PREMIER DIVISION

Clubs in our Premier (Regional NLS Feeder League) Division must play on grounds that comply with the Regional National League System Feeder League minimum grading guidelines.

Clubs seeking promotion from Division One must meet the Regional NLS Feeder League minimum grading guidelines before being considered for promotion.

If a Club is relegated for not maintaining the required minimum grading guidelines it will not be eligible for promotion again until it has attained the required grading for Regional NLS Feeder League.

Step 7 Ground Grading Requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER DIVISIONS

Clubs wishing to apply for entry into the league must be situated within the County of Essex or adjoining County border areas. The League is not accepting applications from any NEW Club playing within the North Circular.

Clubs must meet the EOFL facility criteria.

Clubs must meet County FA affiliation requirements every season regarding their Committee and Annual Accounts.

To allow time for facility inspections to be conducted, and an interview process to take place, applications for entry must be received on or before March 31st in each year.

DISCIPLINARY RECORD

Clubs applying shall have a satisfactory record and shall supply details of any disciplinary action against itself, officials and players proven during the last 2 competitive seasons.

THE TEAM

Teams joining the league having been relegated from either level 5 or 6 of The National League System shall be placed in the Premier Division.

Teams joining from Regional National League System Feeder Leagues or junior leagues shall be placed in a division at the discretion of the management committee.

New Reserves teams of teams either already in the top five divisions of the Constitution or Reserve teams of teams in a League higher up in the National League System, shall be placed in a Division at the discretion of the Management Committee.

Whilst not mandatory, clubs shall be encouraged to enter a second team into the competition.

No club will be allowed to have more than two teams in the main six divisions of the Constitution unless there are exceptional circumstances.

WITHDRAWAL OF TEAMS/CLUBS

If a team and or Club withdraw once the season has started they will not be allowed to re-apply to join the League in the following season.

FACILITIES

The Ground shall ideally be available for the season for the period from the beginning of September until the second week of May as a minimum

Preferably a Clubhouse with bar facilities should be provided

A telephone, either mobile or land line, must be available at the ground on match days

Free Car parking facilities must be made available close to the ground

The size of the playing area must be no less than 96 metres in length and 62 metres in breadth (105 yards in length and 68 yards in breadth) and consist of a good playing surface.

The playing area must be a reasonable distance from the changing rooms and have a physical barrier around all four sides, behind which all spectators must stand.

As a minimum requirement, the physical barrier may be a boundary rope, which must be no less than 1.22 metres (4 feet) from the edge of the playing area and at a height to prevent encroachment. The playing pitch must be completely isolated and free from the encroachment of spectators, substitutes, and club Officials

The rope must be supported by a minimum of 7 stakes along each side of the playing area and 4 stakes at each end of the playing area.

If such an area is provided, only two persons at a time shall be allowed within the Technical Area to convey tactical instructions in accordance with the Laws of The Game.

CHANGING ROOMS

There shall be separate changing rooms for each team, having a minimum floor area of 9.29 square metres (100 square feet) excluding shower and toilet facilities.

Separate provision shall be provided for the match officials which shall have an integral shower and toilet facilities, and a minimum floor area of 4.55 square metres (49 square feet), excluding the shower area.

Access shall be without going through team changing rooms or clubhouse area open to non-playing members.

All changing room areas must be independently locked on match days.

All changing room areas must be maintained to the highest level of cleanliness on match days.

SHOWER FACILITIES

Hot and Cold Washing Facilities must be provided.

Adequate shower facilities must be provided.

Where the shower facilities are separate there must be a minimum of 4 showerheads per team.

There must be a minimum of 8 showerheads where shower facilities are shared

Access to the shower facilities must be such that neither team shall have to enter the changing room of the other team to gain access to the showers.

TOILET FACILITIES

Where toilet facilities are separate, a minimum of 1 WC shall be provided in each changing room.

Where toilet facilities are shared, there must not be less than a total of 3 WCs/Urinals, of which at least 1 must be a WC.

Where toilet facilities are shared, access must be such that neither team has to enter the others used changing room to gain access to the toilets.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Clubs who do not have approved facilities available for Saturday football from the middle of September at the latest, or whose facilities are not available up to the third Saturday of April, shall not be allowed to enter a second team in the competition.

To avoid fixture congestion, clubs with dual County affiliations shall be allowed to enter their PARENT County Cup Competition only.

Clubs playing Senior and Reserve/Other team matches on their own pitch on the same day, the Senior Team shall play their match first.

Clubs should make every effort to produce a match day programme particularly clubs within the Premier Division

Clubs must ensure that the Code of Conduct as detailed in Appendix B is adhered to.

Clubs should always be looking to maintain and improve their all-round facilities.