Suffice to say, the 2010-11 AFC season is here. The mailing of handbooks, start of season newsletter, Spirit of Football newsletter, details for sending results, Golden Boot Guidance, etc is going out to clubs (Club Secretaries only), referees and league officers this week (1st-3rd September). 

If you haven't received details by Friday 10th September, please contact Danny McConnell.

Best of luck to everyone for the new season!

Non League Paper Columnist (August 2010) - We're pleased to report that Jonny Singer will be doing our reports for the Non League Paper for the new season. We'll send out details to clubs shortly. 

Thanks to everyone who has expressed an interest, and with quite a few people looking to get involved, we'll give consideration to whether the league can do more on the publicity front.

2010-11 Kickoff - Fixtures for 11th September (August 2010) - Fixtures for the first week of the season (Senior and Intermediate Divisions only, the remainder don't begin play until the 18th) have now been published, and fixtures for 18th will follow in due course. Handbooks, newsletters, etc will be sent out to clubs, officers and referees during the next week. Click here for the fixtures.

FIFA Laws of the Game Changes (August 2010) - A number of minor changes to the Laws of the Game have been made for 2010-11. Click here for details.

Club Membership Form (August 2010) - The AFC have produced a sample club membership form, for use by clubs signing on players at the start of the season. Any club is free to use, and adapt the form as they see fit. Click here to download a copy of this form.

Captains' Responsibilities for 2010-11 (August 2010) - We are approaching the start of the AFC’s second season as a RESPECT league, the FA programme we have run in tandem with our own Spirit of Football Initiative.

As everyone is aware, one of the key elements of the RESPECT programme is that team captains have a good working relationship with the referee/match officials – seeking to work them during the game to maintain good behaviour and discipline, and accepting a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of their team-mates.

The key points:-

For more details on the responsibilities of captains, and our expectations of them, please click here.

Whilst the majority of teams and captains have been supportive of the programme, we are aware that a number have failed to do so, and in the most extreme cases, as clubs are aware, sides have been withdrawn from the league during the season.

With the season kickoff approaching, we’d like to draw particular attention to the captain’s role, and the need to ensure that club’s appoint people who both understand their responsibilities and are prepared to adopt them, with a willingness to work with the match officials, and have the strength to control their team-mates, and ensure that their players conduct themselves appropriately on the pitch.

We’re aware that it’s not easy to find volunteers nowadays, but clubs should endeavour to ensure that those elected are prepared to support the campaign, and ensure that they will uphold the club’s reputation.

If clubs have any questions, please feel free to contact Rob Gibbs (Tel: 020 8866 2033).

AFC Assistant Referee Training (Jul 2010) - The Amateur Football Combination will be running a training session for Assistant Referees on Saturday 21st August, from 9.30am until 12.30pm at Bealonians FC (Redbridge Sports Centre, Forest Road, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3HD (nearest station: Fairlop, Central Line, 5 minutes walk).

The session is open to any official, whether you're operating or likely to be operating on the AFC Premier Division, wanting to improve and practice Assistant Refereeing skills, or simply keen to develop sound teamwork skills.

The session will be run by Stan Rosenthal (Chairman of AFC Referees Committee, Level 5 Referee, Licensed Instructor and Assessor) and Lorraine Deschamps (Level 5 Referee, Licensed Instructor, officiating on the Combined Counties, Suburban and Women's Premier Leagues, as well as the AFC).

The session will cover:-

AFA Referee Training Course (Jul 2010) - The AFA will be running two new referee training courses in October and November in South London, at Carshalton and Kew. For more details, or to book a place, please contact John Monk.

AFC Preseason Fixture Bureau (July 2010) - The AFC Preseason Fixture Bureau is now open. Click here for more details.

AFC Kickoff (Jul 2010) - The Premier, Senior and Intermediate Divisions will start playing on Saturday 11th September 2010 (though Premier games will be available on 4th September for clubs that wish to play) and the remaining Divisions will begin play on Saturday 18th September 2010.

Marsh (Jul 2010) - Marsh have informed us they have resigned from the Amateur Football Combination with immediate effect.

London Old Boys Cup Entries (July 2010) - Please note that the following clubs have not yet entered the London Old Boys Cups, and if they don't want to miss out for next season, should contact John Maskell as soon as possible.

Alleyn Old Boys, Fitzwilliam Old Boys, Heathrow Seniors, HAC, Malvern Chase, KCS Wimbledon Old Boys, Old Crosbeians, Old Danes, Old Haberdashers, Old Isleworthians, Old Malvernians, Old Owens, Pegasus, Ravenscroft Old Boys

AFC Annual General Meeting Report (July 2010) - A few highlights of the meeting I should point out for clubs, officers and referees. Fines for the clubs who failed to attend (Centymca, Davenant Wanderers, HAC, Marsh, Pegasus, Ravenscroft Old Boys, Teddington, Temple Bar) will be notified shortly.

Our thanks to everyone who attended. The contributions from the floor were very much appreciated on the various points of debate, and it provides essential feedback and food for thought to the league and its officers, so that we can hopefully continue to make the right decisions on behalf of our clubs. It's your league, and it's only right that you have your say.

My apologies to those who had to stand for the lack of seats.

Fines for Season 2009-10 (Jul 2010) - many thanks to Alan Meyer, who has produced a summary of league fines during the season just passed, effectively recording which clubs are subsidising the rest by keeping subscriptions down (£75 per club on average). Key points:-

Old Camdenians Pitch Hire (Jul 2010) - Old Camdenians are looking to hire out pitches at their Mill Hill ground during the 2010-11 season. Any clubs interested should contact the club direct.

Old Tenisonians Pitch Hire (Jul 2010) - Old Tenisonians are looking to hire out pitches at their Motspur Park ground during the 2010-11 season. Any clubs interested should contact the club direct.

Old Tiffinians Pitch Hire (Jul 2010) - Old Tiffinians are looking to hire out pitches at their East Molesey ground during the 2010-11 season. Any clubs interested should contact the club direct.

AFA Referee Training Course (Jun 2010) - The AFA will be running a new referee training course in July (Tuesday 13th, 7pm to 9.30pm, Sunday 18th, 9am to 4pm, Sunday 25th, 9am to 4pm, Tuesday 27th, 7pm to 9.30pm) at Waltham Abbey Football Club, Capershotts, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1LU. For more details, or to book a place, please contact John Monk.

AFC Annual General Meeting (Jun 2010) - Clubs are reminded that the 2010 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th June, 6.30pm start at the Chadwick Street Recreation Centre, 1 Chadwick Street, Westminster, SW1P 2EP. All clubs must be represented. It's a World Cup Rest Day!

2009-10 League News