1. NAME
The Club shall be called ABBEYLEIX ATHLETIC FC/Juvenile Soccer Club (hereinafter referred to as the Club) and it shall seek affiliation to and be bound by the rules of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Midlands Schoolboysgirls League (MSL).

2. OBJECTIVES
The key objective of the club is to promote participation in team sport amongst all children aged 6-17 years.
The club shall arrange football matches and training for each of the playing members of the Club. The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner.

3. RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of The Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The Club will abide by The FAI’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.

4. MEMBERSHIP
The membership shall consist of the following categories: Juvenile Player Member, Committee Member (volunteer coaches and managers), Club Executive Member.
Only playing members (parents thereof) shall pay Membership fees and these will be fixed each year at the Annual General Meeting. Weekly subs will help to pay for referees and pitch lighting and, occasionally the club will request additional funding in the form of donations and raffles. All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution. They will also be required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club’s ethical framework, as set out in the club’s ‘ethos and code of conduct’ statements. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, gender, creed, religion, or occupation. The
club also acknowledges and endeavours to work with the Cara Sport Inclusion Disability Charter. Abbeyleix Athletic FC is fully committed to take a strong and positive stance against all forms of racial, homophobic, gender or religious abuse, at matches and during training.  

All playing members are expected to adhere to the club rules, ethos and code of conduct.  Players who consistently misbehave and show disrespect towards coaches and/or fellow players, will be warned three times within the team environment.  After which, the coach or manager must report the issue to the Clubs Children’s Officer, the Chairperson and the Secretary.  An exception to this rule is a single incident where a club member uses discriminatory language, or demonstrates discriminatory behaviour, requiring the coach or manager to report the issue to the Clubs Children’s Officer, the Chairperson and the Secretary. The player, with his parents/guardians will be invited to a formal discussion to review the issues and try to
re-establish a positive and respectful relationship.  If reconciliation fails, the player can be asked to leave the club. Player application will be made at start of each season to register with both the FAI and with the MSL. A list of all playing members shall be retained by the Club Secretary and/or the Registration Secretary.

5. THE COMMITTEE

The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Club Children’s Officer, and Registration Secretary, plus all other coaching staff. All Committee members must be members of the Club. The Executive Officers of the Club – who shall be honorary (non-paid) – shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Club Children’s Officer, and Registration Secretary. Executive Officers shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. An outgoing member of the Executive may be re-elected 

The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club and decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or, in their absence, the Secretary. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be five or more. Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary. Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than seven days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than
three meetings a year. The Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any
issue concerning the Club Rules.

6. GENERAL MEETINGS

The Annual General Meeting usually fulfils the basic purposes of electing officers and other members of the Executive Committee, of reviewing the Accounts and of considering other matters of importance to the Club membership. It can also consider changes to the Constitution. The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting in the month of June (or as soon as possible thereafter and no later than September) to:

•  Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
•  Receive reports from the Chairperson and Secretary.
• Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.
•  Elect the Executive Committee.
•  Appoint someone responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts.
•  Fix the subscription for the ensuing year.
•  Consider any changes to the Constitution.
•  Deal with other relevant business.

The Secretary shall send to each member at their last known email address written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least seven days before the Meeting. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be the Executive Officers plus five committee members. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote. The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

7. FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

The financial year shall run from 1 st July to 30 th June each year. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club. All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of two other nominated office-bearers. The club can borrow money from reputable lending institutions (i.e. those regulated by the CBI). The committee has agreed a maximum borrowing capacity of €5,000. All committee members of the Club shall be jointly responsible for any financial liability in relation to Club borrowing ONLY.

8. CLUB TEAMS

At the AGM, the Club Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team.

9. DISSOLUTION

The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain, improve and develop the Club’s facilities and training capabilities. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club. If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting.

Signed:
Name: MIKE FOXALL
Position: Club Secretary