Welcome to the Charity Football League Handbook

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the next league!
Iffley Road Handbook

Welcome

Thank you very much for signing up to join the Charity Football League. We look forward to welcoming you! We have set up the league to provide an easily accessible, centrally located, value-for-money opportunity to play competitive football with an enjoyable ethos. In doing so, profits from the league are going to support a fantastic cause – Oxford children’s charity, Jacari.

 

We would like to thank you for participating in the league. Feedback so far has been great, and we would love to hear your thoughts and input on how this league goes – we are very receptive to comments. We hope you enjoy it and want to come back and play again in our future seasons, as many of last seasons’ players are currently doing. We have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity so far – thank you for your support!

 

We’d like to wish you the best of luck in the Charity Football League, and as always if you have any questions please do let us know.

 

The Charity Football League Team
www.charityfootballleague.co.uk

 

To get to Iffley Road

You can find out more here. From the centre of Oxford, walk down the High Street past Magdalen College on your left. At the roundabout, take the third exit to Iffley Road. The Sports Complex is on your right hand side after a few moments. Follow the path until you reach the astroturf. For a map of the venue, click here.

 

On Arrival

Matches start prompt, and team members are responsible for getting to the venue in time for their fixture. We ask you to arrive at least 10 minutes before you kick-off time where possible.

 

Changing facilities

You are welcome to use the communal changing facilities at Iffley Road. Just go to the reception at the Iffley Road Sports Complex and explain you are playing in the league on the astroturf, and they will let you in. We advise you to use the coin-operated lockers provided to store your personal belongings and valuables. The Charity Football League and the Iffley Road Sports Complex hold no responsibility for loss of or damage to belongings, and the lockers are used at your own risk.

 

Parking

Most summers there is limited parking available at the main complex on a first come, first served basis at Iffley Road – though please note that because of building works that are taking place there may not be any parking allowed (and your car may be ticketed if you park there during such times). All vehicles are left at the owners’ own risk. The Iffley Road Sports Complex would like to bring to your attention the fact that their insurance department are unable to settle any claims for damage to vehicles left in the car park as a result of damage from hockey balls. As an alternative, there is free short-stay parking on Iffley Road and on roads leading off it.

 

Match officials

Referees and organisers are giving their time to support the Charity Football League and we would be grateful for your cooperation in responding positively to requests made by all officials, both during matches and with regard to the tournament management. Dissent will not be tolerated, and the referee’s word will be final.

 

The Charity Football League is played in good spirit, in a competitive but friendly way. All teams are instructed to act honestly and with integrity.

 

Competition Format and Rules

Teams

This is an eight-a-side league. There will be 6 teams in each division. Each team plays one match a week lasting 35 minutes with no half-time (unless specifically requested) and no stoppage time.

 

You will be sent your fixtures in advance. Please note that games start promptly. If teams aren’t ready in time, the playing time will be shortened accordingly and if a team is late by more than 5 minutes the result will be forfeited and the game will be played as a friendly, with the points handed to the opposition and a score of 3 – 0 will be recorded. If such an occurrence is considered to be deliberate to aid a team, the team will be disqualified from the league. All results against any team that is disqualified will be expunged.

 

If you know in advance that you will not be able to fulfil a fixture for any reason, please inform the CFL as soon as you are able so alternative arrangements can be made. The Charity Football League has a bank of players that are looking to join teams so we should be able to help if given enough notice.

 

Points system

  • Win: 3 points
  • Draw: 1 point
  • Loss: 0 points

 

At the end of the season, if teams are tied on points, goal difference will be taken into account. Where goal difference is equal, the higher place goes to the team with the most goals scored. If this is equal, the teams will take an equal share of the relevant place in the league.

 

League table and fixtures

You will be able to see your team’s place in the league table, the fixture list for the entire season and also a record of the top goal scorers on our website. There will be regular contact with the captains but we encourage all players to check the website regularly.

 

Trophies

At the end of each season CFL trophies are presented to the top team in both divisions and also to the top goal scorers of both divisions. When a player scores, please provide their name to the referee.

 

Laws of the game

For the full set of rules, please see here.

 

Disputes

All matters relating to match decisions are at the discretion of the match referees. However, should you have a dispute then you should report it in writing to the Charity Football League within 24 hours of the completion of the disputed event(s) by contacting us. A decision will be made within five working days of receiving your complaint. This decision is final.

 

Footwear/equipment

  • Footwear must be clean and of a suitable nature for the astroturf. No type of studded or bladed footwear is allowed
  • Shin pads are highly recommended, but are optional – please note that if you do not wear shin pads, you do so at your own risk
  • All jewellery must be removed for matches
  • Referees may inspect all players prior to each match
  • Players with incorrect equipment will not be permitted to play

 

First aid

First aid equipment will be carried by the Charity Football League staff. Should you need to use any of the medical equipment, please don’t hesitate to ask.

 

Colours/kit

When you join the football league, you can choose your colour. Please make sure you bring a top where this is the main colour. Please note that your goalkeeper should also wear a distinct colour – bibs can be provided if necessary.

 

If you would like to buy a kit for your team, this can be bought from various internet and retail outlets such as the following (please note this does not constitute a recommendation):

 

Photos

We would like to raise awareness of the Charity Football League, and may occasionally take pictures or video recordings of games to use on our website and flyers to help promote the league and the charity we support. We would be grateful if you would consent to this, but please do let us know if you would prefer not to be photographed by contacting us, or by indicating your decision when you sign up.

 

Finally

We are all guests of the venues, so we would be grateful if everyone respects this. There will be other sporting events taking place around the venue, so please comply with all requests from the venue staff, the Charity Football League and our officials.

 

Where our profits go

The profits raised by Charity Football League through your weekly payments go to Jacari, a fantastic 55-year old local charity which supports children in Oxford who don’t speak English as their first language.

 

Despite the on-the-face-of-it affluence which many people associate with the city of Oxford, there are great pockets of deprivation. Oxford has large numbers of children who struggle to learn, speak and understand English, hindering their integration into school and society.

 

Jacari helps to solve this, by matching up these children with personal private tutors. These tutors are students from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes who volunteer their time to visit the child’s home once a week to teach English.

For more information on Jacari, please click here.

 

Please ensure all members of your team have read the relevant parts of this handbook and have signed up to the CFL before they play. Thank you.

Oxford Academy Handbook

Welcome

Thank you very much for signing up to join the Charity Football League. We look forward to welcoming you! We have set up the league to provide an easily accessible, centrally located, value-for-money opportunity to play competitive football with an enjoyable ethos. In doing so, profits from the league are going to support a fantastic cause – Oxford children’s charity, Jacari.

 

We would like to thank you for participating in the league. Feedback so far has been great, and we would love to hear your thoughts and input on how this league goes – we are very receptive to comments. We hope you enjoy it and want to come back and play again in our future seasons, as many of last seasons’ players are currently doing. We have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity so far – thank you for your support!

 

We’d like to wish you the best of luck in the Charity Football League, and as always if you have any questions please do let us know.

 

The Charity Football League Team
www.charityfootballleague.co.uk

 

To get to Oxford Hawks

On Arrival

Matches start prompt, and team members are responsible for getting to the venue in time for their fixture. We ask you to arrive at least 10 minutes before you kick-off time where possible.

 

Changing facilities

You are welcome to use the toilet facilities in the main building to change. Please note, the Charity Football League and Oxford Academy hold no responsibility for loss of or damage to belongings.

 

Parking

There is parking available in front of the main complex. All vehicles are left at the owners’ own risk.

 

Match officials

Referees and organisers are giving their time to support the Charity Football League and we would be grateful for your cooperation in responding positively to requests made by all officials, both during matches and with regard to the tournament management. Dissent will not be tolerated, and the referee’s word will be final.

 

The Charity Football League is played in good spirit, in a competitive but friendly way. All teams are instructed to act honestly and with integrity.

 

Competition Format and Rules

Teams

This is a six-a-side league. There will be 8 teams in each division. Each team plays one match a week lasting 40 minutes with no half-time (unless specifically requested) and no stoppage time.

 

You will be sent your fixtures in advance. Please note that games start promptly. You should arrive 10 minutes early as you will be required sign in before kick-off. If teams aren’t ready in time, the playing time will be shortened accordingly and if a team is late by more than 5 minutes the result will be forfeited and the game will be played as a friendly, with the points handed to the opposition and a score of 3 – 0 will be recorded. If such an occurrence is considered to be deliberate to aid a team, the team will be disqualified from the league. All results against any team that is disqualified will be expunged.

 

Points system

  • Win: 3 points
  • Draw: 1 point
  • Loss: 0 points

 

At the end of the season, if teams are tied on points, goal difference will be taken into account. Where goal difference is equal, the higher place goes to the team with the most goals scored. If this is equal, the teams will take an equal share of the relevant place in the league.

 

League table and fixtures

You will be able to see your team’s place in the league table, the fixture list for the entire season and also a record of the top goal scorers on our website. There wil be regular contact with the captains but we encourage all players to check the website regularly.

 

Trophies

At the end of each season CFL trophies are presented to the top team in both divisions and also to the top goal scorers of both divisions. When a player scores, please provide their name to the referee.

 

Laws of the game

For the full set of rules, please see here.

 

Disputes

All matters relating to match decisions are at the discretion of the match referees. However, should you have a dispute then you should report it in writing to the Charity Football League within 24 hours of the completion of the disputed event(s) by emailing contacting us. A decision will be made within five working days of receiving your complaint. This decision is final.

 

Footwear/equipment

  • Footwear must be clean and of a suitable nature for the astroturf. No type of studded or bladed footwear is allowed
  • Shin pads are highly recommended, but are optional – please note that if you do not wear shin pads, you do so at your own risk
  • All jewellery must be removed for matches
  • Referees may inspect all players prior to each match
  • Players with incorrect equipment will not be permitted to play

 

First aid

First aid equipment will be carried by the Charity Football League staff. Should you need to use any of the medical equipment, please don’t hesitate to ask.

 

Colours/kit

When you join the football league, you can choose your colour. Please make sure you bring a top where this is the main colour. Please note that your goalkeeper should also wear a distinct colour – bibs can be provided if necessary.

 

If you would like to buy a kit for your team, this can be bought from various internet and retail outlets such as the following (please note this does not constitute a recommendation):

 

Photos

We would like to raise awareness of the Charity Football League, and may occasionally take pictures or video recordings of games to use on our website and flyers to help promote the league and the charity we support. We would be grateful if you would consent to this, but please do let us know if you would prefer not to be photographed by contacting us, or by indicating your decision when you sign up.

 

Finally

We are all guests of the venues, so we would be grateful if everyone respects this. There will be other sporting events taking place around the venue, so please comply with all requests from the venue staff, the Charity Football League and our officials.

 

Where our profits go

The profits raised by Charity Football League through your weekly payments go to Jacari, a fantastic 60-year old local charity which supports children in Oxford who don’t speak English as their first language.

 

Despite the on-the-face-of-it affluence which many people associate with the city of Oxford, there are great pockets of deprivation. Oxford has large numbers of children who struggle to learn, speak and understand English, hindering their integration into school and society.

 

Jacari helps to solve this, by matching up these children with personal private tutors. These tutors are students from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes who volunteer their time to visit the child’s home once a week to teach English.

 

For more information on Jacari, please click here.

 

Please ensure all members of your team have read the relevant parts of this handbook and have signed up to the CFL before they play. Thank you.