Club Constitution

1. Name

The name of the Club is Sutton Cricket Club, Station Road, Sutton, CB6 2RL (hereafter referred to as “the Club”). The Club shall be affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) through the Cambridgeshire Cricket Board.

2. Aims and Objectives

The Club’s aims and objectives are:

• To foster and promote the sport of cricket at all levels within the community, providing opportunities for recreation, coaching, and competition.
• To encourage all members of the local community to join the Club.
• To ensure that all members, playing and non-playing, abide by the ECB Code of Conduct, which incorporates the Spirit of Cricket and the Laws of Cricket.
• To ensure a duty of care to all young members of the Club by adopting and implementing the ECB Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and any future revisions.
• To ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club by adopting and implementing the ECB Cricket Equity Policy and any future revisions.
• To encourage all members to participate fully in the activities of the Club.
• To organise social and fundraising events for the enjoyment of members, their families, and the wider Sutton community.
• The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely towards promoting the Club’s objectives, and no portion shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to members of the Club.

3. Affiliation

3.1 The Club is affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board through the Cambridgeshire Cricket Board.

3.2 The Club and its members shall ensure that all members, playing and non-playing, abide by the ECB Code of Conduct and the Laws of Cricket.

3.3 The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and shall maintain a separate Club Safeguarding Policy Statement as required by the ECB.

3.4 The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct and any future versions of this policy.

4. Safeguarding

4.1 Sutton Cricket Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children, young people, and adults at risk who participate in its activities.

4.2 The Club recognises its responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment and to ensure that all children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

4.3 The Club shall adopt and implement the ECB Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and any subsequent updates, and shall comply with all safeguarding guidance issued by the ECB and statutory authorities.

4.4 A Club Welfare Officer (CWO) shall be appointed by the Committee and shall be the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns. The CWO shall be suitably trained and DBS-checked in accordance with ECB requirements.

4.5 All Officers, Coaches, Captains, Team Managers, and volunteers working with children or adults at risk must comply with safeguarding requirements, including appropriate DBS checks, safeguarding training, and adherence to the Club’s Safeguarding Policy.

4.6 The Club shall ensure that all safeguarding concerns are reported promptly and appropriately in accordance with the Club Safeguarding Policy, ECB guidance, and relevant legislation.

4.7 Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of the Club. All members are required to act in a way that supports the welfare and protection of children and adults at risk.

5. Membership

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in cricket, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs.

Membership categories shall include:

1. Full Adult Membership
2. Full Student and Unwaged Membership
3. Associate Junior Membership (Under 14s)
4. Associate Adult Membership

• Application for membership shall be by completion of a membership application form.
• All Full Members will be registered to play for the Club and issued with a fixture card.
• Annual subscriptions for all membership categories shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and voted on by Full Members only. Subscriptions are payable by the end of May each year.
• The Committee may refuse or remove membership only for good cause, including conduct likely to bring the Club or the game of cricket into disrepute. Appeals may be made to the Committee, whose decision shall be by majority vote.
• All members shall be subject to this Constitution and any Codes of Conduct adopted by the Club.

5. Officers of the Club

Executive Officers

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Secretary
• Fixtures Secretary
• Treasurer
• Club Welfare Officer(s)
• Team Captain(s)
• Team Vice-Captain(s)
• Colts Manager
• Groundkeeper(s)

Honorary Officers

• President
• Trustees
• Vice-President(s)

6. Election of Officers and Committee Members

6.1 All Executive Officers shall be nominated and elected at the AGM and must be Full Members for the year following election.

6.2 Each nominee must be proposed and seconded by a Club member.

6.3 Where more than one nomination is received for a position, an election shall be held by a vote of Full Members present at the AGM. Voting may be conducted by ballot at the Chair’s discretion. Election shall be by simple majority.

6.4 Where only one valid nomination is received, election shall be confirmed by a majority show of hands.

6.5 Officers shall be elected for one year and may stand for re-election.

6.6 Any member owing monies to the Club prior to the AGM or the end of the financial year (31 December), whichever is sooner, may not be nominated or elected as an Officer or Committee member.

6.7 Additional General Committee members shall be elected at the AGM by proposal and seconder.

6.8 All elected Captains must be DBS-checked prior to the start of the season.

7. Honorary Officers

7.1 Proposals for election of the President and Honorary Vice-Presidents shall be considered at the AGM. A list of Vice-Presidents shall be presented annually, with any changes reported.

7.2 Any changes to the Trustees of the Club shall be agreed at the AGM.

8. Annual General Meeting

8.1 The AGM shall be held annually, no later than the end of January.

8.2 The financial year shall run from 1 January to 31 December.

8.3 At least 14 days’ notice of the AGM shall be given to members.

8.4 Members must submit items of business in writing to the Secretary at least 7 days before the AGM.

8.5 The agenda shall be circulated not less than 5 days before the AGM.

8.6 The AGM shall:

• Confirm minutes of the previous AGM and any Special General Meetings
• Consider and vote on constitutional changes
• Receive audited accounts for the previous financial year
• Receive annual reports from Officers and Captains
• Elect Officers and Committee members
• Agree subscriptions and match fees for the coming year
• Transact any other notified business
• Discuss matters raised by members in open forum
• Agree the date of the next AGM and first Committee meeting

9. Management Committee

9.1 The Club shall be managed by a Committee elected at the AGM.

9.2 The Chair, or in their absence the Vice Chair, shall chair meetings.

9.3 Each Club member shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.

9.4 Only elected Committee members may vote at Committee meetings.

9.5 Vice-Captains shall be proposed by Captains and ratified by the Committee.

9.6 The Committee shall meet at least eight times per year.

9.7 The quorum for all meetings shall be five elected members. The Chair shall have a casting vote.

9.8 The Committee’s duties include managing the Club, overseeing finances, appointing sub-committees, and ensuring compliance with this Constitution.

9.9 A Committee member ceases to hold office upon resignation, loss of membership, or removal for good cause following due process.

10. Alterations to the Constitution

This Constitution may only be altered at an AGM or Special General Meeting.

11. Finance

• All monies shall be banked promptly in the Club’s name.
• The Treasurer shall manage day-to-day finances and present regular reports.
• Two authorised signatures shall be required on all cheques.
• Adequate insurance shall be maintained.

12. Property and Funds

The property and funds of the Club shall not be used for private benefit and shall be reinvested to further the Club’s objectives.

13. Discipline and Appeals

Complaints shall be made in writing to the Secretary and handled by the Committee in accordance with fair disciplinary procedures, including rights of representation and appeal.

14. Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, remaining assets shall be transferred to a club or organisation with similar sporting and charitable objectives.

15. Declaration

Sutton Cricket Club hereby adopts this Constitution as its governing document.

Signed (Club President): Clive Hughes
Date: ____________________

Version 4: AGM Jan 2025