1. How do we register a new player, and what is the deadline for weekend matches?
All player registrations must be submitted electronically through the official FA Club Portal. For a player to be eligible for a weekend fixture, their registration must be fully completed and approved by the league by 5:00 PM on the Friday preceding the match. Any player registered after this deadline will be ineligible until the following week.
2. What is the procedure if a pitch is waterlogged or a match needs to be postponed?
The home club must arrange an official pitch inspection (usually by an independent qualified referee) as early as possible—ideally by 8:30 AM on matchday. If the pitch is unplayable, the home secretary must immediately notify:
The Opposition Fixture Secretary.
The appointed Match Official (Referee).
The League Fixture Secretary. Failure to notify all three parties within the required timeframe may result in a league fine and liability for referee travel expenses.
3. How and when do we submit our match return cards and full-time scores?
Both the home and away teams must SMS or log their full-time score into the FA Full-Time system within 2 hours of the final whistle. The comprehensive match return card (including starting lineups, goalscorers, referee marks, and respect scores) must be digitally submitted via the league portal within 3 days of the fixture.
4. What are the rules regarding player transfers between two clubs in the league?
A transfer must be initiated by the buying club via the FA portal. Once submitted, the current club has 7 days to object (usually only permitted if the player owes outstanding club fees). If no objection is raised, the transfer will be processed. A player cannot play for their new club until their transfer is officially approved by the League Registrations Officer.
For Referees
5. What are the official referee fees and mileage expenses for this season?
Match fees vary slightly by division but are clearly structured across the league pyramid:
Premier Division: £45.00 flat fee.
Divisions 1 & 2 / Development: £40.00 flat fee.
Assistant Referees (where appointed): £30.00 flat fee.
Mileage: Travel expenses are calculated at £0.45 per mile from home to ground and back, capped at a maximum of £20.00 per match. Fees are paid in cash or via bank transfer by the home team in the changing room prior to kick-off.
6. How do I report a player dismissal (Red Card) or team misconduct?
All misconduct, cautions (yellow cards), and dismissals (red cards) must be logged directly through the FA Whole Game System / Match Official Portal within 24 hours of the match concluding. Exceptional incidents, such as spectator trouble or physical threats, must also be backed up by a written report sent directly to the County FA Discipline Manager.
For Players & Fans
7. Where can I find the official league rules, handbooks, and cup regulations?
The complete and current League Constitution, Saturday/Sunday Handbooks, and individual Cup Rules are permanently hosted on our dedicated Downloads & Documents page. These are updated annually following the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) each summer.
8. Can a player play for both a Saturday team and a Sunday team in this league?
Yes. Because the Saturday and Sunday leagues operate as technically distinct competitions under the league umbrella, a player can be registered to play for a Saturday club and a completely different Sunday club. However, a player cannot register for two different clubs within the same playing day (e.g., you cannot play for two different Saturday teams).
For Safeguarding & Welfare
9. What qualifications do our club coaches need to be compliant with league welfare rules?
To be listed on a team sheet for any youth or development match, all coaches and managers must hold a valid, clear FA Enhanced DBS Check, alongside up-to-date certificates in FA Safeguarding Children and Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF).
10. How do I file an anonymous or urgent report regarding discrimination or bad behavior?
The league operates a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination, abuse, and bullying. You can submit an incident report via the secure "Report a Concern" form in our Welfare Resources hub.