HEATON SPORTS CLUB CONSTITUTION

Rules and Regulations

Name

The name of the Club is Heaton Sports Club

Mission statement

Heaton Sports Club provides a positive, safe and welcoming environment for club members, families and visitors. We aim to achieve this through our club values:

Respect for all
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Community involvement
Fair play and sportsmanship in all sports

And will deliver cricket and other sports and social opportunities to anyone regardless of ability or disability, background, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or beliefs.

Club Purposes

The purposes of the Club are to foster the game of cricket and other sports and promote participation in the amateur sport of cricket within the community, providing facilities for playing cricket, opportunities for recreation, coaching and competition and maintain the grounds at Lower Pools for all purposes in connection therewith, and for such other sports as may hereafter be determined upon by the Committee such as table tennis, darts, rounders and football.

Heaton Sports Club is committed to ensuring that a policy of equity is incorporated into its functions and development. The Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sports, regardless of age, ability, gender, race ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status. The Club is committed to the right of everyone to enjoy their sports in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment or abuse. All members of the club have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The club will take disciplinary action against any incidence of discriminatory behaviour. To ensure a duty of care to all players, officials and members of Heaton Sports Club, the ECB “Safehands – Welfare of Young People in Cricket” is adopted and will be implemented as directed by the ECB together with any future versions of the Policy.

Affiliation

The Club is affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board through the Greater Manchester Cricket League.
The Club and its members shall ensure that members, playing and non-playing, abide by the club’s Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket and by the Laws of Cricket.
Respectful behaviour is always important.
On match days and other sporting occasions, members of the visiting team(s), visiting supporters and the officials are permitted to avail themselves of the facilities of the club during the day or days of the match, by virtue of the provisions of Section 28(i) of the Licensing Act 1961, intoxicating liquor may be sold to such persons by or on behalf of the club for consumption on the premises. The provision applies only to the class of visitor referred to in this rule.
The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and any future versions of the policy.
The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Club Inclusion and Diversity Policy and any future versions of this policy.
The Club adopts, implements, and fully complies with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Discrimination Code/Regulations. All members, players, officials, volunteers and visitors are required to uphold the standards and expectations set out in the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code/Regulations. Any alleged breach will be addressed through the Club’s disciplinary procedures and may be referred to the ECB or the relevant County Cricket Board.
The Club’s commitment to preventing discrimination is further strengthened and reinforced through our own Code of Conduct and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Policy, which set behavioural expectations for all members and participants and support the implementation of the ECB standards.
The Club is committed to maintaining a cricketing environment that is welcoming, inclusive and free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation in any form. All participants agree, through their involvement with the Club, to be bound by the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code/Regulations.

Permitted means

The Committee on behalf of the club has the power to:

acquire and provide ground, equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, clubhouse, transport and related facilities;
provide coaching, training to related social and other facilities;
take out any insurance for club committee, employees, contractors, players, guests and third parties;
raise funds by appeals, subscriptions, loans and charges;
borrow money and give security for the same, and open bank accounts;
buy, lease or licence property and sell, let or otherwise dispose of the same [provided that no disposal of Heaton Sports Club can be made without the prior written approval of the members voting at a general meeting];
make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits;
set aside or apply funds for special purposes or as reserves;
deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner;
employ and engage staff and others and provide services;
co-operate with any organisation, club, sporting body, government or government-related agencies; and
do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purpose of the club;

NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes consistently with the Rules below and the general law.

Membership

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will have an equitable pricing policy and will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
The level of subscriptions will be decided by the Committee and notified to the members. Members may forfeit their rights to all benefits at the time of their renewal. They will regain them by paying their social subscription.
Playing members of any sport are to pay their social subscription and pay their full sporting subscription fees, by a mutually agreed date.
The Club will have the following classes of subscription membership:

Full adult member
Full senior member [over 60]
Free – under 18s

Application for membership of the Club shall be by completion of a membership application form, available at the club premises and can be downloaded from the club’s website at www.heatoncricketclub.co.uk. The membership secretary may empower the Club’s employees to accept applications on his/her behalf. Honorary membership may be at the discretion of the committee.
At any time, members may be requested to provide proof of their membership.
No person shall be eligible or be able to take part in the business of the Club, vote at general meetings or be eligible for selection for any Club team unless the applicable subscription has been paid by the due date.
The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, at their discretion but only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport of cricket or other sports into disrepute and:

The Club Committee may only refuse to admit a new or current member if a resolution is passed at a meeting where the person in question has been notified in writing in advance and been given 14 days to submit written representations for the Club Committee to consider at the meeting. Appeal against a refusal of membership shall be to the Appeal Committee as detailed below.

All members will be subject to these Rules and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these Rules, any club policy and any Codes of Conduct that the Club has adopted. The Code of Conduct for Members and Guests must be displayed prominently and available on the club’s website to ensure that all Club guests and non-member volunteers are aware of the Code and the requirement to abide by it.
The club will keep a register of members.
Membership is not transferable and shall cease on death.
A member may resign by written notice to the Club, but the return of any subscription paid is at the discretion of the Club Committee.
Any member wishing to move any resolution at the AGM shall give notice thereof in writing to the Secretary giving at least two weeks’ notice.
Honorary membership is given to a person[s] who[m] the Committee recognise as giving special service to the club or for a particular length of service to the club. Persons may hold roles of limited tenure and yet perform excellent service during their term of membership.

Committee Meetings

A member may attend or be invited to a committee meeting by invitation should there be a requested topic for discussion.
All full committee members have one vote.
Committee members must be given at least 7 clear days notification of all meetings.
The quorum for all meetings is 5. For the AGM is 10 and any EGM is 25 members.
If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the start of the meeting, the meeting will be adjourned to the following week at the same time and place or such other time and place as the Committee decide.
The Chair or (in their absence) another member chosen at the meeting by the members shall preside.
Except as otherwise provided in these Rules or in any Club policy every resolution shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast on a show of hands.
Formalities in connection with meetings (such as how to put down resolutions) shall be decided by the Committee.
No member shall, except for professional or other services rendered at the request of the Committee, be paid any sum or sums of money by the Club.
If at any time the club in meeting shall pass a resolution authorising the Committee to borrow money, the Committee shall thereupon be empowered to borrow for the purposes of the club such amount of money either at one time, or from time to time, at such rate of interest and in such form or manner and upon such security as shall be specified in such resolution and thereupon the Trustees shall at the discretion of the committee make all such dispositions of the club property or any part thereof, and enter into such agreements and execute such assurances, in relation thereto as the committee may, deem proper for giving security for such loans and interest. All members of the club whether voting on such resolution or not, and all persons becoming members of the club after passing of such resolution, shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had noted in favour of such resolution.

Annual General Meetings

The Club will hold an AGM once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last AGM, normally between the 1st November and 31st January upon a date and at a time to be fixed by the Committee and notice given to members. A written notice should be placed on the noticeboard, website and via social media.

At every AGM:

All members of the club, aged 18 years and over, shall have equal voting rights at the AGM or at any other special general meeting;
the AGM will elect the Officers including a President [honorary position], Treasurer, Secretary, Safeguarding Officer and Equality & Diversity Officer to serve until the next AGM;
the financial year of the club shall end on the 30th day of September in each year, to which date all the accounts of the club shall be made up. The Treasurer will produce accounts of the Club for the latest financial year audited as the Committee shall decide;
the Committee will present an update on the Club’s activities since the previous AGM;
the AGM will discuss and vote on any resolution and deal with any other business put to the meeting.
the admission of honorary members shall be determined by the Committee and ratified at an AGM, the membership of all existing honorary members to continue.

Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)

An EGM shall be called by the Secretary within 7 days of a request to that effect from the Committee or on the written request of not less than 50 members signed by them. Such EGM shall be held on not less than 7 days’ notice at a place decided upon by the Committee or in default by the Chair. If the Committee fails to call a meeting within 7 days of receiving a valid request from the members, then the members may themselves call a meeting, the costs of which will be reimbursed by the Club.

The Committee

9.1 Role

Subject to these rules, the Committee shall have responsibility for the management of the Club, its funds, property and affairs.

The Officers and member representatives of the Club shall be deputed to a Committee, Officers shall be selected by nomination at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Committee will have discretionary rights in relation to appointing should a member leave and such Committee shall possess all needful powers for the government of the Club. The Officers of the club shall comprise one President, one Secretary, one Treasurer, one Safeguarding Officer and one Equality and Diversity Officer. The Chair and Vice Chair will be elected at the first committee meeting following the AGM.

Committee members who fail to attend four consecutive meetings without tendering apologies or suitable reason, will forfeit their membership of the Committee.

The address of the Secretary shall be:

Heaton Sports Club, Lower Pools, off Church Road, Bolton BL1 5RH.

Opening hours are in accordance with Licensing regulations and seasonal requirements of the club.

The Committee shall have power to fill from time to time any vacancy which may occur on the Committee during the then current year.

No arrangements are, or are intended to be made:

For any person to receive at the expense of the club any commission, percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchases of intoxicating liquor by the club or
For any person directly or indirectly to derive any benefit, pecuniary or otherwise from the supply of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the club to members or guests apart from any benefit accruing to the club as a whole and from any benefit which a person derives indirectly by reason of the supply giving rise or contributing to a general gain from the carrying on of the club.

All appointments of club staff are under the control of the Business Manager who will exercise their authority as employer, through the Chair / Vice Chair and Secretary. The staff must not be subject to instructions in connection with their duties from any member unless so authorised. In cases where additional staff are deemed to be necessary this is the sole responsibility of the Business Manager, informing the Committee as appropriate.

9.2 Term

No fixed term shall be set which would cause the relevant Committee member to serve beyond their third consecutive Annual General Meeting; or

If the club dispenses with the requirement to hold Annual General Meetings, beyond three consecutive years in office from the date of the relevant Committee Member’s election or appointment,
and, in each case, where the Committee agrees that circumstances exist where it would be in the best interest of the Club for a Committee Member to serve for a longer period. The maximum of six years will comprise of two, three-year fixed terms followed by one-year terms up to maximum of three.

Committee members appointed under this will be appointed in accordance with open and transparent selection criteria and appointment procedures set out in any Committee membership policies adopted by the Committee from time to time. These may provide for prospective candidates to be approved by the Committee before they are eligible to stand for appointment as Committee members.

9.3 Composition, etc.

The club through its committee can authorise delegated authority powers to make decisions on behalf of the Committee or club;

The Committee shall consist of at least 10.

The Committee members may co-opt club members to serve until the end of the next AGM.
Any Committee member may be re-elected, according to 9.2 [or re-co-opted].
A Committee Officer and/or member ceases to be such if he or she:

ceases to be a member of the Club; or
resigns by written notice to the Club; or
is removed by the Committee in accordance with clause 5.7, 5.9 and 10.

9.3 Committee Meetings

Whenever a committee member has a personal interest in a matter to be discussed they must declare it, withdraw from that part of the meeting (unless asked to stay), not be counted in the quorum for that agenda item and withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the matter concerned.
The Committee shall meet at such times as they may determine, at least four times per year, to examine the accounts and arrange the affairs of the Club.
Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum [with two officers being present].
Minutes shall be taken of the proceedings of the Committee.
The Committee may decide its own way of operating. Unless it otherwise resolves the following rules apply:

at least five Committee members must be present for the meeting to be valid;
Committee meetings may be held either in person or other electronic or virtual means agreed by the Committee in which all participants may communicate simultaneously with all other participants;
the Chair or whoever else of those present shall chair meetings;
decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting;
a resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid without a meeting; and
if there is an equal vote, the Chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

The Committee shall appoint a Club Safeguarding Officer to ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and the ECB Safe Hands policy. The Club Safeguarding Officer shall be an Officer of the Committee and report to meetings, together with any action taken, must be minuted.
The Committee shall appoint an Equality and Diversity Officer to ensure compliance with legislation and policy. The Equality and Diversity Officer shall be an Officer of the Committee and report to meetings, together with any action taken, must be minuted.

Committee make-up:

Chair

Vice Chair

Treasurer

Secretary

Safeguarding Officer

Equality and Diversity Officer

President [holds an honorary position]

Business Manager [ex-officio]

Cricket Coordinator

Members

9.4 Bank Account

Any bank account into which any part of the Club’s funds is deposited shall be operated by the Committee and shall be held in the name of the Club. Unless regulations state otherwise, all transactions for payment of money from such accounts must be signed by at least two people authorised by the Committee, including at least one Committee member.

9.5 Delegation, etc.

The Committee may delegate any of their functions to sub-committees/task and finish group but must specify the scope of its activity and powers; the extent to which it can commit the funds of the Club; its membership; its duty to report back to the Committee. The Committee may wind up any sub-committee at any time or change its mandate and operating terms.

9.6 Disclosure

Annual club reports and statements of account must be made available for inspection.

Removal of Membership, Discipline and Appeals

The Committee shall have power to expel any member [including those who sit on the Committee] whose conduct is in their opinion injurious to the welfare and interests of the club without necessarily stating to such member the reason therefore and in this respect the Committee shall have absolute discretion.

The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and the decision of the Committee upon any question of interpretation or upon any matter affecting the club shall be final and binding on the members.

Any complaints regarding the club, behaviour of members, guests or volunteers should be lodged in writing with the Secretary in line with the club’s Customer Feedback Policy.

Any person that is the subject of a written complaint or appeal shall be notified of the procedures to be followed in reasonable time to prepare for any hearing.

If required, the Committee shall appoint a Disciplinary Sub-Committee [choosing from members of the Committee] who will meet to hear complaints within 21 days of a complaint being lodged. Any person requested to attend a Disciplinary Sub-Committee shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The Disciplinary Sub-Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action on behalf of the Committee, including the termination of membership or exclusion from Club premises.

The outcome of the disciplinary hearing shall be put in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the person against whom the complaint was made within 14 days following the hearing.

There shall be a right of appeal within 14 days of receipt of the disciplinary decision or decision to refuse membership:

against the Disciplinary Sub-Committee’s findings or the sanction imposed or both; and
against the Committee’s refusal to admit a new member.

In either case, the Committee shall appoint an Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee shall have a maximum of three members which shall not include members involved with the initial disciplinary hearing but may include non-members of the Club. The Appeals Committee shall consider the appeal within 21 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal. The individual who submitted the appeal shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.

Intoxicating Liquors

Intoxicating liquors shall not be supplied to any member or guest on the club premises otherwise than by or on behalf of the club and shall not be supplied for consumption off the premises.

The Committee [who have sole management of the club and supply of liquor] shall enter or cause or permit the Trustees to enter into any bond covenant or other agreement or arrangement restricting the clubs purchase of intoxicating liquor.

Social Visitors to club premises

Any such visitor can enter and use the club premises except for the consumption of alcohol subject to regulations as shall be made from time to time by the Committee.

Use of the club for charitable purposes by an individual or organisation is not subject to membership restrictions, except where alcoholic beverages are served during the execution of the purpose.

A social visitor can only be served alcohol on the premises by formally signing in and will be charged non-member prices or by making themself a member.

No person shall be introduced as a social visitor to the club who has been suspended or expelled from membership at the club or notification from other clubs.

Each visitor and the member introducing them must sign a non-member visitor book. No visitor may use the club premises for the consumption of alcohol on more than three occasions during a membership year and will be requested to become a member

No visitors shall be refused on any ground of physical or mental disability, gender, race, religion, age, sex orientation or belief.

In the event of misconduct on the part of the visitor, they shall be removed from the club premises and the member introducing such visitor shall be reported to the committee and on the facts being provided shall be liable, in the case of a member, for possible suspension or to be debarred in the case of the social visitor.

An affiliated ‘visitor’ is not entitled to introduce a guest onto the premises for the consumption of alcohol.

Property and Trustees

The Committee shall have the power to appoint Trustees of no more than four not less than two from the membership of the Club and remove them at any time by resolution of the Committee.

The Trustees shall hold office until resignation or becoming incapable or unwilling to act in the best interest of the club or through committee removal. Any vacancy shall be discussed at Committee and ratified at the AGM.

The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules.

The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:

sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment; the control of the purchase and supply of intoxicants by or on behalf of the club shall be vested in the Business Manager as directed by the committee, or their nominee.
pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests; and
indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).

The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

The use of the club premises may be denied to any member on specific occasions at the direction of the committee.

The land at club may be vested in between two and four Trustees. The Trustees shall hold the same for and on behalf of the members of the Club.

The Trustees shall deal with the Club’s land in accordance with the Trust Deed considering recommendations as directed by the Committee.

The Trustees shall be entitled to be indemnified against any cost or expense properly incurred in dealing with the land out of the Club’s funds.

Hiring of the Premises and Bar facilities

The club premises may be hired for private functions. Bookings or functions need to take place during the permitted hours of opening. The hirer will enter into the appropriate agreement as laid out in the application.

Notices

Notices to be sent out in accordance with these Rules may be sent by hand, by post or by suitable electronic means and will be treated as being received:

24 hours after being sent by electronic means or delivered by hand to the relevant address;
Two clear days after being sent by first class post; or
Three clear days after being sent by second class post.

Notice of all general meetings must also be put on the Club’s noticeboard and website.

A technical defect in the giving of notice of which the members or the Committee are unaware at the time does not invalidate decisions taken at a meeting.

Amendments

These Rules may be amended at a committee meeting by resolution passed by two-thirds of the votes cast and not in any event to alter its purposes or winding up provisions.

The Club purposes may be changed to include another eligible sports if the Committee unanimously agree and the members also agreed the change by a 75% majority of votes cast.

Winding Up the Club

The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.

The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.

After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to another organisation with similar objects to the Club.

Adopted May 2025

Ratified by AGM at its meeting in December 2025

Signed

Name Neil McGivern

Chair, Heaton Sports Club