Secretary's Report 2025-26
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2026
Held on Monday 8th June at the West Riding County FA 7-9pm
Present were
Cheshire Dylan Rees
Cumbria Paul Tickner
Cleveland Simon Carey, Chris Baty
Durham Keith Gilbertson, Alan Johnston,
Greater Manchester Non Attendance
Lancashire Michael Timberlake
Merseyside Jolene Muray, Ian Latta (via Zoom)
Northumberland Nigel Shields, Peter Tracey
North Yorkshire John Wharton, Glen Dennis, Bobby Patterson, Mike Hall, Matt walker
South Yorkshire Apologies
Staffordshire Non attendance
West Yorkshire Apologies
Treasurer David Balme
Life Members Peter Tracey
1. Welcome.
The Chairman, Alan Johnston, welcomed all present to the meeting and commenting on how he had enjoyed his year in Office.
In Memoriam John Shipham (Durham)
2. Apologies for absence were received from:
Life member Chris Newman, Geoff Wainwright (Durham), Chris Daines (S Yorks), Tom Walton (W Yorks), Neil Pont, Kevin Hodgson, Gavin storey (all Northumberland), Geoff wainwright (Durham)
3. The minutes of the AGM 2024 were read and approved as a true record.
4. Matters arising. None
5. Secretary Report season 2025-6
PT had looked at Peter Tracey’s Sec comments for the 2023 and 2024 AGMs and found almost all was about the failure of some associations to meet deadlines (this will be included in the Competition Secs report) and the glacial progression of some competitions.
There is very little to report.
On the weekend immediately before this AGM, PT found it completely unacceptable that there were U16G and U18B finals, well into the exam season. This cannot be right.
Earlier, he had attended the U16B final between Merseyside and Lancashire where Merseyside started with two no 8s and finished with two no 4s! No one else seemed to have noticed.
At central ESFA, Andrea Chilton is leaving at the end of the academic year and being replaced internally.
6. Competition Coordinators Report
SC has enjoyed the role. He agreed that finals should have been played before June, especially U16 and u18s.
His termly newsletter doesn’t always reach all the appropriate persons within associations so Secretary’s should pass this on to those concerned.
Adherence to deadlines has varied considerably.
Peter Tracey; we still have the same issues over deadlines adherence as over he last 15 years or so.
MT; Lancs have played a total of 61 games this season, the most ever.
6. Treasurer’s Report.
David Balme apologised for not being as efficient as he had hoped.
After discussion was Proposed and Agreed that:
Late payments would be accepted without penalty.
For finals only - £150 Home team, £250 Away team
Affiliation Fees for 2026/27 stay at the same level, £125 per county
Competition entry fees per team will stay at the same level. £20 per team.
David was thanked for his authoritative presentation and for his work on the behalf of NCSFA.
7 Election of Officers for season 2026-27
Chairman Alan Johnston ( Durham) to continue as Greater Manchester were not represented. PT to write to G Manchester (and Lol Latta and T James as the Council NW Reps) re its absence from the AGM.
Secretary Paul Tickner Cumbria
Competition Coordinator Simon Carey. Cleveland
Treasurer David Balme Northumberland
Hon Auditor C Newman has retired. Nigel shields to ask N Pont
And D Balme to try to get an external auditor.
ESFA Reps AJ advised tha there is still a vacancy in the North
CWO Alan Johnston Durham
Website editor N Shields to ask Sam Donovan (Northumberland)
8. Competition Arrangements/ Football Forum debate
i. SC proposals which were circulated before the meeting were accepted.
ii. In addition;
If a fixture is not played, unless under exceptional circumstances;
There will be an extra date to play a postponed fixture.
If an association fails to play 2 fixtures – it will be ejected and fined and a 3-0 score given to the other teams.
If both teams are responsible – it is recorded as a 0-0 but no points are awarded.
iii. Communications protocol; County Secs should be copied in to all communications, email is suggested.
iv. Clear lines of communication; SC should have a named contact for each age group, which should ideally be on the Association website.
(The Treasure’s details should also be there).
v. Saturday does not have to be the default day. Each county should declare a preferred playing day for each age group. MT suggested that the home County offers one Saturday (boys), one Sunday (girls) and 2 other days. This was agreed .
vi. Timelines. All competition entries merited a return to East and West leagues.
Agreed that SC will produce a schedule of fixtures for all competitions by July 3 and these will be published by September.
9. Introduction of the Chair 2026/27 . Alan Johnston (Durham) agreed to continue.
The Vice Chair is held by Lancashire SFA.
10. AOB.
1. Jo Murray asked for the finals to be played at a central neutral venue, although the probable increased costs and finding a venue was queried.
PT to ask ESFA to advertise for a NC Finals coordinator, ( this was soon after thought to be impractical for ESFA as the organisation would inevitably fall on the committee from a distance, one venue would be very unlikely to accommodate 10 finals and the dates would have to be booked quite some time in advance. Thought to be much more realistic to sort each final separately).
2. CB: Flares had been given to one winning team to celebrate. It is illegal for u18s to purchase or discharge in a public place.
3. Cleveland have good links with colleges at u18G. Would there be sufficient interest in organising a festival?
4. KG – can Year 11s play in NC U18 competitions? Not according to the SCORY.
5. MT noted that referees fees vary across the North.
6. AJ asked that managers are asked to speak to players about foul language and dissent (after one of the finals).
7. SC. Refreshments; sometimes are not provided for the away teams (these arrangements should be agreed beforehand). KG commented that sometimes that the away team leaves and ignores refreshments.
11. The Chair thanked all for their attendance and hard work , especially SC as Competitions Coordinator) through the season and also that was nice to see some new faces.
12. 2027 AGM Next meeting - West Riding County FA Monday 14th Jun 2027, arrival 6pm for food for 7pm meeting, deadline of 9pm finish
June 19th 2026