Lancashire League Handbook 2016

33 PROFESSIONAL BECOMING AMATEUR (See SECTION D RULE 7) SECTION D - AMATEURS 1. (21) AMATEUR QUALIFICATION 1.1. An amateur player in the League must possess at least one of the following qualifications: a. - BIRTH. i.e. The deciding factor shall be the main residence of the Parents at the time of birth, in the opinion of the League Executive, within the area covered by the League or having passed the whole of his youth from 14 to 21 years of age therein. b. - RESIDENCE. i.e. Actual bona-fide residence in the area covered by the League for not less than 12 months immediately preceding date of registration. This qualification when once acquired shall hold good in the case of a player who, after a period of absence, returns to resume residence in the area covered by the League and decides to resume playing connection with the Club he last played for. A player who has possessed a residential qualification for at least ten years, and who loses that qualification by removal to a new residence within a reasonable distance from his old Club, may apply to the League Committee for permission to continue to play with that Club. This permission shall only be granted to a player prepared to play regularly throughout the season, and the League Secretary must keep a register of all such permissions and produce same for continuance or withdrawal at each Annual Meeting of the League. c. - BUSINESS. i.e. Having had a bona-fide place of business within the area covered by the League for at least 12 months, immediately preceding date of registration or having had full time permanent employment within the area covered by the League for the same period, residence elsewhere being permitted in both cases. The player to lose his qualification if the business closes down or employment ceases. d. - A player shall also be qualified if he has spent two whole seasons, between the ages of 13 and 16, playing for a Junior team of the Club for which he desires to register. The expression “the area covered by the League” is defined as that area within a 10 mile radius of the outermost Clubs which may constitute the League from time to time and shall clearly be delineated upon a plan to be held by the Secretary. 2. (22) AMATEUR REGISTRATION 2.1. All Amateur Players when first registered must use the prescribed form, which will contain a declaration confirming amateur status to be signed by the player and be countersigned by the Chairman of the Club and may take part in a First Division match after the expiry of seven days from the receipt by the League Secretary , but the responsibility for the necessary qualifications of the Player, as defined in Rule D1.1, remains for all time on the Club playing him, and the act of registration does not absolve the Club from the penalties attached to playing an unqualified player. Should the registration of a player be a matter for decision by the League Committee under either this rule or Rule D3 if the