competition the handicap, which shall not exceed 6.

83. Where a player is entering a competition and his handicap is not recorded, it will be set at 5

84. Any player winning an individual competition shall have 3 points deducted from their handicap and the runner up shall have 2 points deducted.

85. This shall apply to all Handicaps and will take effect from next competition.

87. To gain points back on individual handicaps players must compete in a competition during a season and not be winner or runner up.

88. The following season 2 points would be added on to the handicap, which shall not exceed 6.

89. No further entries will be accepted after the closing date.

90. No alteration or amendment shall be made to the League rules except at the A. G. M