IMPORTANT DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
20th August
Each Team must have 15 players registered with the League
1st February
Last day to notify the Hon. Secretary of any rule changes
4th February
Last day to return the League Trophies / Cups
12th March
Last day to sign players on so that they can be eligible to play in a Cup Final
30th April
Last day to notify the Hon. Secretary for the entry of new / additional Teams for the new season
New Season commences Saturday 3rd September
Update 27th March 2023
CUP FINALS - DATE AMENDMENTS
Thursday 30th March 2023 - Division Three - Southend Rangers F.C. Res. v Harold Hill F.C.
Wednesday 12th April - Division Two
Wednesday 26th April - Division One
Saturday 29th April - Patrons Plate at White Notley F.C.
Monday 1st May - Premier Division Cup Final at Witham Town F.C. 2pm kick off
Monday 8th May - Dave Strachan Cup Final at White Notley F.C. 11am kick off
Update 6th March 2023
Cup Finals
Please note that the Division Three Cup Final will now be played on Thursday 30th March 2023 at Witham Town F.C.
Essex County Cup Finals
Congratulations to both Felsted Rovers F.C. and Sandon Royals F.C. who have successfully reached the Saturday Junior Trophy and Saturday Junior Cup Finals
These fixtures will be played at Heybridge Swifts F.C. on
Saturday Junior Cup - Wednesday 29th March 2023 v Heybridge Swifts U23's
Saturday Junior Trophy - Friday 21st April 2023 v Manford Way F.C. Res.
We wish both Clubs the best of luck in these finals
Update 6th February 2023
Mid Essex League Cup Finals
The following finals are to be played at Witham Town F.C. kick off 7.45pm unless stated
Wednesday 15th March 2023 - Division Four
Wednesday 29th March 2023 - Division Three
Friday (Good Friday) 7th April 2023 - Premier Division 2pm kick off
Wednesday 12th April 2023 - Division Two
Wednesday 26th April 2023 - Division One
The following finals to be played at White Notley F.C.
Saturday 29th April 2023 - Patrons Plate knockout Final - 2pm kick off
Monday 1st May 2023 - Dave Strachan Knockout Final - 11am kick off
Update 30th December 2022
Supporting Referees: New anti-discrimination video launched
Ending discrimination and abuse is everyone’s responsibility
DID YOU KNOW...
- Over 60% of reported discriminatory abuse lead to a charge.
- Referees have the power to abandon the match if it doesn’t stop.
The F.A are taking the strongest stand against discriminatory behaviour, and are ensuring support is given to Match Referee's
What counts as discriminatory behaviour?
Language or conduct that is aggravated by ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, faith, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability.
Such behaviour needs to end. It has no part in our game.
There’s no need for confrontation. Just a clear need to identify and report discriminatory behaviour through a set procedure designed to protect the Referee and get results.
In the event of discriminatory behaviour, here’s what Referee's are advised to do:
1. At a break in play, the Referee should be made aware of the incident.
2. The Referee must then report it to a relevant club representative.
3. Next, this representative should speak to the individual involved to stop the discriminatory abuse.
4. The Referee must then speak to the managers and captains of both sides to confirm the way forward.
5. The Referee has the authority to take the players off the field until the discriminatory behaviour ends. If it doesn’t, the Referee has the authority to abandon the game.
6. Following the game, the Referee should report any incident to the relevant County FA, even if you didn’t personally witness the discriminatory abuse.
7. The Referee can also contact Kick it Out by emailing info@kickitout.org or on the app.
Update 19th December 2022
SEASONS GREETINGS
To all Clubs, Players, and Officials we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
We wish you all the best for the remainder of the Season
ECFA LONG SERVICE AWARD
Please see the attached link
Update 12th December 2022
Pre-Match Pitch Inspections
We have had a weekend of cold weather, we just want to send a gentle reminder to all Clubs / referees to ensure a pre-match pitch inspection is carried out below is some guidance for you. Please note that if the Referee has travelled then he is entitled to his full match fee, so please bare that in mind.
Also it is pointless phoing the League Secretary for a decision. I am not at the ground so the decision rests with the HOME Club and the GROUNDSMEN, if you cannot get a Referee to inspect the playing surface.
· An early inspection avoids unnecessary travel, get a local Referee to inspect the pitch
· Player safety is our number one priority i.e. is the playing surface safe to play on
· Liaise with the grounds person (if available) to understand their knowledge of the pitch
· Thoroughly inspect the pitch and not take a cursory look at the pitch
· Remember, that the highest temperature of the day is usually midday
Once you have made your decision as whether the match is to be played, please ensure you:
· Communicate with both clubs/teams
· Communicate with the competition that the match was postponed
Update 3rd October 2022
Bob Brimacombe - League President
It is with much sadness that we report of the passing of our League President, Bob Brimacombe
Bob took his referee’s ‘badge’ in 1966/67, like many who had followed the success of England winning the World Cup in 1966. He started his career as a match official with the Mid Essex League, officiating there for 21 years. In 1971 he also took up the challenge of Match Official Secretary. He held this position until 1982, overseeing many match officials’ graduations to higher national league status. In 1983, Bob became Honorary Secretary, until 1985 when he changed role to Treasurer, a post he would hold for four years. He was an integral member of this Saturday football league and was voted to hold the position of its Chairman in 1989, a post he was to hold for 15 years. Bob was given the honour of being League President in 2004, serving as an integral member for more than 51 years.
In 1993, Bob was also a founder member of the Essex Veterans’ League, seeing the necessity to provide football to those who were getting past their prime, yet were still very competitive. He took on the role of Chairman until 2018 and then he took on the role of President. Between 2004 and 2011 he was also League Secretary.
Bob gave a tremendous amount of time, dedication and service to grassroots football and received the FA 50 Year Award in 2018.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.
Update - 9th September 2022
We’re backing Play Safe
The Mid Essex Football League is lending its full support to Play Safe – an ongoing national campaign led by The FA to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in football.
Although it runs throughout the year, Play Safe really comes to the fore over football’s National Safeguarding Weekend, held this year on Saturday/Sunday 1st and 2nd October.
The main focus this year is on parents and carers, with two key messages to convey:
· Awareness of the vital safeguarding role parents/carers play
in football; and
· Encouragement to take the short, new and free online
safeguarding course that’s been created specifically for
parents/carers. You can access the course here.
Importantly, encouragement to take the new course has come from FASSSAG – The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group:
“We have inputted into the course and helped frame its key messages from our collective experiences. It’s vitally important to us that every parent/carer understands they role they need to play in football. Taking this course can make a real difference – we are asking every parent/carer to commit to help ensure football is ever-safer.”
The support of FASSSAG has been welcomed by FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham, himself a parent and youth football coach. “The FASSSAG has been important in helping us create our new strategy moving forwards and we really appreciate their input into the new course. I have taken the new course and encourage all parents/carers across football to take it too.
“Ultimately, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We all need to ensure that everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – has a consistently safe and positive experience of our great game. Play Safe reminds everyone of that responsibility and keeps safeguarding front of mind, which is exactly where it should be.”
Play Safe is being run in partnership with the NSPCC and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship. It’s also supported and being run across every other level of the game.
Update - 27th August 2022
FOOTBALL DESERVES BETTER, ENOUGH is ENOUGH
It’s time to stamp out unacceptable behaviour in grassroots football.
Football has a unique power to deliver amazing benefits to individuals and communities. Not only does it keep us physically and mentally healthy, but it also builds long lasting friendships, teaches leadership and resilience and inspires the nation.
However, for all the good that football can bring, sadly last season, at all levels of the game, there were too many examples of unacceptable behaviours that had the opposite impact. At the grassroots level, these included swearing, aggressive shouting and persistent arguing among spectators, players and officials. It is only a small minority of people that act in this way, but these individuals can spoil the game for everyone, causing children and young people to not want to play, referees and volunteers to drop out and spectators to stop supporting their team.
As The Football Association we are not going to stand by and allow this to happen.
We will take action against those that spoil the game for others.
For this coming season we will:
• Promote our RESPECT message to encourage the right behaviours.
• Consider harsher sanctions for those behaving inappropriately.
• If necessary, we will continue to look at how we strengthen penalties and suspension periods so that we can effectively tackle behaviours that have no place in the game.
• Trial different initiatives to help encourage the right behaviours, including piloting two silent side-lines weekends.
As a League, we recognise the key role you have in delivering a positive football environment for all. We have pulled together the attached one pager which sets out what action you can take against those who are not exhibiting the right behaviours.
Please play your part and let's make this season a brilliant one for all.
