CLUB RULES 2001

                                                  (as amended on 9.2.98 and 10.12.01)

1. NAME

The Club shall be called the Thatcham Town Cricket Club.

2. PREMISES

The address of the Club shall be The Pavilion, Brownsfield, Brownsfield Road, Thatcham, Berks.

3. OBJECTS

The objects of the Club shall be to promote the game of Cricket in Thatcham and to afford such facilities to its members.

4. MEMBERSHIP

a) Full Membership

Any person wishing to play or to promote the cause of Cricket in Thatcham is eligible for election as a full member of the Club, provided they have attained 18 years of age.

b) Associate Membership

The Club Committee may, at their discretion, allow other classes of person to become eligible for associate membership provided that they have attained 18 years of age and that the total number of associate members does not exceed 15% of the total membership of the Club.

c) Junior Membership

Juniors under the age of 18 years shall be eligible for election as junior members of the Club.

d) Social Members

Fully paid up members of the Berkshire Croquet Club or other societies, affiliated societies or clubs approved by the management committee of the Cricket Club who use the premises or ground will be eligible as non-voting members of the Cricket Club.

e) Thatcham Town Cricket Club membership shall be open to all irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status and sexual orientation.

 f) Players, officials, members, supporters, and employees must adhere to the code of conduct, which prohibits racially abusive comments and actions against fellow players, members, supporters and employees. Failure to comply with this instruction will result in disciplinary action being taken against offender(s) as specified in the club and league constitutions.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MATCH FEES

The Annual General Meeting Shall determine the annual rate of subscriptions and match fees and may at its discretion, waive all or part thereof in respect of any member, associate member or junior member.

6. ELECTION OF MEMBERS

Persons wishing to join the Club as full, associate or junior members shall be nominated by two members. The names of proposed members shall be displayed on the Club notice boards for at least two clear days prior to consideration of election and the Committee shall have power to accept or reject the nominations.

7. MANAGEMENT

a) The Club shall be managed by the General Committee of the Thatcham Town Cricket Club who are elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting of the Club.

b) The General Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Cricket Manager, Club Captain, Thatcham Town Council Representative, Sub Committee Chairmen plus three other full, social or associate members of the Club. All, bar the Thatcham Town Council Representative, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Between Annual General Meetings the Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur and/or co-opt full, associate or social members, with their approval, onto the General Committee as necessary for the benefit of the Club.

The Committee will be responsible for the purchase and sale of all intoxicating liquor but may, if it so desires, delegate this to a sub committee.

The Committee shall have the power to set such budgets, as it deems appropriate for any sub committees formed under clause 7(d).

(c)    `     All officers and committee members shall be full, social or associate members of the Club.

The Committee shall have power to call a general meeting at any time on 21 days notice being given to members.

The Chairman shall have a second or casting vote only on an issue before the Committee, which results in an equal number of votes being cast for and against.

The Committee shall meet on such dates and times as it may determine to form a quorum. A quorum shall consist of not less than three members.

(d)   Members shall elect at the Annual General Meeting, such sub committees, as they deem necessary for the better running of the Club.

Each sub committee shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur among it’s members and/or co-opt full, social or associate members, with their approval, onto that sub committee as necessary for the benefit of the Club.

The Chairman of each sub committee shall have a second or casting vote only on an issue before the sub committee, which results in an equal number of votes being cast for and against.

Each sub committee shall meet on such dates and at such times as it may determine to form a quorum. A quorum shall consist of not less than three members.

8. GENERAL MEETINGS AND VOTING RIGHTS

An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of November each year and 15 months shall not elapse without a General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting shall receive a report and statement of accounts for the previous financial year ended October, elect officers and the Committee for the ensuing year and transact any other business. Fourteen days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members. At General meetings full and associate members shall be entitled to vote. Social and Junior members shall not be entitled to vote. An extra-ordinary meeting may be called at the request of the Committee in accordance with rule 7(c) and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt by him of a written requisition signed by any 6 members of the Club, given 14 days before the date of such meeting.

9. AFFILIATIONS

The Club shall be affiliated to the Club Cricket Conference, The England and Wales Cricket Board, Berkshire Cricket and such cricket leagues in which any of its teams play.  

1O. CLUB COLOURS

The club colours shall be white and navy.

11. SELECTION

A selection committee shall consist of all the captains, Cricket Manager and other persons as agreed by the general committee and shall have powers to co-opt any members it may require in order to carryout its affairs. Team selection is the sole responsibility of the selection committee.

Discipline with regard to playing members shall the responsibility of the selection committee and all decisions made in this respect shall be ratified by the General Committee.

12. GUESTS

Full members, Social members and associate members may introduce up to three bona fide guests into the Club premises at anyone time and will be responsible for the   conduct of their guests on the premises. Such guests shall during their visit enjoy the full rights and privileges of members of the Club, but shall be subject to the Club rules. The names and addresses of all

guests and the name of the member signing them in shall be entered into a book maintained for that purpose and such book must be kept on the premises

13. VISITING TEAMS

Members and officials of teams visiting the Club for the purpose of playing a match may at the discretion of the committee be admitted to the Club premises and be permitted to purchase and be supplied with intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club.

14. SOCIAL FUNCTIONS

Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons attending the Club premises for social or other functions organised or authorised by the Club, provided that the number of such functions shall not exceed 12 in anyone year, but no function shall be permitted to which admission may be obtained by payment of money at the door whether for a ticket or otherwise.

15. SUPPLY OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR

No intoxicating liquor shall be sold or supplied otherwise than to:

a)      Members, social and associate members

b)      Their bona fide guests

c)      Persons admitted to the Club in accordance with Club rules 13 and 14.

d)      No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied for consumption off the premises except to a

            member in person.

       e) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to a person under the age of 18 years.

 The Club shall be opened as directed by the General Committee but the permitted hours for the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor at the Club premises shall be as follows:

• Monday to Friday:                                      11.00 to 23.00 hours
• Saturday                                                      11.00 to 23.00 hours
• Sunday, Good Friday and Christmas Day: 12.00 to 22.30 hours

16. LIST OF MEMBERS

A list of the names and addresses of all members of the Club shall be maintained and kept on the premises.

17. FINANCE

(a) The Committee shall control the funds of the Club and act as trustees for all its property.

(b) The accounts should be made up to October each year and the annual financial statement prepared there from.

(c) All cheques issued on the Club account shall be signed by both the Treasurer and Secretary. 

18. CREDIT

No credit of any kind shall be given by the Club.

19. SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSION

The Committee shall have the power to suspend or expel any member for objectionable conduct. Any member so expelled shall have no claim on the funds of the Club. For the purpose of this rule the vote of two thirds of the whole Committee shall be necessary

A member who has been suspended or expelled from the Club or any person whose application for membership has been refused shall not be permitted to make use of the Club, whether as a guest or otherwise.

20. RULES

Each member shall be provided with a copy of these rules by which he/she shall be bound.

21. ALTERATION AND REVIEW OF RULES

Alterations and amendments to the rules shall not be made except at an Annual General Meeting or at an extra-ordinary general meeting. At least 21 days notice in writing of any such proposed alteration or amendment shall be given to the Secretary before any such meeting.

The Secretary shall give 14 days notice to the members, in writing, of any such meeting and the proposed alterations or amendments.

22. INTERPRETATION

In the event of any question arising as to the interpretation of these rules the decision of the Committee shall be final.

23. BYE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The Committee shall have full power to formulate and issue bye laws and regulations governing any matter not specifically covered by these rules and every member shall conform to them.

24. CLUB BECOMING NON VIABLE

In the event that the Club becomes non viable through insolvency or any other cause, the Secretary shall call an extra-ordinary general meeting, giving members 14 days notice in writing of such meeting. The meeting shall decide how to divest any assets that the Club may have and conduct any other associated business. 

25. TRUSTEES

a)      The Trustees of the club shall be appointed by the committee.

b)      The number of Trustees shall not be more than four or less than two and the property of the club (other than cash which shall be under the control of the Treasurer) shall be

            vested in them. They shall deal with the property of the club as directed by resolution

            of the committee (of which an entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence)

            and they shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club property.

c)   The Trustees shall hold the property of the Club as Trustees for the Club.

d)   The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office

      by a resolution of the Committee which may for any reason which may seem

      sufficient to the majority of the members of the committee present and voting at any

      meeting remove any Trustees or Trustees from the office of Trustee