Club Rules

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Rule I: Name

The name of the Club shall be Grouse & Label Cricket Club, here in after referred to in these rules as "The Club".

Rule II:Objects

The objects of the Club are:-

  1. To arrange and provide facilities for cricket matches with clubs of good standing.
  2. In particular, to provide an opportunity of playing in club cricket of a high standard, at a reasonable cost.
  3. To maintain funds for these purposes. In pursuance of these objectives the Club may:-
    • Purchase or hire such grounds, buildings and equipment as may at any time be found to be necessary.
    • Raise such number of teams as may be possible or desirable.
    • Affiliate to any Association or Federation of Clubs, whose existence is calculated to further the interests of the Club.
    • To ensure a duty of care to all Members of the Club, particularly the young and vulnerable. The Club shall adopt and implement the English Cricket Board (ECB) Safe Hands Welfare of Young People in Cricket policy and any future versions or replacement policies issued by the ECB, or its successors, from time to time.

Rule III: BADGES, COLOURS

The colours of the Club shall be black and gold.

Rule IV: Membership

Membership shall be open to players and other individuals by application to the Club.

All applications must be Proposed and Seconded by a Club Member (Full Member) and shall be confirmed at a Committee meeting. A one off Membership Fee of 25 shall be payable along with the application and the same shall be refunded should the application become unsuccessful. All members shall be admitted as a Associate Member as specified in 1.b here below.

  1. Membership Classification

    Membership shall be classified as following:

    • Full members :

      Full members (hereinafter also referred as Members) shall have completed 'one' full season as Associate Member or Associate Student Member before they may be confirmed as Full members and Full Student Member.

      The Committee will confirm the status at the meeting at the beginning of the season in which the member shall attain the status of Full member. Each Member will have one vote.

    • Associate Members:

      New members shall join as associate members in the first season (hereinafter referred to as the 'associate season'). Associate members must complete one full season as a full member (after the completion of the first season as associate member) to be eligible for a vote at the AGM. The Committee reserves the right to terminate such membership during the associate season, should the member prove unsatisfactory. Associate members shall not have voting rights at the AGM or EGM and may not stand for or hold any committee position.

    • Student Members:

      Individuals in full time education at the start of the season will be deemed as student members. Student members shall enjoy all privileges as a full member upon their successful completion of the associate season specified for Associate members.

    • Junior members / colts :

      Members who are under the age of sixteen at the date of the AGM shall be known as 'Junior Members'. Junior members shall not be entitled to vote at an Annual or Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM).

    • Family Member :

      Wife/spouse/partner of full member and their children. Family members shall not have voting rights at the AGM or EGM. The payment of subscription by Full members will entitle the family of the playing member to membership of the Club.

    • Non Playing Member/Social members:

      Non-Playing membership shall be open to any non-player who agrees to abide by the rules of the Club; such non-playing members shall enjoy all other privileges of membership. Non Playing Member:/ Social members shall not have voting rights at the AGM or EGM. Non-playing members shall be eligible for election as officers except to the position of Captains and Vice-Captains. If a non playing member or social member is elected on to the committee, that member shall have voting rights for as long as the member holds a committee position.

  2. Subscriptions:

    Subscription rates will be proposed by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting for membership tiers as in clause 1 sub clause a f here above to be voted upon by the membership at the AGM.

  3. Honorary Life Membership:

    Members who have performed long and valued service to the Club may be granted Honorary Life Membership by a majority vote of the Annual General Meeting. Life Members shall enjoy all rights including voting rights as a full member..

  4. Resignations:

    Resignations shall only be accepted in written form and addressed to the Secretary of the Club

  5. Expulsion:

    The Committee of the Club may expel from membership at a committee meeting any member whom it regards as an undesirable member of the Club. The member concerned shall be given notice of such a meeting and would be able to attend and make his/her defense. The meeting's decision on a show of hands shall be final. Until such decision, the member concerned shall be suspended from all Club activities.

  6. Payment of Subscriptions:

    The Annual Subscription rates shall be determined each year at the Annual General Meeting. These subscriptions shall be deemed to fall due on the day after the Annual General meeting. Members entitlements may be valid only upon payment of the appropriate subscription for the season within the stipulated time here below.

    Playing members All playing members shall pay the appropriate subscription each season before 31st May each season but, at the discretion of the Committee, a rebate may be granted to new members joining after the start of the season for each complete calendar month between 1st May and the date of their first selection.

    Any member owing any money to the club by way of subscriptions or match fees or on any other account by 30th October will not have the right to vote at the AGM or EGM.

Rule V. Organisation & Management

  1. Management:

    The management of the Club shall be vested in an Annual or Extra Ordinary General Meeting, which shall appoint Club Officials herein referred to as the committee to manage the Club.

  2. Annual General Meeting:

    The Annual General Meeting, open to all members, shall be held each year not later than 30th November at a date to be fixed by the Committee, All members to be notified in writing by the Secretary, at the last available address by post or by e.mail, at least 21 days in advance. Fifteen members shall be a quorum for such a meeting. The Chairman shall have a second casting vote. However the Chairman may or may not exercise this right but he must let the meeting know of his option before the meeting commences. In the absence of this being made known the Chairman will be deemed to have opted for using the 2nd casting vote. An AGM shall not be held in less than an interval of 11 months and not more than 15 month interval from the date of the previous AGM. Voting shall be by secret ballot. No proxy voting shall be allowed.

  3. Extra Ordinary General Meeting:

    Special General Meeting may be convened at any time by the Secretary:
    • On the recommendation of the Committee.
    • At the written request of 20 Full members. All members to be notified in writing by the Secretary at least 21 days in advance specifying the item (agenda) for discussion, which shall be the only item/s discussed. 75% (or 3/4th) members shall be a quorum for such a meeting. All other rules for the conduct of an EGM shall be as per the rules governing the AGM.

  4. Officials:

    The following officers of the Club (Committee Members) shall be elected for the ensuing year at each Annual General Meeting, normally by show of hands or by secret ballot if so decided by the committee.

    Chairman
    Secretary
    Treasurer
    Fixture Secretary
    1st XI Skipper
    2nd XI Skipper
    Team Secretary
    Social Secrretary
    Bar Secretary
    Two Executive Secretaries.
    Vice Skipper (Non Committee position)
    Two Auditors (Non Committee position)
    Vice-Presidents (Non Committee position)
    The Saturday 1st XI Captain will be recognised as Club Captain.

  5. President:

    The office of President is an honorary position and will be appointed annually by the committee as recognition of valued service to the Club.

  6. Committee Duties, Responsibilities:

    • The Committee shall be responsible to deal with Financial, Disciplinary and Strategic decision making for the Club, and to ensure that the Club is run smoothly, effectively and efficiently .
    • Meetings of the Committee shall be held monthly during the cricket season and on no less than 6 occasions at regular intervals throughout the year and shall be convened by the Secretary, giving all Committee members at least 7 days notice. Five elected members of the Committee shall be a quorum. The Committee shall operate on 1 man 1 vote basis.

  7. Finances:

    The Committee shall be responsible for the following:
    • Monitoring and implementing the Clubs financial policies, recommending any corrective or other action necessary to further these policies; necessary to further these policies.
    • Undertaking a continuous systematic review of the financial and related operations of the Club, and in connection shall have the authority to.
    • Have access to all records, documents and correspondence relating to financial and other transactions of the Club, and.
    • Require and receive such explanations as are necessary concerning any matter under examination, and.
    • Require any officer, member or employee of the Club to produce cash, materials or any other Club property under his control.
    • The Treasurer shall prepare an Income and Expenditure account for the Year and present it to the members at the AGM. Such accounts must previously be audited by the Club auditors as per Rule IX sub-clause iv.
    • The approval of budget allocations within the limit of likely resources available and consistent with the Clubs policies as determined by an Annual or Special General Meeting or the Committee.
    • Ensuring that all proposals for Extraordinary or unforeseen expenditure are subjected to critical financial appraisal.
    • Recommending methods of raising income as required.
    • The Committee will deal with the day-to-day running of the Club , specifically overseeing the running of the bar, social calendar and buildings maintenance. (as and when becoming necessary).
    • The Committee officers are able to second Club members in order to assist in the Committees duties. This would be in a non-voting capacity on the Operations Committee.

  8. Awards:

    The Committee shall meet in October, at least 2 weeks before the AGM, to decide upon the recipients of the Players Awards for the year. The Committee will be responsible for the collection and engraving of the trophies ready for the Annual Club dinner or for the Pre-Season Party at the start of the season.

  9. Selection Committee:

    The Selection Committee shall consist of the 1st and 2nd XI Skipper (and the Sunday Skipper if applicable) and the Team Secretary. The Chairman of this Committee shall be the Captain Saturday 1st XI. Two members shall be a quorum at such a meeting. The Chairman shall have a second casting vote.
    • Any member absent from a properly convened Committee Meeting shall furnish an explanation for such absence. The Committee shall have power to dismiss from office any Committee Member who, in its opinion, is not fulfilling his obligation to the Committee. The appeals procedure may be followed as per Rule 7 above.
    • The Secretary or his nominee shall keep Minutes of all Annual or Special General meetings and Committee Meetings. Formal minutes of Committee meetings shall be taken by the Secretary and by the Team Secretary for selection committee meetings. The minutes of the selection committee shall by passed to the Secretary for retention.
    • The Chairman, Captains of each XI, Secretary, and Treasurer shall render to every Annual General meeting reports of the past year. In addition, The Treasurer shall submit a Statement of Annual Accounts.

Rule VI: Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure

Any complaint against an individual member or members should be made in writing to the Secretary, who will raise the matter at the next meeting of the Executive Committee. The committee may formally charge the member with the charges and allow the member the opportunity to defend himself/herself before a committee meeting. The member so accused may bring along a witness who may attend the meeting but may not partake in the proceedings without the express consent of the Chairman.
If that Committee deems necessary, the individual(s) will be warned verbally by the Chairman. Subsequent complaints through the same channels will result in a formal written warning and if necessary temporary suspension/ expulsion (see rule IV. vi above) from membership of the Club. The individual will have the opportunity to an Appeal against such decision as per Appeals Porcedure set out in clause Rule VII here below.

Rule VII: Appeals Procedure

Any member wishing to challenge or appeal against the ruling of the Committee may appeal to the Trustees within 21 days of the original committee meeting when the action was taken.
The Trustees decision will be final and binding on all parties concerned.

Rule VIII: Policy Regarding Younger Children

  1. The club runs a junior section as it recognises the importance this plays in ensuring its future.
  2. The club will follow appropriate guidelines on child protection as laid down by local and national governing bodies.
  3. Junior members are allowed to practice on the ground, when supervised, on their practice sessions, or with the permission of a member of the Cricket Committee. They may attend senior practice when invited to by a member of the Selection Committee.
  4. Club members will ensure that their children, whilst on club premises, behave in an acceptable manner at all times and in observance of the club rules.

Rule IX. Finance

  1. The Club is not instituted for financial profit or gain and no dividend, bonus or similar payment will be made to any member. Any surplus of income over expenditure shall be used for furthering the objects of the Club.
  2. The financial year of the Club shall be from the 1st December to the 30th November.
  3. The funds of the Club shall be administered by the Treasurer, acting under the instruction of the Committee.
  4. The Accounts of the Club shall be examined annually by two honorary auditors appointed at the Annual General meeting.
  5. The funds of the Club shall only be invested in Government Securities, or Trustee Securities, except with the express authority of the Annual General Meeting; but the administrators of the Club with the approval of an Annual or Special General Meeting may purchase, take on lease, mortgage or sell freehold or lease-hold land or buildings for the specific purpose of carrying out the policy of the Club, either alone or jointly with any other Club or person.

Rule X. Dissolution or Amalgamation

  1. The Club may not be dissolved nor its funds divided except with the consent of not less than four-fifth (80%) of its members voting in a ballot at an EGM or AGM or by the Trustees of the Club.
  2. The Club may not be amalgamated with another organisation except with the consent of not less than four-fifth (80%) of the members voting in a ballot at an EGM or AGM.

Rule XI. Amendment of Rules

These rules shall not be altered or amended except by a four-fifth (80%) of the members voting in a ballot at an EGM or AGM.

Rule XII. Rules of The Game

The rules of the Marylebone Cricket Club shall be rules of the Club as regards the Game.

Rule XIII. Compensation

Members of the Club play in games at their own risk and the Committee will not be held responsible for any injury sustained travelling to or from, or during games, nor damage, to, or loss of any personal effects carried on such occasions.

Rule XIV. Interpretation Of Rules

Interpretation of the foregoing rules, or decisions on points not covered therein, shall rest with the Chairman of the Committee.

Rule XV: Trustees

  1. Members shall elect at the AGM or an EGM people who may or may not be members of the Club as Trustees of the Club (hereinafter referred as the trustees).
  2. Trustees will continue until their resignation as a trustee or until their death when the position will become available for re-election.
  3. Trustees may not hold a committee position.

Rule XVI: Duties, Obligations and Powers of the Trustees

The Trustees shall have and may exercise all or any of the following powers:-

  1. Power at the request of the Executive Committee (such request to be evidenced by a Resolution duly passed at a duly convened and properly constituted meeting of the Committee, of which the Minute Book shall be conclusive) to borrow or raise money or mortgage the Property of the Club or any part thereof and for that purpose to execute any mortgage or legal charge.
  2. Power at such request as aforesaid with the sanction of a Resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting of Members of the Club (of which the Minute Book shall be conclusive), to sell the property of the Club or any part thereof and to execute any conveyance for this purpose. Any funds received should be dealt with by the Trustees in accordance with the sanction given at the AGM or EGM as evidenced within the Resolution passed at that Meeting.
  3. Power in the event that the Club is no longer a viable proposition as a Cricket Club at such request as aforesaid with the sanction of a Resolution passed at the AGM or an EGM of Members of the Club (of which the Minute Book shall be conclusive) sell the property of the Club and execute any conveyance for this purpose. Any funds received from this source and in these circumstances shall be donated to cricketing charities at the discretion of the Trustees and shall not be distributed amongst the Membership of the Club. The Trustees shall be fully indemnified by the Club from payments made and all liabilities incurred from time to time and every act or thing done or suffered by the Trustee or Trustees shall, so far as regards the safety and protection of the person or persons dealing with him or them absolutely bind the Club and every Member thereof.
  4. Trustees to act as the Disciplinary Committee as referred in Rule VII with final authority.