It is with much delight that I can confirm that Luke Graham of Old Meadonians has been named AFA Coach of the Year 2018. Luke has coached Old Meadonians 1st XI for the past few seasons and has also now taken over the running of the AFC Representative XI for this and coming seasons. Luke together with Ali McCombe will jointly oversee the rep team and hopefully take the team on the two year journey that will see us reach the Inter League Cup final in 2020.

Well done Luke

I have to advise that due to lack of player commitment the above club have taken the decision to resign with immediate effect from the AFC and withdraw from the AFA & LOB Cup competitions. Teams drawn against Egbertian will be given walkovers to the next round. It is indeed very sad that a club that had 5 teams in 2015/16 should end up folding in just two seasons - a 91 year history lost to grassroots football. Hopefully things may change in the future and they can reform - only time will tell.

As Egbertian were in 2 North, the Fixture Committee will be tasked with urgently making a decision whether to promote one team from all divisions from 3 to 6 North, to ensure that each division is made up of at least 10 teams or leave 2 North with just 9 teams. Updates will follow in due course.

Ian Andrews
AFC Secretary

From: John Monk <John.Monk@amateur-fa.com>
Sin Bin Presentation for AFC Clubc, Referees & Players
 Last season The FA first trialled the use of temporary suspensions (sin bins) in cases of dissent across a selection of league competitions up and down the Country.  In the case of the AFA, the Southern Amateur League took part in the trial.  This season the Amateur Football Combination are also going to be using sin bins and from season 2019/20 sin bins will be used in all grassroots competitions.

Some referees have been keen to try out sin bins whilst others have expressed concern about their operation or effectiveness.  There is no doubt that a wide variety of opinions exist on the subject.  We are keen to support our referees by providing information and training and I am writing to invite you to attend a presentation about sin bins.
We have set up dates and venues for four presentation sessions spread across the London area.  I will be giving the presentation which has been put together by The FA.  It covers:

 The Authority

1. The Pilot and Results
2. The Next Steps
3. Sin Bins in Operation
4. Open Forum

 Each presentation will take about an hour and each one will start at 7.00 pm.  The dates and venues are:

 Tuesday 14th August

 Middlesex FA Headquarters, Rectory Park Avenue, Rectory Park, Northolt  UB5 6ED

 Wednesday 15th August

 Old Finchleians FC,  12 Southover,  Woodside Park N12 7JE

 Tuesday 21st August

 Surrey FA HQ, Meadowbank Football Ground, Mill Lane, Dorking ,Surrey  RH4 1DX

 Wednesday 22nd August

Bealonians FC   The Jack Carter Pavilion  Oakfield Playing Fields  Barkingside  IG6 2JL

 I hope that you are able to come along to one of these sessions to learn more about sin bins, how they work, why they are being trialled and the results of the trial from last season. 

If you intend to come along to one of the sessions please email me at john.monk@amateur-fa.com confirming which session you will attend so that I can keep track of likely numbers.

 John Monk   AFA Football Administrator    Tel.  0208 733 2613 (Option 3)