Walton & Hersham Supporters Club
(Draft subject to agreement at 2026 AGM)
Constitution of Walton & Hersham FC Supporters Club
The Independent Supporters’ Association for Walton & Hersham Football Club
1. Name
The name of the organisation is Walton & Hersham FC Supporters Club, hereafter referred to as The Supporters Club.
2. Purpose and Aims
Given the unique relationship The Supporters Club and members have with Walton & Hersham FC, hereafter referred to as “the Football Club.” and also with the football community, the Supporters Club have a responsibility to set and apply a clear constitution to facilitate a successful Supporters Club including a set of standards and values expected within the game.
The Supporters Club aims to:
• Develop a meaningful relationship with The Football Club.
• Promote, maintain and value the history and identity of the Football Club and its supporters.
• Increase supporter influence
• Where appropriate help safeguard the Football Club through engagement with key stakeholders.
• Represent Walton & Hersham FC supporters on issues decided by its members through a process of Structured Dialogue with The Football Club.
• Establish and maintain channels of communication with the Owners, Executives and Management of the Football Club.
• Encourage the Owners, Executives, Management and Players of the Football Club to appreciate, welcome and value the support and participation of all fans and ensure that equal opportunities are promoted for all supporters.
• Affiliate to appropriate national football supporters’ organisation.
• Represent supporters in national structured dialogue via the appropriate platform.
3. Membership
Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of The Supporters Club The membership fee of The Supporters Club is £12 per year, payable by members over the age of 16. Membership will begin as soon as the membership form and first annual payments have been received.
• The annual membership fee will be reviewed and set by the Committee with approval at the AGM.
• Personal details are kept confidential in line with GDPR guidelines unless legally required.
• All fully paid-up adult members can vote and participate in AGMs and SGMs.
• Member misconduct may lead to suspension or expulsion from membership.
• Any disciplinary issue is to be dealt with by The Committee.
• Members may resign at any time in writing to the Secretary.
• Members cease to be a member if members fail to when requested to pay a membership fee, die, submit a request to the Committee in writing to terminate your membership or are expelled in line with policy.
4. Equality Inclusion and Diversity Policy
• The Supporters Club is committed to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion in our organisation and among our members.
• Attached to the constitution is appendix a, all members, officers and committee members are expected to adhere to this policy.
5 The Committee
• The business of The Supporters Club will be carried out by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting.
• The Supporters Club shall have a Committee (including Officers) of not less than 4 and not more than 12 members, elected annually at the AGM in accordance with the Election Policy.
• Committee terms are usually one year.
• The Committee will meet as necessary and not less than four times a year.
• The Committee can co-opt members as necessary providing at all times the co-opted members are in the minority.
• Committee members must declare any conflicts of interest prior to Committee meetings and abstain from related votes.
• To facilitate close working with the Football Club, The Football Club can nominate one person (and substitute if needed) to attend committee meetings in a non-voting ex-officio basis with speaking rights.
6. Officers
The Officers of The Supporters Club will be elected at the AGM, with nomination completed the day before the AGM The AGM will elect an Honorary President, Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Social Secretary, Communications Officer, Treasurer, Membership Secretary.
• HONORARY PRESIDENT This role is given to an existing or previous committee member in recognition of previous or present commitment to The Supporters Club, if it is the case that the Honorary President is not an officer or committee member of the Supporters Club they are welcome to attend all meetings in an ex-officio basis.
• CHAIR Shall work with the Secretary and others including meeting where appropriate The Football Club to ensure the successful aims /purpose of the Supporters Club. After discussion with the Secretary to agree agendas for each meeting. To Chair General and Committee meetings.
• VICE-CHAIR: (may be one of the other officers) Support the Chair in meetings and ensure fair discussion. To substitute for the Chair if the Chair is not available in appropriate meetings
• SECRETARY: Manages the tasks associated with the running of the Supporters Club including meeting where appropriate The Football Club. Manage meeting agendas, minutes, and communications.
• SOCIAL SECRETARY Manages all social matters associated with The Supporters Club as determined by the Committee including Social Events, Coach Trips to away games and other appropriate activities to foster a community spirit and ownership among members. • COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Manages social media and other communication with members as determined by the Committee
• TREASURER: Manages finances and reports to Committee at each meeting and the AGM.
• MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Works with the Secretary to ensure all membership records are compliant with GDPR requirements Responsible for keeping up to date records of members.
7. Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• Held annually at a time and place determined by the Committee.
• Notice must be given to all members 14 clear days of the AGM.
• Usual business of the AGM should include reports from officers and financial statements either at the meeting or in advance as a written report.
• All Committee Members and Officers will be elected at the AGM.
• Nomination for the Committee and Officers will be made to the Secretary the day before the AGM.
• If only one nomination for an Officer post is received said person will be deemed to be elected unopposed.
• If any positions are not received nominations will be sought from the AGM.
• Decisions (except rule changes) made at general meetings shall be by straightforward majority vote unless these rules state otherwise.
• The quorum for an AGM is 10% of the membership.
8. Special General Meetings
The secretary will call a Special General Meeting (SGM) at the request of the majority of the Committee or at least 8 other members in writing to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request, and any desired outcome associated with the request. The members will be given two weeks notice of such a meeting including agenda, time and venue. The quorum for the SGM will be 10% of the membership.
9. Amendments
• Any changes to these rules require a two-thirds majority at an AGM or SGM.
10. Dissolution
• Requires a three-quarters majority at an AGM or SGM.
• Any remaining funds go to a similar organisation which is not for profit and whose rules contain a clause similar to this one.
11. Status The Supporters Club is an unincorporated association.
12. Code of Conduct
All members must:
• Support our mission and
• reject violence, abuse, and discrimination and
• respect democratic decisions.
Members cannot:
• Speak on behalf of The Supporters Club without discussion with the Secretary or Chair, or where deemed appropriate The Committee.
• act in any way deemed to harass, alarm or distress fellow members or
• profit from The Supporters Club activities without permission or
• undermine The Supporters Club or;
• act in any way to bring The Supporters Club into disrepute.
Any such breaches of the above will be dealt with by the committee as a disciplinary matter.
Signed ……………………………………………………………………………………. Date…………………………
Signed …………………… ………………………………………………………………. Date…………………………
Appendix a
Equality Inclusion and Diversity Policy and Statement
Introduction
The Supporters Club is committed to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion in our organisation and among our members.
Given the unique relationship we have with the club and within the football community, we have a responsibility to set and apply such standards and values expected within the game.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure:
1. Equality, fairness and respect in all our procedures and activities.
2. We adhere to the principles of the Equality Act 2010 and the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
3. We oppose and avoid all forms of actual and unlawful discrimination. This includes Supporters Club activities, membership and dealing with grievances and discipline.
Implementation
The Supporters Club commits to:
4. Encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.
5. Create an environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all.
6. Recognise and value individual differences and contributions.
Visibility
7. This important part of The Supporters Club Constitution will be brought to the attention of all Committee Member and Members at each and every meeting to ensure all own the spirit of this policy, to ensure awareness of everyone’s responsibility to respect, act in accordance with and thereby support and promote the spirit and intentions of this policy.
8. This policy will be published on our website.
Commitments & Actions
9. Immediately address issues and complaints about discrimination or a breach of this policy.
10. Investigations will be fair but may result in disciplinary action.
11. The Supporters Club Committee may also consider it necessary to report matters of concern to the statutory authorities where potential criminal or safeguarding issues arise.
The organisation requires its Committee, volunteers and members to behave appropriately in the context of representing the Supporters Club in all forms of communication