Information Documents for Member Teams

Information Documents for Member Teams

Player registration instructions

Step 1
Once you have logged into the website admin area, the ‘Dashboard’ page will display.
Roll over ‘Players’ on the left hand side admin menu to display the Players Sub menu and select ‘Add New Player’.
Step 2
Enter the player’s name.
You can select ‘Save Draft’ to save your data. Use ‘Save Draft’ regularly when entering player details to ensure your data is saved.
*Do not select ‘Publish’ until you have saved all of the player’s details.
Once saved, the player appears in the main Player listings as a draft.
Select ‘Edit Player’.
In the ‘Extras’ section enter additional player details; (Under the Players Name)
● DOB – Mandatory
● Email Address – Mandatory
● Available for Transfer? – Y/N (Optional)
● Ethnicity – Optional
● Address – Mandatory
● FA – Mandatory
In the ‘Details’ section, add the following player details;(right hand side of form)
● Nationality – Mandatory
● Position – Optional, but Goalkeeper must be entered
● Current Team – Mandatory (Past Teams no requirement)

● Leagues – Mandatory
● Seasons (2026-2027)
Step 3
Once you have added all the player data required, select ‘Publish’.
*Do not select ‘Publish’ until you have saved all of the player’s details.
The Player will then appear in the ‘Registered Players’ list and an email notification of the player registration will then be sent to;
● The Player
● The League Secretary
● The Team Secretary
*If ‘Available for transfer’ is selected on the players details page then the player will also appear under the ‘Available for Transfer. The players name and Month of Birth will be displayed on the Club Home Page.

Player transfer instructions

Note: Transfers can only be processed from 1st July to 31st March.

The following instructions must be followed when a club wishes to transfer in a player from another club in membership of the Northern Football Alliance League:

TRANSFER PROCESS OVERVIEW
Club Secretaries – To view all ‘Players Available for Transfer’, log in to the website admin and select ‘Players Available’ in the ‘Transfers’ sub menu.
To ‘Approach’ a player select the ‘Create Approach’ button next to the player listing. Select ‘Ok’
to confirm.
Continue with the following steps;
1. Team Receives an Approach
● Must respond within 7 days
Options:
Approve Approach → Transfer can be created after 7 days
Waive Approach → Transfer can be created immediately
● If no response in 7 days → The approaching team can initiate the transfer.
How to respond:
1. Log in to the league website
2. Go to Transfers → Approaches Requiring Attention
3. View the approach and choose:
○ Approve Approach
○ Waive Approach
Email notifications will go to both clubs and the player.
Team Making the Approach – Initiating the Transfer
● Log in to the website
● Go to Transfers → Completed Approaches
● View the relevant approach
● Click Create Transfer (only appears if):
○ 7 days have passed since Approved Approach, OR
○ Transfer was Waived
Email notifications will go to both clubs and the player.
3. Target Team Receives Transfer Initiation
● Must respond within 3 days
● If no response → The league can process the transfer on request from the player and/or new club.
How to respond:
1. Log in to the website
2. Go to Transfers → Outgoing Transfers
3. Choose:
Approve – Transfer is completed immediately
or
Reject – Only valid if:
■ Player has changed their mind
■ Player owes football-related money or equipment
Important Notes
● A team cannot reject a Notice of Approach.
○ Options: Approve (7-day delay) or Waive (immediate)
● Once an approach is approved or waived:
○ The new club has 28 days to complete the transfer
● A club:
Cannot make 2 approaches for the same player in one season
Cannot approach the same club again within 28 days unless the approach
was waived
Player Transfer Process Checklist
Step 1: Team Receives an Approach
● Respond within 7 days:
○ Approve Approach → Transfer can be initiated after 7 days
○ Waive Approach → Transfer can be initiated immediately
● If no response in 7 days, approaching team can initiate transfer
Step 2: Approaching Team Initiates Transfer
● Log in → Transfers → Completed Approaches
● View approach
● Create transfer:
○ After 7 days if approved
○ Immediately if waived
Step 3: Target Team Receives Transfer Initiation
● Respond within 3 days:
○ Approve transfer → Transfer processed immediately
○ Reject transfer only if:
■ Player changed their mind
■ Player owes football-related money or equipment
● If no response in 3 days → League can process transfer upon request
Step 4: Final Admin Actions
● Previous club removes player from FA Player Portal.
● New club adds player to FA Player Portal
● Complete these actions immediately after transfer approval
Important Restrictions
● A club cannot reject a notice of approach
● Only one approach per player per season from the same club
● Cannot approach same club again within 28 days after approval

Transfers must also be processed on the FA Player Portal immediately following a transfer which has been completed on the League web site. This will ensure that the player’s new team receives notification of any suspensions imposed by the FA on the player.

FA Rule C

Non-Contract Players

Unless otherwise stated, Rules C88 to C96 apply to Participants in the National League System and Tiers 1 to 4 of the Women’s Football Pyramid. However, the provisions of these Rules shall apply to Approaching Clubs at any level of the game.

C88 Subject to Rule C89, a Club wishing to approach a Non-Contract Player (the “Approaching Club”) registered with one or more Clubs must give to the club secretary of each such Club seven days’ written notice of its intention to approach the Non-Contract Player (the “Approach Notice”).

C89 An Approach Notice must be given by:

C89.1 a Saturday Club only to other Saturday Clubs;

C89.2 a Sunday Club only to other Sunday Clubs; and C89.3 a midweek Club only to other midweek Clubs.

C90 A Club that receives an Approach Notice must ensure that the Non-Contract Player has received and is aware of the Approach Notice.

C91 The Approaching Club must send the Approach Notice:

C91.1 by first-class post to the registered address;

C91.2 by email to the club secretary or chairperson, of the Club(s) that the Non-Contract Player is registered with.

C92 An Approaching Club:

C92.1 may only register the relevant Player after seven days have elapsed since sending the Approach Notice (i.e. no earlier than the eighth day);

C92.2 must register the relevant Player no later than 28 days following the sending of the Approach Notice.

Guidance For the purposes of calculating the relevant time limits, the day on which the Approach Notice is sent shall be day zero.

C93 An Approaching Club must not:

C93.1 approach the same Non-Contract Player at the same Club more than once per season;

C93.2 having sent an Approach Notice to a Club, approach another Non-Contract Player at the same Club until 28 days have elapsed since sending the Approach Notice;

C93.3 subject to Rule C94, approach more than one Non-Contract Player at a Club at the same time.

C94 An Approaching Club is permitted to simultaneously approach up to two Non-Contract Players in each age group at a Club provided that those Non-Contract Players are both invited to trial at an Academy or a PGA.

C95 If a Non-Contract Player approaches a Club, that Club shall give the Club(s) for which the Non-Contract Player is currently registered seven days’ written notice that the approach has been made before registering the NonContract Player (in accordance Rules C88 to C92).

C96 Where a Club is found by The Association and/or an Affiliated Association to have acted in breach of Rules C88 to C95, its registration of the Non-Contract Player may be cancelled and the Club may be subject to such other penalty as The Association or relevant Affiliated Association deems appropriate.

Pre match day procedures

1.Home team must confirm match with opponents and match official(s) 5 days prior to the scheduled date. Details to include are:

Ground details: address etc, playing surface if 3-4G. If the match is to be played on an artificial surface or maybe played, subject to prevailing weather conditions, on an artificial surface, this must also be included.

KO time:    Colours:    After match refreshments venue details (if appropriate)

Information regarding the site of the nearest defibrillator to the pitch on which the match is to be played.

2.Away team responds to home team confirmation, 3 days prior to the scheduled date and include:

Colours

Confirmation of attendance at after match refreshments with probable numbers or inform the home club that the team will not be attending and specify the reason.

Note: If the home club does not confirm the fixture or the away club does not respond, the  League Secretary must be informed.

3.If match in doubt due to weather/pitch conditions, inform opponents and match officials regarding time of pitch inspection ensuring inspection is completed to avoid unnecessary travel. Home team must inform the Competition immediately the decision to postpone has been taken. The Competition must be informed using the Text Connect Service. (similar to reporting the match result) Message the Text Connect Service, 447960302623, with details of the match, who decided on the Postponement and confirm that the Opposition and Match Officials will be informed immediately following the report of the postponement to the Competition. This procedure also applies to all County Cup ties where both teams involved must report the postponement and, of course, the postponement of County Cup ties must be reported to the appropriate County FA.

4.Vacant dates:Clubs requesting vacant dates must do so to the fixture secretary as early as possible. Clubs giving less than 56 days notice of a vacant date request may result in not having the request granted. No club may request more than 2 vacant dates per season, unless agreed by the league management committee.

5.Clubs unable to fulfil a scheduled fixture of the competition for any reason must inform the League Secretary immediately, via email and/or text.

Match day procedures

  1. Home team inspects the pitch to ensure ground is fit for play, ensuring that this takes place at a time to ensure all participants can be informed of a postponement to avoid unnecessary travel.
  2. Away team ensures travel arrangements are in place to arrive at the ground with plenty of time available for warm up.
  3. Home team has match day footballs inflated and ready for the referee to inspect.
  4. Home team ensure that the goal nets are in place and attached to goal posts.
  5. Home and away teams exchange team sheets at least 15 minutes prior to KO time.
  6. Home and away teams provide team sheets to the match official at least 15 minutes prior to KO time.
  7. Any late changes to team sheets after the exchange must be agreed by the match official and opposition team.
  8. Payment of match official(s):Home team must pay the match official(s) either prior to the KO or immediately the match is completed. Payment may be made in cash or by bank transfer.

Reporting the MATCH result

TEXT CONNECT SERVICE 447960302636

Home team to text the result of the match to the above number no later than 4:30 pm for Saturday matches and 9:30 pm for midweek matches. For Saturday matches which do not KO at 2:00 pm, the result and scorers must be recorded within 2.5 hours of the KO. For midweek matches which KO either earlier or later than 7:00 pm, the result and scorers must be recorded no later than 2.5 hours after the KO time of the match.

Scorer details of the match are not required.

Any team involved in a County FA Cup tie, playing at home or away, must also report the result via the text connect service.

County FA Cup competitions are:

  • Northumberland FA Minor Cup
  • Northumberland FA Benevolent Bowl
  • Durham FA Minor Cup
  • Durham FA Trophy
  • Durham FA Challenge Cup

Online match return

The following instructions are in regard to all teams completing the Online Match Return for all matches played under the control of the Northern Football Alliance League. The Online Match Return must be completed within 56 hours of the end of the match EG Saturday Matches no later than midnight on the following Monday. Wednesday matches no later than 6.00 am on the following Saturday.

Note:

Online Match Returns must not be completed for matches under the control of County FA’s, EG Minor Cups, Durham FA Trophy and Challenge Cup, Northumberland FA Benevolent Bowl.

  • Log onto the web site Admin
  • Select Fixtures, then All Fixtures from the admin menu on the left.
  • In the “Shoe All Teams Box” select the team and click “Filter”
  • Select the Fixture that requires the Match Return to be completed.
  • If completing the Return as the Home team enter the Match Official(s) expenses in the appropriate box.
  • (Travel Expenses only, do not include the Match Fees)
  • Scroll down and on the right-hand side of the form a list if registered player for both the Home and Away team will appear.
  • Select the names of the Players which appear on your Result Sheet
  • Select “Update” from the top of the Form.
  • Scroll down the page until “Match Details” appear on the left side. Home side first then the away side.
  • Enter the Shirt numbers of the players as stated on the Result Sheet
  • Record the starting players, the substitutes who took part in the match, the Players they replaced and also the Substitutes that did not take part in the match.
  • Ensure that the Goalkeeper is indicated
  • Record the goal scorers and the times of the goals.
  • Record any Red and Yellow Cards issued to players during the match.
  • When the form is fully completed, scroll up the page and click “Update”

Result sheets

  1. Result sheets must be completed as follows:
    • In capital letters only
    • Player shirt numbers must be amended if not 1 to 11 as printed on the result sheet
    • The first 11 players named on the result sheet must be the 11 who commence the match. If a late change is necessary, which has been approved by the match official and opposition, then this must be clearly indicated on the result sheet
    • Named substitutes who enter the field of play must be indicated. It is not required to indicate the players who were replaced by a substitution
    • Goal scorers must be indicated
    • Own goals for your team must be recorded in the appropriate box
    • Issued red and yellow cards to players must be recorded. It is not necessary to record red and yellow cards issued to non-playing participants, e.g., managers, coaches, etc.
    • The match officials’ names must be recorded
    • The match official(s) fee(s) and expenses costs must be completed
    • The referee’s mark and performance indicators must be completed
    • The result sheet must be signed as correct by a team official
  2. If the referee’s mark awarded is less than 51, then a report must be forwarded to the league secretary within 96 hours of the end of the match
  3. Result sheets must be received by the competition within 96 hours of the end of the match to which they refer, e.g., Saturday matches by 5:00 pm on the following Wednesday, Wednesday matches by 9:30 pm on the following Sunday
  4. Result sheets can only be forwarded to the competition electronically via an email, either scanned or photographed

Email address for result sheets is:

resultsheetsnfal@aol.com

Sanctions will be imposed on teams which forward result sheets to any other email address or to a league officer.

  1. The scanned or photographed result sheet must be:
    • Full size, e.g., A4 size
    • Must be readable. If in any doubt, write over the details on the result sheet, but ensure no changes are made to the original recorded information

Note:

The result sheet is considered by the FA and the competition as the official record of the match. Therefore, if the online match return does not contain the same information as the result sheet, it will be amended to show the information as stated on the result sheet. This may affect various individual player awards and player qualification for cup semi-finals and finals, as well as any possible league champions play-off matches.