SETTING UP A NEW TEAM/CLUB

To whom it may concern
I send a copy of this to everyone that is thinking about joining a league.
The article has been written so that a ‘potential team’ can see what is required to join a league.
It has not been written with just the Harrogate League in mind, but could be viewed for an application to any league.

In 2008, I received the following email from Jamie McMillan, with an inquiry about joining the Harrogate & District Football League.
My reply is below his message, ‘how we could start our own football team?’.

I have probably omitted some things and would be obliged if club secretaries would email me or contact this website with any additions/corrections. I will leave this posted on the website as it will give any new clubs an idea of what is involved in running a team/club.

This article has been updated from time to time, most recently, 14th June 2011.




QUERIE :

Date MON 04 FEB 2008 11:38
Sender Jamie McMillan
Email Address **********@hotmail.co.uk
Phone Number 078159?????

Subject : ENTERING LEAGUES

Message: Hi recently myself and some friends, have being wondering how we could start our own football team but we are completely clueless and would appreciate it if you could tell us how we could join the Harrogate and district or surrounding areas at open age level.
Thank you,
Jamie.

Jamie
????????@hotmail.co.uk




REPLY :

Hi Jamie,
you don't say where you are from. Also you don't say if you or your friends are 'new' players who have not played before. Have you/they played in the area for other teams?

Setting up a new football team is a bit more complicated than just turning up with your boots and playing.

You will need to set up a committee for your club: Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraiser Chairman, Groundsman etc. You will need a constitution. (Club Rules) No need to start from scratch .... any decent club secretary can give you a copy and you can cut and paste to suit your own rules. (I can do that if you want)

You are expected to have club rules and keep proper accounts by the FA. The County FA has the right to request sight of a club's books, to ensure that things are being done properly.

You need to register with the County FA as a club. When you do that you will have to pay a registration fee and prove that you have player insurance.

You will have to have a minimum number of players, to enable you to fulfil games throughout the season.

You will have to buy two kits, one a change kit in case of colour clashes. You will need 3 different colour goalkeeper jerseys, substitutes suits (for warmth in the winter and to be a different colour from your match day kit), first aid box, goal nets, corner flags, referees flags, a whistle, training balls, training equipment, bibs, match balls etc.

At this stage with costs running up, you will no doubt have to find someone from within your ranks who will look to get you sponsorship. Maybe you should start looking for sponsorship IMMEDIATELY ... start off with players' parents who might be in business.

No doubt you will need a venue to train. (indoors or outdoors) The local Authority (Council) might be able to hire you a sports hall. Outdoors, you will need floodlit training for throughout the winter. Places with all weather, floodlit pitches, for example 'Goals'..

I suggest that you get a copy of the league or leagues’ handbook/s that you might be thinking about applying to and read through thoroughly BEFORE applying.
These are available from the league secretary who's details will be available from the league's website or from the County FA.

In the handbook you will see the closing date for applications ... make sure you meet the deadline date.

You will need a pitch. Different authorities have different charges. £60 per game would be very reasonable. I believe most local authorities, including Leeds City Council, are more expensive. Direct contact with schools or other clubs might be cheaper.
If you hire a pitch, for example, from a local authority, the pitch should be marked out for you. In other cases you might have to consider who you will get to mark it on your behalf.

You will have the problem of transport to away matches. Have you all got cars?

Many leagues are going Charter Standard (an FA initiative to raise the standards in football). Therefore to join one of these leagues you would have to become a Charter Standard Club (see http://www.wrcfa.com/)

You will need a couple of members from each team to go through a first aid course.

If you are serious about the game and would like to progress, you would need to seek the services of a qualified coach, which might cost you.

Make sure that you secure, in writing that you have the use of a pitch and dressing rooms BEFORE you apply to a league, for the league will want to inspect and grade your pitch and dressing rooms.

If a league that has vacancies accepts you, there will be joining fee and admin expenses. Leagues will also want a deposit, which will be returned on fulfilment of fixtures.

Your secretary will be required to keep a register of signed-on players' names, addresses, DOB and contact phone numbers.


There are many 'hidden' add-on costs that players are not aware of:
Fines (Cautions and sending off, will need to be paid to the West Riding County FA (WRCFA). Clubs are given two weeks to pay these fines. The club will then have to collect the cost of the fine from the player.
Fines for late postage or mal-administration will be paid to each competition that you play in. (League’s competitions, District FA Cup/s, County FA Cup/s.
Clubs that do not pay these fines will be suspended from playing.

A referee has fees and expenses to be paid every game.

I will forward your message to the Secretary of the Harrogate League, Duncan Sunley.

You have not said where you are from or what you will call your team. Some leagues will not accept a team that is named after a pub or a Working Mens' Club. Once I know and if you wish, I can point you in the direction of other leagues in the area.

Keith Urquhart Tel: 07846 2 999 18