Wear Down South

Annual General Meeting

Sue Hunter — 2009-08-10T20:45:00Z

Members are invited to come along to the Annual General Meeting and have their say about how he Branch is faring and the direction it should be heading in.

It is worth attending - after ideas from members at last years meeting we have now introduced payment by BACS this year.

It's also a great opportunity to have a couple of pints with fellow fans and discuss progress under Steve Bruce.

Date: Monday 21 September

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: The Sekforde Arms, Clerkenwell

A light buffet supper will be provided.

Sad news as we mourn Branch member, Dave Hillam

Sue Hunter — 2008-09-01T17:36:13Z

Dave had been a member of the branch since 1982, and will have been a familiar face at matches to many of you, right up until the game at White Hart Lane the previous Saturday. More recently Dave had put in a huge amount of work on this very website, and was the main driving force behind it.

The sincere condolences of all Branch members go to Dave's wife Marion, his brother Mike and the rest of his family and many friends.

Who We Are

Sue Hunter — 2007-01-02T00:00:00Z

One of its founder Life-Members, Ian Todd, raided the Association membership list during the summer of 1966 and wrote to all with addresses in London and the Home Counties. The result was a meeting before the game at West Ham in February 1967, attended by about 50 potential members, a Club director and the parent body's Chairman, at which the London Branch was inaugurated. A volunteer Steering Committee was formed and two weeks later the Branch ran its first coach trip to The Hawthorns.

Suffering only occasional dips linked to the fortunes of the team, the Branch has grown steadily over the years and, with over 700 members, is now the largest of the Associate Branches of the parent body and one of the largest such supporter groups in the capital supporting a provincial team. In 1974, the wide area from which it had attracted members was reflected in a change of name to the “London and Southern England Branch”. Since then former Branch members have been involved in the formation of the Peterborough, North Herts. and Sussex & Surrey supporter groups and close friendships and working relationships are maintained with them.

For a number of years the Branch was honoured to have Charlie Hurley, who now lives in Hertfordshire, as its President. Upon his request to withdraw, we were delighted to receive an acceptance from Steve Cram who remains in that role to this day and has attended several of the Branch's functions when his various activities have found him in London.

The wide area from which Branch members are drawn make regular meetings impractical and from the outset communication has been principally by means of a newsletter – in the early days a single stencil duplicated sheet, now a 40-page word processed and professionally printed magazine.

As well as running group travel to all games whose timing hasn't been made impractical by Sky television, the Branch has a number of sports teams which take part in both friendly and competitive games against other supporters' clubs in the London area. Details of these, and how to join, can be found on their dedicated pages on the web site.

Branch Merchandise - new in

Sue Hunter — 2007-01-02T00:00:00Z

They're here - the NEW London Branch badge and T-shirt.. and modelled superbly by Ian, Richie and chairman John

The lapel badge will be ready to buy from mid-June at the amazing price of £3 inc postage.

Also the New Branch T-Shirts white with the badge embroidered on them a real Bargain at £10 inc of postage sizes L & XL.

We are looking to supply children's sizes too, they will be £7 inc postage. If you want to order the children's sizes just send their ages (we need a minimum of 25 shirts to keep the price down)... hopefully everyone will want one for the beach.

We have also got a good price on Polo shirts for the autumn or even earlier at £12 inc Postage. Sizes L & XL Navy or White

SALE

We are also doing a sale of all the present merchandise:

Rugby shirts £10 + £1 P&P Navy L & XL Sweat Shirts £7 + £1 P & P Navy L & XL Mugs £2.50p + 50p P&P

Really old Sweatshirts all grey small £3 +£1 P &P

To order...

simply print out the attached order form or contact Teresa at the following address: Teresa Wilkinson 63 Packington Square London N1 7UA

Or leave a message on her answer machine and she will get back to you as soon as possible. 02073541167

Branch rules

Sue Hunter — 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

1. The Branch shall be an Associate Branch of the Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters' Association as defined by the Association's Rules. It shall be called the London and Southern England Branch.

2. Members of the Branch will automatically be Associate Members of Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters' Association and will be subject to the Rules of the Association as well as the Rules of the Branch. Members, other than Life Members of the Association, will have voting powers only within the Branch.

3. The objectives of the Branch shall be:

i) The organisation of support and encouragement of Sunderland A.F.C.;
ii) The maintenance of a high standard of conduct by members at all Club matches and during all journeys undertaken in following the team;
iii) The promotion of the best spirit of sportsmanship on all occasions;
iv) The provision of the means of social intercourse and mutual help to all members;
v) The encouragement of friendly relations with supporters of other soccer clubs.

4. Rule rescinded at 1997 Annual General Meeting.

5. No person shall be accepted into the membership of the Branch until they have agreed to accept the Branch Rules and have paid the current membership fee as has been fixed from time to time by the Association. Membership will be renewable yearly on 1st July.

6. The day to day business of the Branch shall be run by the Committee formed of not less than 9 nor more than 12 of its members. The Committee shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting, members being elected for a three-year period, at the end of which they may offer themselves for re-election. Young members (i.e. under 16 at the date of enrolment or renewal) shall not be eligible for election to the Committee nor have any voting powers.

7. The Committee shall include members who have specific responsibilities as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Enrolment Officer, Travel Officer, Sports and Social Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Publicity Officer and Sales Officer. It shall be permissible for two of these responsibilities to be carried out by one Committee member except that none of the first four positions named shall be combined with any other of the four.

8. The Committee shall, between two successive Annual General Meetings, have the power to co-opt any member:

to replace an elected member who for any reason ceases to be on the Committee, or

to carry out a nominated task or responsibility provided that at no time shall the maximum Committee size of Rule 6 be exceeded.

9. Any Committee member who shall fail to attend three consecutive Committee Meetings without giving a reasonable explanation for his or her absence shall be deemed to have resigned from the Committee.

10. The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to discuss Branch business, but at no time shall a period of four months elapse between two successive Committee meetings. Five members shall constitute a quorum at such meetings. Minutes of such meetings shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be open to examination by any Branch member provided that at least 14 days' notice is given.

11. The Branch shall have a General Account at a bank to be determined by the Committee and all cheques drawn on the account shall bear the signatures of two of the following officials: the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Travel Officer for the time being. Separate accounts may be opened for specific purposes at the discretion of the Committee, provided that the same cheque-signing arrangements are maintained, except for any account run by the Registered Promoter of any lottery run by the Branch, for which the Promoter will be solely responsible.

12. The Treasurer shall, when required to do so, present reports and accounts to the Branch Committee and shall prepare for presentation at every Annual General Meeting income and expenditure accounts and balance sheets for all monies, assets and other securities of the Branch. These accounts shall have been audited before the Annual General Meeting and certified as correct by a person appointed by the Committee for that purpose. The Auditor shall be any person other than those members of the Committee authorised by Rule 11 to sign cheques on behalf of the Branch. The financial year will end on 31st May.

13. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the football close season or before the end of September. Additionally, the Committee may at its discretion, or at the request of not less than 20 members of the Branch, call a Special General Meeting. 14 days' notice and venue of all General Meetings shall be given to all current members and such meetings may not proceed to business until 20 members are present within one hour of the time fixed. Voting shall be by show of hands or ballot paper whichever procedure is deemed expedient by the Chairman. The Chairman shall have no vote except in the case of a tie.

14. No Branch rule may be added, deleted or amended except by a vote taken at a General Meeting. Any such change must be supported by at least two-thirds of the votes cast. Notice of the proposed alteration shall be given as part of the notification of the calling of the meeting.

15. The Branch Committee shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel any member who shall infringe any Branch or Association Rule or whose conduct shall, in their opinion, render him or her unfit for membership. Before any such suspension, the member concerned shall be given the opportunity to explain his or her conduct to the Branch Committee. A suspended member shall forfeit all rights of membership during suspension. No expelled member or suspended member will be entitled to the return of any part of his or her membership fee.

16.

a) In the event of a member making payment to the Branch for an excursion fare, match ticket or other organised event and subsequently failing to turn up, any repayment of the monies received will be at the discretion of the Branch Committee.

b) If a payment made by a member to the Branch is by cheque and is for any reason not honoured upon presentation, then in addition to making good any payment still due to the Branch, the member concerned will be liable to meet any administrative or bank charges incurred by the Branch in consequence of the cheque not being met at the first attempt.

17. The authority to pledge the credit of the Association and to enter into any contracts or agreements and to make payments by or on behalf of the Branch is vested solely in the Committee.

18. No member may use the name, style or title of the Association or Branch without the authority of the Branch Committee. Other than travel arrangements made by the Branch Travel Officer, or authorised by the Committee, no financial liability will be accepted by the Association for any transport arranged by a Branch member or group of members nor will any such arrangements fall within the scope of any insurance cover arranged by the Association.

19. In the event of the winding up of the Branch, all its monies, assets and other securities shall become the property of Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters' Association.