Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful guidance for club officials, referees, players, fans, and welfare contacts.
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For Club Secretaries & Managers
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.
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For Referees
5. What are the official referee fees and mileage expenses for this season?
Match fees vary slightly by division but are clearly structured across the league pyramid:
- Premier Division: £45.00 flat fee
- Divisions 1 & 2 / Development: £40.00 flat fee
- Assistant Referees (where appointed): £30.00 flat fee
- Mileage: Travel expenses are calculated at £0.45 per mile from home to ground and back, capped at a maximum of £20.00 per match
Fees are paid in cash or via bank transfer by the home team in the changing room prior to kick-off.
6. How do I report a player dismissal (Red Card) or team misconduct?
All misconduct, cautions (yellow cards), and dismissals (red cards) must be logged directly through the FA Whole Game System / Match Official Portal within 24 hours of the match concluding. Exceptional incidents, such as spectator trouble or physical threats, must also be backed up by a written report sent directly to the County FA Discipline Manager.
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For Players & Fans
7. Where can I find the official league rules, handbooks, and cup regulations?
The complete and current League Constitution, Saturday/Sunday Handbooks, and individual Cup Rules are permanently hosted on our dedicated Downloads & Documents page. These are updated annually following the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) each summer.
8. Can a player play for both a Saturday team and a Sunday team in this league?
Yes. Because the Saturday and Sunday leagues operate as technically distinct competitions under the league umbrella, a player can be registered to play for a Saturday club and a completely different Sunday club. However, a player cannot register for two different clubs within the same playing day, for example, you cannot play for two different Saturday teams.
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For Safeguarding & Welfare
9. What qualifications do our club coaches need to be compliant with league welfare rules?
To be listed on a team sheet for any youth or development match, all coaches and managers must hold a valid, clear FA Enhanced DBS Check, alongside up-to-date certificates in FA Safeguarding Children and Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF).
10. How do I file an anonymous or urgent report regarding discrimination or bad behavior?
The league operates a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination, abuse, and bullying. You can submit an incident report via the secure “Report a Concern” form in our Welfare Resources hub.