MCSFA Constitution

The constitution of the Merseyside County Schools Football Association

1 NAME

The Association will be called The Merseyside County Schools FA, and may also be known as The MCSFA, and will be affiliated to the English Schools Football Association (ESFA).

2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The mental, moral and physical development of school/college students through the medium of association football in the county area of Merseyside.

3 MEMBERSHIP AND FEES

(a) Membership of the Association is open to all its affiliated local associations and their member schools/colleges.

(b) All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Association will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the Association has adopted.

(c) Each all age and secondary association will pay an annual affiliation of £50. Each primary association will pay an annual affiliation of £30; each school/college participating in over school age / under 19 football will pay an affiliation fee of £25.

(d) All affiliated associations are expected to give priority to county competitions in line with order of precedence.

4 SPORTS EQUITY

(a) The Association is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. The Association respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of schools’ football, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.

(b) The Association is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy schools’ football in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse. All members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The Association will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously.

5 COUNCIL

(a) The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a Council comprised of an executive group of officers consisting of Chair, Vice Chair x 2, Treasurer, Secretary, Child Welfare/Safeguarding Officer and where approrpiate: Primary Secretary; County Representative Team Managers; a representative from each of Merseyside’s affiliated all age/secondary associations; 2 representatives to oversee the delivery of girls’ football; 4 representatives for primary delivery; a secondary inter-school/college competitions’ manager; a representative for the appointment of referees; MCSFA representation on the Liverpool FA and vice versa; ESFA Northern Representative. All Council Members will be subject to election/re-election at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

(b) Council shall have the authority to amend the position/role of Council Members in accordance with the demands of evolving delivery at any given time during a season, subject to ratification at the succeeding AGM.

(c) If the post of any Council Member should fall vacant during the course of a season, the executive group shall have the power to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis until the succeeding AGM.

(d) All Council Members must be members of the Association.

(e) The term of office shall be indefinite except for County Team Managers being appointed on a 3 year tenure. All posts will be subject to AGM review.

(f) Any post on Council may be challenged at an AGM by an individual from either within Council or from any affiliated association. Such a nomination must be to the Secretary in writing by a stipulated time prior to the AGM and be duly seconded in writing by another Council Member or by another affiliated association.

(g) Council shall be responsible for the overall delivery of schools’ football throughout Merseyside in accordance with Council Members’ positions of responsibility listed above. Each Council Member shall be accountable to MCSFA Council as a whole.

(h) Council shall hold at least 5 regular meetings convened by the Secretary during any season. The quorum for Council shall be 5. Only the posts listed above will have the right to vote at Council Meetings – one vote per member.

6 FINANCES

(a) The Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the Association.

(b) The financial year of the Association will run from 1st July to 30th June.

(c) The monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Association.

(d) An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the AGM.

(e) Any cheque drawn against Association funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus up to two other officers from the executive group.

(f) All members of the Association shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Association.

7 ANNUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

(a) The General Meetings are the means whereby the members of the Association exercise their democratic rights in conducting Association affairs.

(b) The Association shall hold the AGM in the month of July to approve:

• The Minutes of the previous year’s AGM
• Receive reports from the Chairman and Secretary.
• Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.
• Consider honoraria for officers and referees’ representative.
• Elect/re-elect officers and all Council Members.
• Agree the membership fees for the following year.
• Consider any proposed change/s to the Constitution.
• Deal with any other relevant business including nominations for Life Membership.

(c) Notice of the AGM will be given by the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM and circulated to all Council Members, local associations and Life Members.

(d) New nominations for officers and other member posts must be sent in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM, each nomination being seconded in writing and in accordance with 5(f).

(e) Proposed changes to the Constitution – duly seconded and with accompanying rationale – shall be sent to the Secretary in writing 14 days before the AGM.

(f) All members, Life Members and one representative from any affiliated association not already represented on Council have the right to vote at the AGM – one vote per person.

(g) The quorum for AGM’s will remain at 5.

(h) An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the executive group or by an application in writing to the Secretary from any affiliated association. All procedures shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.

8 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

9 DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS

(a) All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children and young people will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with the Association’s child protection policy and procedures, which are compliant with National Governing Body guidance. The Association’s Child Welfare Officer (CWO) is the lead in the event of any child protection concerns.

(b) All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary.

(c) The executive group will meet to hear complaints within 7 days of a complaint being lodged. The executive group in conjunction with full Council has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership of any individual, association, school or college.

10 DISSOLUTION

(a) A resolution to dissolve the Association can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of membership.

(b) In the event of dissolution, all debts should be cleared with any Association funds. Any assets of the Association in the way of trophies, kits and equipment will become the property of the Liverpool FA. Any funds will be equally dispersed between remaining affiliated associations.

11 DECLARATION

This Constitution was approved at an EGM on 12th September 2019 and shall remain in force until amendments are made at a future AGM/EGM