Applying for membership to the Lancashire Amateur Football League.

The League Executive welcomes applications to join the League but are keen to stress that the League is looking to maintain & improve standards.

The Rules of the League can be seen by clicking on this link.

Although the desired entry (preferably well-established clubs with a good pedigree) is for two teams (the club’s first and second teams), applications for one team are welcomed.

Successful entrants would be placed in a division(s) decided by the League Council. Third and fourth teams are allocated over the 3^rd and 4^th divisions of the league.

Although travelling in the L.A.L. has to be considered, with Clubs from towns like Bolton, Preston, Rochdale, Oldham, Burnley, and Accrington, the area is well served by the regions excellent motorway network.

We have a strong disciplinary code, in both administration and player discipline.

The penalties for failing to fulfil fixtures can be quite heavy and fines are also administered for late kick-offs, short teams etc. Player discipline is carefully monitored and we have, on occasions, withdrawn player registrations when deemed necessary. We are well known for being a sporting and fair play league and intend to keep it that way. Page 9 of the League handbook (‘Discipline, A Player’s Guide’) should be carefully studied.

We enjoy the privilege of being a Football Association's Referee Supply League, which helps us to attract quality referees who are keen for promotion to the higher echelons of the game.

It is unfair to ask secretaries to meet on a monthly basis, the distances being too far after a day’s work, so we communicate by issuing a monthly fixtures/referees list together with any information the clubs are required to see. We do though expect Clubs to send a representative to the AGM held in June, a pre-season meeting in August, and occasionally an extra meeting if Rule Changes are necessary.

We hold regional meetings once a year so that club representatives can meet their league counterparts to discuss issues in a relaxed atmosphere at a venue near their own locality. This would entail one meeting per season under the regional scheme (usually in the month of February).

We do run a player insurance scheme to cover death or loss of limb. Clubs and players are strongly advised, however, to take out their own player accident insurance cover if they would be financially disadvantaged if injured.]

Public Liability Insurance is mandatory and is currently covered by payment to the Lancashire Football Association.

If you wish to apply to join the League, representatives of the League will carry out inspection of your ground and facilities and then submit a detailed report, for consideration by the committee responsible for examining the application.

Quite obviously there is a lot more to discuss than outlined here but we do check all bona fide applications and, subject to the basic requirements being confirmed, the League Executive Committee may interview the applicant club.

Any recommendations, from that committee would then be placed before the League Council for consideration. The final decision to accept or reject an application for membership rests with the existing member clubs at a Special or Annual General meeting (assuming the application reaches that stage).

Should you wish to pursue the matter further, we can forward a copy of the League’s current handbook together with a document outlining the ground and facilities requirements.

If you would like to consider joining the League, or have an informal discussion on the subject, please contact our League Secretary, Peter Duffy on 0161-723-2619.

All applications would be kept in confidence until you have decided to make a formal application to join the League.