Click this link to see the minutes from the September Managers Meeting...

Venue: Mill Lane Church
Start: 7:30pm

Present:

Elim FC Bootle, Atlantic Electrical, Norris Green, Stanley Park, St Christophers, Anfield, West Derby Warriors, Picture House Celtic, Mill Lane, St Aidans, Frontline, Grace, Kirkby A, Kirkby B, St Peters, St Bridgets, Breckfield, Focus, Quest, Bethel, AC Mitchell, South Parade, Sefton Churches, Meols, The Way, FC Bootle, St Davids, Skelm Legends.

A total of 28/31 teams

Apology: Trinity

No Contact: Belgrave, Grassendale

Fines: £10.00 fines for Belgrave and Grassendale

Opening Prayer

Welcome and introduction of those on the top table

John Burton ? Referee liaison officer for the MCL
David Pugh - Liverpool County Secretary
Ronnie Clayton - League Secretary
Tony Mullane - League Chairman
Arthur Parkinson - League Treasurer
Dan Pennington - League Fixture Secretary

Issues (T Mullane)

The League had had to deal with a couple of issues which it does not want to see repeated. The first was one of racist remarks/abuse which will not be tolerated. Teams are asked to report it and we will deal with it.
Second was the abandonment of a game due to a player ?on trial? for a club fighting and then the player dad going to the car for a baseball bat and threatening players.

Finance (A Parkinson)

The treasurer thanks the managers and thanks the Committee for helping to get finances sorted. No issues to report other than apology over delays in the Leagues Bank failing to provide the League with the necessary forms to change signatories and addresses


Team Sheets (R Clayton)

A lot of team sheets are still outstanding. It?s a new season with a lot of new teams so no fines will be issued for late team sheets. Team warned that in future if the team sheets are not with the League Secretary within 4 days then fines will be issued.

(as it turned out by the end of the evening most teams had provided the missing team sheets)

Referees (J Burton)

Teams have to be more professional, have players organised before they get on the pitch. If what happened during the summer happens (issues mentioned earlier) again it will be reported straight to the top. Lets get this League to the standard we want and we will all benefit. If you have any issues contact me. (However John is on holiday from Wed 10th September for a fortnight so please contact Dan Pennington with issues regarding referees.)
Swearing ? let?s cut it out it?s in the Leagues Constitution
Refs are not allocated too far in advance as things change and it causes confusion with refs turning up for ?non? games so refs are allocated a month in advance only.
John has a list of refs contact details available and states that the fee for a referee is £22 not £25 as one ref charged and he will be having a word with that referee.
Brian Cluskey and Mike Bernie are not on our refs lists anymore but John has brought some refs onboard.
Good Practice ? make sure you are in the loop with contact lists, emails and the website.

National Cups (T Mitchell)

It is a voluntary competition not as some new teams who on seeing it on the membership form thinking it were compulsory. New teams may not be on the distribution list but once on would in the future receive application packs. Balance and forms to be collected tonight and Tony will add the FA Affiliation numbers to the forms.

1st and 2nd Division Clubs into the National Cup
3rd Division Clubs into the National Trophy

This is from the National Cup Committee but if any club in the 3rd Division feel that they would benefit more from the National Cup Competition then please enter accordingly.

Respect (D Pugh)

First off there is NO PLACE for racism in the League and one club got fined £700 for having a game abandoned.

Question: Would you like a referee every week?
Loose respect, loose the game.
This initiative is for the long term not a sprint it Is over 4 years with the Leagues signing up and creating a safe environment to play football.

1.Code of Conduct ? outline of behavioural conduct
2.Designated spectator areas (more for junior than senior Leagues)
3.Referee ? manage the game by Rule 12
-Cautions and sending?s off may increase
-All referees to go through a 3 hour module
4.Captains

Pick the right person as captain as this is the person responsible to talk to the ref in the right manor and he will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct. Referee?s will use the Captains, talk through the Captains.

The aim is to become a Charter Standard League which will encourage referee?s to join the League and funding could be available for such Leagues.

Questions: A Williams (Sefton Churches) who signs, what does it cost and is it compulsory?

Answer: It costs nothing and is not compulsory. The League signs up and needs 60% of Clubs to sign up in order to work towards a Charter Standard League status.

The League Secretary has already filled in the necessary forms and is awaiting delivery of the Respect packs which will be brought to the next managers meeting for clubs to take, read through, understand and then make a decision.

Mersey Inter (P Hey)

Asking for all senior clubs to actively get their youngsters into football and look to form junior teams for the future. Several Mersey Inter teams have over the years have entered teams into the MCL and this season sees several teams entering the MCL 3rd Division.

Fixtures (D Pennington)

Apologies for the lateness of the fixtures being posted but they could not be done until the make up of the Divisions were finalised. (11 teams in 1st Div, 10 teams in 2nd Div, 10 teams in 3rd Div). Referees listed a month in advance. Expect to play every Saturday. If cancelling a game give as much notice as possible (4 weeks in Constitution). Check refs and grounds especially for early kickoffs. Check website regularly.

AKEJU CUP DRAW made - Games to be played Sat 4th October

A.O.B

Question: A Rogers (Mill Lane) Everton have offered to host our final do we keep the final there? If we book it earlier enough they may be able to get the final on the premier pitch.

Answer: Yes

Next Meeting: Norris Green Baptist Church, Monday 6th October