1.1 In these Rules:
"Affiliated Association" means an Association accorded the
status of an Affiliated Association under the Rules of the FA
"Appointing Authority" means The FA or the Competition
"Articles" means the Articles of Association of the Company
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company appointed
in accordance with the Articles or, in the case of a Competition
which is an unincorporated association, the management
committee elected to manage the running of the Competition
"Club" means a club for the time being in membership of the
Company (including a Club which has had a transfer of membership
approved under Rule 2.7 below)
"Company" means The Sydenhams Football League (Wessex )
which Administers the Competition and shall, where the
Competition is an unincorporated entity, include that entity
"Competition" means The Sydenhams Football League (Wessex)
"Competition Match" means any match played or to be played
under the jurisdiction of the Company
"Competition Secretary" means such person or persons
appointed or elected to carry out the administration of the
Competition.
"Criteria Document" means the document entitled "National
Ground Grading Document" issued by The FA from time to time and
shall, unless stated to the contrary, mean the latest edition of the
document
"Fees Tariff" means a list of fees approved by the Company at a
general meeting to be levied by the Company for any matters for
which fees are payable under the Rules
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"Fines Tariff" means a list of fines approved by the Company at a
general meeting to be levied by the Company for any breach of
the Rules
"Fit and Proper Declaration" means a declaration required from
an Officer by The FA from time to time
"Football Creditor" means any one of the following:

• The Football Association Limited
• Any League sanctioned by the Association or an Affiliated
Association
• Any full time or part time employee of a Club, or former full
time or part time employee of a Club, in respect of sums due
to such person by way of arrears of remuneration or
expenses. This excludes for these purposes all and any
claims for redundancy, unfair or wrongful dismissal or other
claims arising out of the termination of the contract or in
respect of any period after the actual date of termination
• The Professional Footballers’ Association Limited
• The Football Foundation
• Any Association
• Any pension scheme or plan administered by or on behalf of the
Competition

"Insolvency Event" means any one of the following:
• A manager, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver,
liquidator, provisional liquidator or supervisor to a voluntary
arrangement is appointed in respect of a Club or any part
of its undertaking or assets;
• A Club applies for an Administration Order (as defined in
Section 10 of Schedule B (i) of the Insolvency Act 1986)
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or an Administration Order is made in respect of it or it
otherwise enters into Administration;
• A winding-up order is made in respect of a Club;
• A Club enters into any arrangement with its creditors or some
part of them in respect of the payment of its debts or any of
them as a Company Voluntary Arrangement (under the
Insolvency Act 1986) or a Scheme of Arrangement (under the
Companies Act 1985).
• A Club passes a resolution pursuant to Section 84 (i) (c) of the
Insolvency Act 1986 to the effect that it cannot by reason of its
liabilities continue its business and that it is advisable to wind up.
• A Club ceases or forms an intention to cease wholly or
substantially to carry on its business save for the purpose or
reconstruction or amalgamation or otherwise in accordance
with the scheme of proposals that have previously been
submitted to and approved to and approved in writing by
the Board.
• A Club convenes a meeting of its creditors pursuant to Section
95 or Section 98 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

"Match Officials" means the referee, the assistant referees and any
fourth official appointed to a Competition Match
"Officer" means an individual who is required to make a Fit and
Proper Declaration by the FA
"Players’ Agent" means a person who, for reward, represents,
negotiates on behalf of, advises or otherwise acts for a Principal in
the context of either the transfer of a player’s registration, the terms
of a contract between a player and a Club or the terms of a contract
between a manager and a Club.
"Playing Season" means the period between the date on which
the first league fixture in the Competition is played each year until
the date on which the last league fixture in the Competition is
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played. For Clubs participating in play off matches this does include
the period when play off matches are played.
"Play Off Position" means the position of a Club in the table at the
end of each Playing Season which is provided for in Rule 13 as
qualifying the Club to take part in a play off match to qualify for
promotion to the next step of football for the next Playing Season
"Principal" means a Club, a manager, an official of a Club, or a
player employing an Agent for one of the purposes set out in the
definition of Agent above
"Rules" means these rules under which the Competition is
administered
"SSAP" means a sporting sanctions appeal panel to be appointed
to determine an appeal against a deduction of points under Rule 14
"The FA" means The Football Association Limited
"writing" means a communication sent by post, facsimile or email
(where the intended recipient has provided an email address to the
Company)

1.2 Words or expressions used in these Rules shall, if not
inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meanings
as in the Articles
1.3 All Clubs shall adhere to the Rules. Every Club shall be
deemed, as a member of the Company to have accepted the Rules
and to have agreed to abide by the decisions of the Board in
relation thereto, subject to the provisions of Rule 17.
1.4 The Competition will be known as The Sydenhams Football
League (Wessex) (or such other name as the Company may adopt).
The Clubs participating in the Competition must be members of the
Company [in accordance with the Articles]. A Club which ceases to
exist or which ceases to be entitled to play in the Competition for
any reason whatsoever shall thereupon automatically cease to be a
member of the Company.
1.5 The administration of the Competition under these Rules will
be carried out by the Company acting (save where otherwise
specifically mentioned herein) through the Board in accordance
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with the Rules Regulations and Practices of The FA.
1.6 The Company shall be part of the National League Structure
established by The FA and shall sign such documents as are
required from time to time to confirm such membership.