NAMES AND CONTROL

1. The Cup Competitions shall be known as the ‘uhlsport Hampshire Premier League Cup’ (or such other name as the Competition may adopt), and ‘The George Mason Memorial Shield’.

Cups shall not be won outright and shall be returned to the donors in the event of no Competition. Winners of each cup competition must return the trophies to the League no later than March 1st yearly. The trophies must be in a sound condition as set out in the league rules.

The Competition shall be managed by the Officers and Management Committee of the Hampshire Premier Football League whose decisions on all matters shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with League Rule 16.

The Competition shall observe the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association and all matches played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as settled by the International Association Board.

ENTRIES AND ENTRANCE FEES

2. It is mandatory for All Clubs to compete, and they must make a written application accompanied by the appropriate fees by June 1st or as directed by the Management Committee. 

Offending Clubs may be fined £25.00. Entrance Fee as per the Fees Tariff per club payable on or before the AGM of the competition in any year.

ELIGIBILITY OF CLUBS

3. Hampshire Premier Football League Cup is open to all Clubs with teams playing in the Senior Division & First Division of the Hampshire Premier Football League.

The George Mason Memorial Shield is open to those clubs knocked-out of the Hampshire Premier Football League Cup at the First Round stage.

PLAYER QUALIFICATIONS

4 (a) Except as hereby varied, the player’s qualifications shall be those as defined in League Rule 8   for Senior Division matches as far as it applies to Club eligible for both these Competitions.

(b) No player shall play for more than one (1) team in any one (1) Cup Competition during the same season.

(c) In the event of a Cup Tie being postponed only those players eligible to play on the original date shall be eligible to play when the re-arranged game takes place. In addition, any player suspended on the date of the original tie who has now served that suspension and has not been suspended for another offence will be eligible on the date of the rearranged tie.

(d) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall be removed from the Competition and the game awarded to the opponents, and shall be fined a sum not less than £50.00 and further dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(e) Any player playing the semi-final and final ties of the competition must have played a minimum of 3 league matches for the relevant level cup competition prior to the semi-final tie for that club. Being named as an unused substitute is not classed as an appearance.

KICK OFF TIMES, DRAWN TIES, EXTRA TIME AND CHOICE OF GROUNDS

5. (a) Kick-off times shall be as stated in League Rule 10 and fixed by the annual general meeting.

(b) Except as hereby varied, in all rounds, excluding Semi-Final and Finals the Club first drawn will be the Home Club. If the designated home Club ground is not available, the Fixture Secretary may reverse the fixture otherwise the home drawn team shall have two (2) attempts before the game is reversed. In the event of neither ground being available the tie will be played on the ground of the first drawn Club the week immediately following or as directed by the Fixture Secretary. The Management Committee shall decide upon which grounds the Semi-Final and Final matches shall be played on.

(c) In the event of a draw at 90 minutes or the agreed time having been played the match shall be decided by penalty kicks in accordance with Hampshire FA County Cup rule 38. Extra time will not be played in any tie.

If circumstances and conditions do not permit penalty kicks to be taken and in matches where they are begun but not completed, the match will be replayed.

REFEREES

6. League Rule 21 shall apply and be given effect to as if here inserted.

REPORTING RESULTS

7. League Rule 11 shall apply and be given effect to as if here inserted.

ALLOCATION OF PROCEEDS

8. Except as hereby varied, in the Final Tie the whole of the proceeds of the match, after payment of expenses, shall be devoted to the Competition Funds. The Competition shall pay the expenses of the hire of the ground but if it incurs a loss the participating Clubs shall pay the difference.

CUPS AND AWARDS

9. Winners and Runners-up shall each receive a minimums of sixteen (16) awards. Where applicable League Rule 18 shall apply. When a player in the Final Tie is ordered to leave the field of play for misconduct the award to which he may be entitled may be withheld at the discretion of the Management Committee.

OTHER RULES

10. Except as hereby varied or as may be inconsistent or irrelevant, the remainder of the Rules of the Hampshire Premier Football League shall apply to these Competitions and be given effect to as if here inserted.

COMPETITION SECRETARY’S POWERS

11. 10. Where not inconsistent with the foregoing the Competition Secretary or their nominated deputy may take such arrangements as he/she thinks fit from time to time for the arranging of matches.