1. How do we register a new player, and what is the deadline for weekend matches?
All player registrations must be submitted electronically through the official FA Club Portal. For a player to be eligible for a weekend fixture, their registration must be fully completed and approved by the league by 5:00 PM on the Friday preceding the match. Any player registered after this deadline will be ineligible until the following week.
2. What is the procedure if a pitch is waterlogged or a match needs to be postponed?
The home club must arrange an official pitch inspection, usually by an independent qualified referee, as early as possible—ideally by 8:30 AM on matchday. If the pitch is unplayable, the home secretary must immediately notify:
- The Opposition Fixture Secretary
- The appointed Match Official (Referee)
- The League Fixture Secretary
Failure to notify all three parties within the required timeframe may result in a league fine and liability for referee travel expenses.
3. How and when do we submit our match return cards and full-time scores?
Both the home and away teams must SMS or log their full-time score into the FA Full-Time system within 2 hours of the final whistle. The comprehensive match return card, including starting lineups, goalscorers, referee marks, and respect scores, must be digitally submitted via the league portal within 3 days of the fixture.
4. What are the rules regarding player transfers between two clubs in the league?
A transfer must be initiated by the buying club via the FA portal. Once submitted, the current club has 7 days to object, usually only if the player owes outstanding club fees. If no objection is raised, the transfer will be processed. A player cannot play for their new club until their transfer is officially approved by the League Registrations Officer.