Cheshire Veterans League
Annual General Meeting Minutes
Venue: Knutsford Sports Club, Knutsford Date: 29th June 2015
Management Committee
/Attendee
Chairman
/Phil Ballance
League Secretary
/Howell Davies
Treasurer
/Steve Power
Registration & Fixtures Secretary
/Glyn McGovern
Referees Secretary
/David Ng
Chairman Elect
/John Concannon
President Elect
/Mel Hood
Attendance & Apologies
A record 39 people attended the AGM!
Member Clubs Attendee ( apologies **) Member Clubs Attendee ( apologies **)
Alder Paul Watts ** Hursts
Ashton Rangers Macclesfield Stan Hall
Barnstoneworth Andy Roberts & Andy Price Manchester Gregorians Ken Goodwin
Barr Hill Steve Barton & Wes Hazley Manchester Wolves Darryl Lee & Rob Goodall
Bedians Duncan White ** MCYA David Ng
Bexton Glyn McGovern & Mel Hood Mobberley Rangers Steve Power
Billinge Veterans Moore United Keith Sheridan **
Birkenhead All Stars John Halligan & Jamie Rainford Mossley Hill Ath Wanderers Ian Ruddock **
Blackbrook John Fairhurst Mount Villa Andy Jeffries **
Bollington Neston Paul Jeffs & Andrew Johnson
Burtonwood Tony Bennett Nicosia Vets Terry El
Chelford Jason Henaghan +1 Norbrook Veterans Darren Barrett
Club AZ Simon Norris ** Offerton Green David McGreal **
Daten FC Paul Kellett & Dave Hall Old Alts
Egerton Veterans Mark Tarry Partington Spartans
Ellesmere Port John Cotton Poynton
FC Plumley Celtic Craig Hardy Richmond Rovers Chris Stacey **
Flint Town SIDAC
Frodsham Vets Barca Ladlu Olubedun /Graham Hitchens Stepping Hill Pete Budden**
Frodsham Simon Kaines Sutton Junction
Grappenhall Paul Emsley-Martin & Dan Stead Tatton Arms
Grappenhall Sports David Coyne ** Timperley
Gresford Phil Choi/Simon Harrop/Andy Milne West Didsbury & Chorlton
Hazel Grove Dave Piggin ** Wilmslow Town Tim Royle
High Lane Alun Jones
1. SUMMARY OF THE 2014/15 SEASON
THE VETERANS LEAGUEChampions / Runners up
PREMIER / NESTON / Grappenhall Sports
DIVISION 1 / EGERTON / Grappenhall Sports B*
Barnstoneworth promoted
DIVISION 2 / ALDER / SIDAC
DIVISION 3 / MACC VETS / Poynton
DIVISION 4 / FRODSHAM VETERANOS BARCELONA / Hazel Grove
DIVISION 5 / GRESFORD VETERANS / Barnstoneworth B
OVER 45s / SALE TOWN / Wilmslow Town
THE VETERANS CUPS
Winners / Runners up
PRESIDENTS CUP / NESTON / Tatton Arms
CHAIRMANS CUP / FRODSHAM VETERANS ATHLETIC / SIDAC
6-a-side Over 35s / MOORE UNITED / Macc Vets
6-a-side Over 45s / OLD ALTS / Wilmslow Town
All Champions were congratulated, as were those promoted, while commiserations were given to those that did not make it this season!
Special mentions went to the following teams:
· NESTON: for winning the Cheshire Veterans league for the first time – and for “doing the double” by winning the Presidents Cup … also for the first time
· GRAPPENHALL SPORTS B: for securing the runners-up spot but not taking up the promotion opportunity as their A team is already in the Premier League
· BARNSTONEWORTH: For securing promotion to the Premier Division for the first time
· FRODSHAM VETERANS ATHLETIC: for winning the inaugural Chairmans Cup
· GRESFORD VETERANS: for having an amazing 100% record throughout the league season!
2. 2015 CUP FINALS DAY
The new Cup arrangements had worked really well, with no walkovers at all in either competition.
10 of the 15 fixtures in the Presidents Cup were decided by the odd goal, extra time or penalties … while in the Chairmans Cup, 3 first round matches were decided on penalties with all having finished 3-3!
The Presidents Cup final was a tense affair with Neston narrowly overhauling Tatton Arms with 2 goals in the last 20 minutes to win 3-2
In the Chairmans Cup Final, Frodsham Veterans Athletic just managed to stay out of reach from SIDAC in a match that also finished 3-2. The winners won every match in their Cup run by the odd goal!
The 6-a-side competition ran very smoothly this year. There were originally 34 entries but 15 withdrew in the week coming up to the event itself. On the day, the 19 teams who were supposed to arrive did so, and this meant that all teams played more football than has been the case in previous years.
3. TREASURERS REPORT
High-level details of the current financial position are:
2009/10 / 2010/11 / 2011/12 / 2012/13 / 2013/14 / 2014/15Opening Position / £ 409.39 / £1,376.81 / £2,678.83 / £3,081.28 / £3,515.57 / £4,083.04
Income / £2,625.00 / £3,020.00 / £3,100.00 / £3,700.00 / £4,800.00
Expenditure / £1,657.58 / £1,717.98 / £2,697.55 / £3,265.71 / £3,756.88
Closing Position / £1,376.81 / £2,678.83 / £3,081.28 / £3,515.57 / £4,083.04 / £5,126.16
Financial Decisions agreed at the AGM
· League Fees will rise for the 2015/16 season to £125. However, Clubs paying their Fees on or before 31st July will get a £25 discount and so can pay the same £100 that has been paid in previous years.
· As in previous years, the proposed honoraria will be paid to league officials
· Referees Fees for the 2015/16 season will be £30 per match – though there will be no formal policy for the payment of expenses to Referees
For consistency regarding the payment of League Fees, Steve Power advised that he would be invoicing every team.
David Ng reminded all Clubs that financial assistance (£125 towards the fees) was available for any Club to nominate someone to undergo Referee training, on the proviso that they agreed to officiate in the League for a period of time after qualifying.
Full details of the Cheshire Veterans Finances can be found in Appendix 3 of these Minutes.
4. CLUB CHANGES
4.1. Withdrawals: Main League
Main League
Mossley Hill have decided to withdraw from the League altogether – this covers both their regular team and their Over 45s team. They had been the 8th longest serving team in the League, having played 13 seasons since they joined in the 2002/03 season. The current Manager is standing down and no one could be found to take over the team and, as a result, they have decided to fold. Please note that although they play at the same ground, Mossley Hill Athletic Wanderers are a different Club and are not affected by this decision.
Withdrawals do have an impact on the way in which the League Divisions are established in the following season. Just as a reminder of the League Formation guidelines, teams finishing last but one in a higher Division hold precedence in a reorganisation over teams finishing 3rd in a lower Division
4.2. Withdrawals Over 45s Division
Mossley Hill’s withdrawal affects their Over 45s team as well and West Didsbury & Chorlton have also withdrawn from this Division, citing difficulties in getting enough players for every match:
4.3. Applications: Existing Clubs
Moore United
Moore United will be entering a team in the Over 45s Division next season.
Neston
Since the AGM, Neston have decided to enter a “B” team into the Main League for the forthcoming season, and requested that the start in the bottom Division.
Stepping Hill
Since the AGM, Stepping Hill have asked to enter a team (Real Stepping Hill) into the Over 45s League for the forthcoming season.
4.4. Applications: New Clubs
There are 7 new Clubs joining the league from September:
5 will be playing in the Main League:
· Birkenhead All Stars
· Daten (playing in Culcheth)
· Manchester Wolves (playing in East Manchester)
· Mount Villa (playing in Stockport)
· Norbrook Veterans (playing in South Manchester)
2 will be playing in the Over 45s Division only
· Ellesmere Port
· Nicosia Veterans (playing in Liverpool)
All were welcomed to the League and it was noted that this is the first time that Clubs have joined specifically to play in the Over 45s Division – which is a major boost for the league’s Over 45s football plans.
Ellesmere Port may have a problem securing their pitch at 11.00 on certain match days (due to it being used by others) so have requested some flexibility regarding kick off times. It was agreed that Glyn as the Fixture Secretary and Divisional Administrator for the Over 45s would sort this out.
4.5. Changes – Existing Clubs
Old Alts
All of the Sale Town teams will be called Old Alts from the start of next season.
4.6. Other Expressions of Interest
There had been 31 expressions of interest from potential new Clubs this season (31 last season).
The following actions have taken place with them:
· New joiners listed above (10 teams, including new teams from existing Clubs)
· One potential new team has chosen to join forces with Chelford rather than entering themselves
· Contact will be maintained with teams expressing interest quite recently (7 teams)
· Dropped due to repeated lack of contact since 2014 (12 teams)
· One potential new team formally withdrew their interest as they want to play on Saturdays
5. LEAGUE FORMATION: 2015/16 SEASON
5.1. Main League
There was some discussion over whether a new Division was needed for the new teams. It was agreed that Glyn and Howell should look into this outside the meeting and decide, based on confirmed numbers of new teams.
Glyn and Howell have met since the AGM and decided that the following format should be adopted for the 2015/16 season:
Premier, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 5
· All will have 8 teams and play each other home and away
Division 4
· Will have 13 teams in it, each playing the other teams just once. All of the new teams (bar Neston B) will play in this Division
Details of which Clubs are playing in which Division are shown in Appendix 1 at the end of the Minutes.
5.2. Over 45s Division
The Over 45s Division will have 10 teams in it, each playing the other teams just once.
5.3. Late Alterations
If any really plausible new team emerges before the start of the season, we may try and integrate them into Division 4 to boost the number of matches for the teams in that Division.
5.4. 2016/17 Season
It is very likely that the League will form a new Division 6. However, it was agreed at the AGM that the number of new Clubs allowed to enter the Main League might be as few as 3 (though more would be allowed if any existing teams do not continue beyond the end of the current season).
6. FIXTURES – 2014/15 REVIEW & 2015/16 ARRANGEMENTS
6.1. Unplayed Matches
Following last season’s statement that “the number of unplayed matches has become a real problem” the situation has got marginally better!
The table presented last year has been updated with this year’s information…
Season / Teams / Matches / Not Played / of Total2014-15 / 53 / 403 / 41 / 10.2%
2013-14 / 48 / 272 / 29 / 10.7%
2012-13 / 37 / 255 / 13 / 5.1%
2011-12 / 31 / 210 / 6 / 2.9%
2010-11 / 29 / 144 / 3 / 2.1%
2009-10 / 27 / 178 / 1 / 0.6%
2008-09 / 22 / 196 / 7 / 3.6%
2007-08 / 17 / 128 / 10 / 7.8%
The figures presented for the season just completed include Cup Matches as well as League Matches.
It is noted that around half of all matches scheduled for May end up not being played. To allow the League to finish, it was decided that no league matches in the Cheshire Veterans League could take place each season after 31st May.
6.2. Postponement Policy
Managing the League’s Postponement policy is the responsibility of the Divisional Administrator for each Division.
The League’s Postponement policy is:
September to January
· Postponements due to weather-related issues are allowed (the fitness of the pitch should be decided by the Referee if both teams are present)
· Postponements for other reasons are allowed if a Club notifies both the opposition and the Divisional Administrator by the end of the Tuesday before the game is scheduled
· The Divisional Administrator will only re-arrange the match if the postponement is undertaken correctly, otherwise he will award the match to the “innocent” Club
February to May
· No postponements are allowed at all (other than for weather reasons) after 1st February
A reminder of the policy will be issued to all Clubs in late January.
6.3. Forfeiting Matches
10 different teams forfeited more than 1 match this season. All are asked to try and ensure that this does not happen again next season. The teams are named below and will be more robustly challenged at the end of next season if a similar situation arises:
· 4 matches forfeited:
§ West Didsbury & Chorlton (Premier Division): they have indicated that they wish to continue next season and are planning a recruitment drive over the summer (note that their Over 45s team withdrew during last season as well)
· 3 matches forfeited:
§ High Lane
§ Mossley Hill (who have withdrawn from the League)
· 2 matches forfeited:
§ Timperley (Premier Division)
§ Ashton Rangers (Division 2)
§ Grappenhall (Division 3)
§ Billinge, Chelford and Manchester Gregorians (Division 4)
§ Alder (Over 45s Division)
6.4. 2015/16 Fixtures
The first matches are likely to commence on 6th September. Glyn will send a note seeking teams “we can’t play on...” dates before the fixture scheduling take place.
The plan is that fixtures will be released on or before 10th August.
The Veterans Cup Finals Day will again be at Egerton Youth Club and will be on Sunday 1st June.
7. GOVERNANCE
7.1. League Rules
There has been a major change in the FA’s Standard Code of Rules (SCOR) that the league must adopt with the mandatory wording it includes. It was agreed that the Cheshire Veterans League would adopt the rules as written.
There is, however, some work to be done on the rules and this will be undertaken by Howell Davies, Steve Power and Mel Hood over the next few weeks.
7.2. Review of Disputes and Disciplinary Matters
Howell indicated that this has not been a good season from the perspective of a smooth-running league season. There have been an unusually high number of incidents that have been difficult to manage – and I am pretty sure that none have been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction. These are detailed below, in no particular order: