Full Time

As we are now moving over to the Full Time system this is the link to take you to our page -

https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?league=5354047&selectedSeason=173915037&selectedDivision=159886378&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_743688173

Revised Formation

The latest league formation is now shown below. After being unanimous in wanting 12 teams in the top division the committe were today informed by Wardle at late notice that they would not be entering their first team in the league, and so again changes have had to be made. With only a month to the start of the season, we have now been left with 44 teams in total and after much deliberation it was decided we would have to go with four divisions of 11 teams. It seems some clubs now feel the top division is not strong enough so they want to join other leagues, yet when the division is stronger no team wants to enter it ! It's a disappointing situation that has left hard working committee members demoralised before the season has even started, and questioning their continued involvement in a competition that is constantly devalued by clubs who do not realise the effort that goes into running a competitive league, only to be let down at the last minute by teams who are either looking for an easy ride where they can win every game or teams who feel we are now not to their standard.

Good luck for the season to all those teams still with us.

League Statement

Once again, the new league formation has thrown up a considerable amount of debate and criticism and as usual the cries of "we don't want to go in the top division" !!

Throughout last season and previous seasons the committee have been crystal clear in their intentions regarding league formation and have stated continuously that in the case of teams dropping out, league formation will be decided on the remaining teams final league positions with teams moving up to fill the vacant spaces and any new teams being placed into divisions that they feel are applicable to their standard. After the new formation was posted online, within a matter of hours there were complaints from teams who felt they were in too high a division and this was then disappointingly followed a few days later by both R-Kix and AFC Swan dropping out to apparently join other leagues, leaving two vacant spaces in the top division. The committee stand by their previous decision to have 12 teams in the top division and will continue to move teams up if more teams drop out in order to make sure there are 12 in the division for the start of the season. There is a possibility of two more new teams joining the league and if so they will replace R-Kix and Swan in the top division but if this does not happen please be aware two more teams will be moved up and the divisions below will again be restructured slightly.

For those who are still not happy please note - THERE ARE ONLY 2 TEAMS IN DIV 1 WHO WERE IN IT LAST SEASON - North Manchester Lions and Rochdalians. The rest of the division is made up of teams who were in divisions 2 and 3 apart from Fox & Pine who had finished rock bottom of division one for the past two seasons and the committee felt it was only fair to relegate them this season. THERE ARE ALSO ONLY 3 TEAMS LEFT FROM LAST SEASONS DIV 2 so the top division is now made up of two teams from last seasons Div 1, three teams from Div 2, four teams from Div 3 and one new team with two places to be filled by either two possible new additions or two more ex Div 3 teams. 

With regard to the cup competitions, in the divisional cups any team knocked out in the first round or in the second round if they had a bye in the first round, will then be entered into a a supplementary cup competition to ensure they still have a chance of winning something and giving them possible extra games to fill the season out.

FINALLY - If you are still not happy and intend to drop out of the league please inform us no later than Friday 28th July, amended league formation will go online on Monday 31st. First league meeting of the season is on Thursday 17th August and the season will kick off on Sunday 3rd September.

League Formation 2023/24

League formation for the coming season has now been finalised, it is based on last season's league standings as stated by the committee throughout the season taking into account the teams that have also dropped out and the addition of ten new teams.

 Div 1        Div 2        Div 3        Div 4
                         
 Bolton Castle        AFC D'Havilland        AFC Bolton        Brown Cow
 Bury Pumas        AFC Radcliffe        AFC Swan 2nds        Bury North
 Littleborough        Breightmet Wanderers        Cartshaft        Duke of Wellington
 North Mcr Lions        Burnden Aces        Clayton Ath        FC Wellington
 North Walkden        Fox & Pine Villa        Lancashire Hospitality        Holcombe
 Rochdalians        Game Cock        Norford Utd        Made In Bury
 Royle        GTAS        North Mcr Lions Res        Mayfield
 Royton CC        Helmshore Harriers        Radcliffe Boro        Milburn
 The Oxford        Heywood Athletic        Totty Robins        North West Cobras
 Tiki Taka        Middletonians        Wardle 2nds        Radcliffe Wanderers
 Woodbank UTB        Ramsbottom Hounds        Wardleworth        Railway Rovers
                         

 

 

CLUB DRAW

As the number of league meetings for the forthcoming season has been reduced to 5, the Committee have decided that the prize money for the club draw will be increased from £40 to £100. Clubs will still have to be in attendance to claim the prize. In addition, and in order to ensure a share-out of the prize money, once a club has won a prize they will not be entered into any further draws for the remainder of the season.

Keep It Tidy

Clubs are reminded they must leave pitchsides tidy and litter free. Please take a bin bag with you and remove any litter from the side of the pitch after the game. Also, please don't forget to return corner flags and goalposts to the lock ups before leaving. The attendant at Firgrove has had to go out and collect corner flags after matches on a number of occasions and this is not her responsibility.

Firgrove Parking

All teams playing at Firgrove must make sure no players, officials or spectators park in the central lane that divides the two sets of pitches. This lane must be left clear at all times as it is the only entrance and exit road to the farm and access is required at all times. This is also an access road for an ambulance in case of any serious injury on any of the pitches close by. It has also been reported that the changing room attendant was verbally abused after asking someone to remove their vehicle from the lane, this will not be tolerated by the league and any club or individual reported for any misdemeanour towards the attendant will be dealt with most severely.

Clubs are also asked to leave the touchlines and surrounding areas in tidy condition, and ask spectators to remove any litter rather than just leaving it on the floor. Please take a bin bag with you if possible and remove any litter.

Home clubs on Firgrove must also note that they must play on the pitch allocated to them on the wall inside the changing room doors and cannot just pick any pitch. Firgrove has numerous teams playing there this season on both Saturdays and Sundays so it is imperative the pitches are rotated as much as possible in order to try and keep them in good condition.

Social Media

Clubs, players and officials are reminded that they must be extremely careful what they post on any social media websites. Anything that could be classed in any way derogatory, defamatory, racist or insulting in any way whether meant in a humorous way or not will be immediately reported to County FA who will take further action and may fine or ban the club or any individual involved. 

Same Day Registrations

Clubs are reminded that when signing a player on the day of a match they must then post the players registration form and photos on the same day as the match, to the address on the form including a stamped addressed envelope so that the registrations secretary can then return the players registration slip. Any forms not received on time will mean that the player is not registered to play in the game and the club involved will then be classed as having fielded an ineligible player.

First Aid Equipment

Clubs are reminded they must have a full and complete first aid kit with them at all matches. Health and safety of players is of the utmost importance to us all and with this in mind committee members will be checking to make sure clubs do have the neccessary equipment. (A bottle of water is not a first aid kit !). Any club without first aid equipment will be warned and expected to have a full kit in place for their next match or they will then be fined. Please put your players safety first and foremost at all times.

Registrations !!

Clubs are reminded they must include a large stamped addressed envelope with a large postage stamp when they send in their registrations. If you haven't sent one to the registrations secretary please do so. Also, clubs must include the players previous clubs (no matter who they are or what league it was in) on the form.

The Registrations Secretary has asked that all clubs make sure they have the correct postage on envelopes containing registration forms and also on stamped addressed envelopes for the slips to be returned in. The easiest way is to go in to the post office and have your envelope weighed and measured in order to attach the correct postage fees.

 **URGENT REMINDER TO CLUBS**

At last Monday's committee meeting it was brought to the attention of the committee that numerous clubs are not following the basic rules of the league and the committe were unanimously agreed that if this continues there would be no option other than to start fining clubs for their non compliance. So here is a reminder of the basics that all clubs must comply with -

1. Home clubs must confirm their game with their referee no later than Thursday 9pm, letting the referee know their home ground location and kit colours. If clubs do not confirm they run the risk of having no referee and any club reported for not confirming will be fined.

2. Home clubs must confirm the game with their opposition no later than Thursday 9pm, advising the opposition of their home ground location and kit colours. In the case of a colour clash the away team must wear their change strip. Again, any team reported for not confirming will be fined.

3. Matchcards must be completed and handed to the referee in the changing room at least 15 minutes before kick off. At a referees meeting to be arranged, officials will be advised they are not to kick off any game unless they have received a fully completed matchcard and a matchball prior to kick off. Payment of referees must be made promptly after the game.

4. All clubs must have a full first aid kit with them at all games. Health and safety of players and officials is of utmost importance and must never be ignored. Please note a bottle of water is not in any way classed as a first aid kit. Committee members and referees will be starting to check equipment at games and any club without first aid equipment will be fined £25 on each occasion they play without the satisfactory equipment.

5. Clubs must carry their photo ID wallets with them to all games and committee members and refs will be checking these at games.    

Phone Calls

Clubs are kindly requested not to make phone calls to committee members after 9.00pm

Website

Please check your club's page on the website and if any details are wrong, you must inform the secretary urgently so that she can amend them. All Divisions are now updated with as much detail as we have, if there are details missing on your page please contact the league secretary to update as soon as possible.

 

 

Website Articles

Please feel free to send in match reports, photos or any article you would like included on the site. Email rbdsundayleague@outlook.com with any article and we will upload it to the site.

Officials

Are you interested in becoming an official. Would you like to join our elite band of referees and be paid to officiate ? Please contact our Referee's Secretary Nick Gibbons on 07974 215960 for more details.

Contact Us

You can contact us via email at rbdsundayleague@outlook.com or go to our commiittee page for full details, phone contact numbers etc.