Players Handbook

Intro

Alexandra Park Club aims to provide cricket and football facilities for the local community. We are an inclusive club and new members are very welcome. The club runs Senior Men's and Women's and Junior sides in both sports. Social Members are also welcome.

Dissent

As a club we have strong opinions about dissent. Without the ref we would not have a game to play, anyone booked for dissent will automatically receive a one match 'club ban'. Should you recieve a second dissent booking before January you'll be have to appear before the football committee to explain your actions. From here, the committee may decide to give you a longer ban.

Post match

Not only does the club provide food after each home game for you but it also depends on bar revenue to keep it above the red. Each Saturday we show the 5:30 Premier League game and there will be a number of different events going on over the season for you to participate in. In the event you don't like the goings on, fear not, you are also welcome to nurse your pint and watch the world go by. Glorious!

You are part of a club, not a team

At AP we are a club not a team. If a captain in a 'higher team' calls you up, it is expected you will move up. This can be slightly confusing for new players but after a few games you will usually settle in a team. Captains are also expected to push players up should they be of a higher standard. There are no such things as 'cores' or 'my player' or 'my team'. We are one and behave accordingly.

Keeping up to date

Follow the club APFC Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/AlexandraParkFC). This is especially useful on Saturday's when games maybe called off due to unplayable pitches.

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter (http://eepurl.com/bCJpMv). The newsletter contains all Selection and Match information, match reports and club news and announcements.

The AP website (http://www.alexandraparkfc.co.uk/) is updated weekly with Selection and Match information and also contains details on the club rules and history.

Alexandra Park FC Fees and Subscriptions 2025/26

A new fees and subscriptions year begins in September 2025, and there are some changes you should be aware of. Please read on to learn how you will be affected (if at all).

1. We are abolishing match fees.
2. Everyone will have to pay their subs in 12 monthly instalments.
3. Everyone within each age/gender group will pay the same annually.
4. We are extending the concession for young people from age 20 to age 22.

Monthly payments are automated and continuous. They do not stop during summer or periods of unavailability. They exist to spread the cost out evenly over your time at the club.

Monthly price matrix for September 2025 to August 2026

FAQ

What should I do if I have not paid monthly before?

Payment links will be available in future editions of this newsletter and from your team captain.

What should I do if I am already paying monthly?

Nothing.

What happens if I do not pay?

Anyone who has not made the first payment or contacted alexandraparkfctreasurer@gmail.com to make alternative arrangements by 30 September will be ineligible for matches and training.

Can I pay by bank transfer?

No - please use the payment links provided.

Playing

Selection

The Men's teams are chosen the Chairman of Selection, Vice Chairman of Selection and the Manager or Captain of each team.

Please let your Manager or Captain know if you will be unavailable the following week after your game.

Players can be dropped or promoted only one side at a time from the teams selected the previous week. The exception to this being, that the 1st Team Manager or Captain has the sole right to select any player within the Club.

In the event of a player crying off after being selected a player is selected from the team immediately below. The lowest XI will call players up from the reserve list. Players filling places due to a cry off either return to the team they were originally selected for or remain in the side they actually played for the following week.

Players unavailable for 2 weeks or more (including cry offs, unavailability or a combination of both) shall be placed on the reserve list or in a team at the Selection Committee’s discretion.

If you feel you are playing above or below your level speak to the Chairman of Selection or your Captain or Manager above moving teams.

Match Day

Be on time. Be sure that you know the exact location of where the game is to be played. Arrange to be at the ground or meeting place before the appointed time. If you are late contact your Captain to advise him as soon as possible.

Pay your match fees each week. If you persistently fail to pay you will be suspended.

Make your Captain’s job easier by volunteering to do simple jobs, like washing the kit occasionally, writing match reports for the newsletter, helping put up goal/nets...not too much to ask for the unseen time your Captain puts in during the week.

Tidy up the sidelines of any drinks bottles and rubbish after your game

Stay after your game, food is always provided both home and away, to socialise with your teammates and opposition.

Accept you Captains decision about who he makes a substitute, or who he takes off during a game. Your Captain is in charge of the team and these are tough decisions for him, without added pressures from his players. The league and cups operate a “Rolling Subs” rule so if you are subbed off there is a good chance you will get subbed back on.

If you are made a substitute but would rather start a game for a lower team, please let your Captain know and he will take this into account the following week when selecting his team.

Please remember that starting a game doesn’t mean that you may not be substituted at some stage. This is a squad game and no one can be guaranteed to play 90 minutes every week.

Discipline

The Club fully expects all players to maintain a high level of good conduct and behaviour on and off the field of play, respecting the laws of the game and the officials who apply them. The club also values fairness and transparency, and thus offers managers, captains and players alike the opportunity to participate in managing the clubs discipline. The club will apply its own disciplinary procedure in addition to the FA/AFA process and sanctions.

For the past five years we have had an exemplary disciplinary record with the Southern Amateur League (SAL), the league in which we play, and the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA), our parent County, and want this to continue this coming season.

AFA Sanctions

All cautions and sendings off received during league, cup and friendlies are liable to a monetary fine. Fines start at a minimum of £10 for a yellow card and £35 for a red. These AFA may impose a heavier fine depending on the severity of the offence. Red cards also incur an AFA suspension during which you will not be available for selection.

There is only a right of appeal for mistaken identity or wrongful dismissal (excluding abusive behaviour and 2nd caution), which must be lodged in writing with the AFA by the Tuesday following the match/red card.

Club Suspensions

Dissent - 1st Caution (Stage 1)

Cautions for dissent will incur an automatic 1 game club suspension and will take effect from the next Saturday. The players suspension will be considered served when the team in which the caution occured has completed its next fixture (cancelled or postponed games are not considered for serving the suspension).

There is no right of appeal accept for mistaken identity, and this must be lodged in writing with the club secretary within 2 days of the match/caution i.e. Monday evening. The manager/captain may raise concerns regarding the Caution, but must do so in writing to the Club Secretary, within 2 days of the related match/offence i.e. Monday evening. This information will be used in considering the appropriate sanction at STAGE 2, as set out below.

Dissent - 2nd Caution (Stage 2)

A 2nd caution for dissent will incur immediate suspension

The player will be asked to appear before the Football Committee, who will meet within 2 weeks of the 2nd caution and decide the appropriate punishment, which may include termination of membership.

Cautions - Non Dissent

3rd Caution – 1 match suspension – STAGE 1

Suspension will be considered if the 3 cautions are received between the first day of the season and 31st December. If the 3rd caution is received after 31st December, then the player will receive a formal warning, but won’t be suspended.

The manager/captain may raise concerns regarding individual cautions, but must do so in writing to the Club Secretary, within 2 days of the related match/offence i.e. Monday evening. This information will be used in considering whether or not to apply the Stages 1 sanction, which will be heard by the Football Selection Committee, at which the player may make representation.

The Football Selection Committee will meet within 2 weeks of the related match/caution, and if applied the 1 match suspension will be effective 14 days after the related match/caution.

5th Caution – 1 match suspension – STAGE 2

Suspension will be automatic if the 5 cautions are received between the first day of the season and 31st December. If the 5th caution is received after the 31st December, then the player will receive a formal warning, but won’t be suspended.

The sanction is automatic and takes effect 14 days after the related fixture/caution. There is only a right of appeal for mistaken identity, which must be lodged with the AFA by the Tuesday following the match/caution.

8th Caution – immediate suspension – STAGE 3

The player will be asked to appear before the Football Committee, who will meet within 2 weeks of the 8th caution and decide the appropriate punishment, which may include termination of membership.

Sending Offs

1st Sending Off – 1-6 match suspension (depending upon nature of offence) – STAGE 1

The sanction is automatic and takes effect from 14 days after the related match/red card.

The player may also be asked to appear before the Football Committee depending upon the nature of the offence, who may take further action, which may include termination of membership.

2nd Sending Off – 1-6 match suspension (depending upon the nature of offence) – STAGE 2

The player will be asked to appear before the Football Committee, who will meet within 2 weeks of the 2nd Sending Off and decide the appropriate punishment in addition to any sanction imposed by the AFA, which may include termination of membership.

All suspensions will be match based/played and will apply to all APFC teams, not just the team that the player was playing for when the caution/red card was issued.

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