English Chess Forum

If I want to start a new Chess Club, what are the mechanics of it? Is it a private limited company? Just don't know how accounting etc. works on that front!?

Have you tried asking the ECF Office - contact details on their website? (I don't know of any clubs which are private limited companies though it's worth considering what type of legal entity you want to be.)

Arnav Sud wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 12:34 pm

If I want to start a new Chess Club, what are the mechanics of it?

The answer to your question depends on what sort of club you have in mind. If it exists only to enter a team in the 4NCL, no more than an organiser and a committment by someone to pay the bills would be needed.

English law is mostly lenient on requirements for unincorporated groups and associations.

Thanks! It was more like a Club to play in the league and do courses for juniors etc.

If you want a bank account you will need a constitution and some office bearers who will be able to deal with this.

Banks used to offer a simple account for clubs but these are more difficult to find now without prohibitive costs.

At a basic level all you need to do is find a venue and invite people to turn up. Depending on what your overheads are and if you need to collect a subscription and pay bills you'll need a bank account. My club bank with Santander who offer a clubs and societies account.

For junior coaching you will need to obtain DBS clearance for anybody working with the young players.

Great! Thanks to all for the info! Looks like I need to do some homework!

Having done that a few years back, you need to find premises, set up a club committee (for the bank account) and then source equipment. Chess in Schools are very helpful for start ups and there are still free club accounts out there. Hitting a lot of pubs, cafes and halls can get free venues.

I believe that it is fair to say that almost all chess clubs have the legal status of being an

Unincorporated association

https://www.gov.uk/unincorporated-assoc ... rts%20club).

which generally requires a group of like minded people to form the club.

It may or may not have an associated venue but most have.

Finding an affordable and suitable venue is usually the largest challenge.

Follow up question!

So let's say we have an online Chess Club - easily done. Can we register this ONLINE ONLY chess Club to play in the League?

I understand that sometime the fixtures will be "Home" for us while "Away" for other teams - but is it possible to have an "Away" only Chess Club?!

Need a definitive answer if possible! Many thanks!

In which league did you have in mind registering?

Bristol League!

Arnav Sud wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:29 pm

Bristol League!

You need to ask them whether they would accept a team that played all its matches away.

I can't see why a league would have a problem with a team playing all their matches away - it doesn't inconvenience the opposition in the slightest, and with the prohibitive costs of rising rent I wouldn't be surprised if in future more clubs end up having to do this.

Joey Stewart wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:22 pm

I can't see why a league would have a problem with a team playing all their matches away - it doesn't inconvenience the opposition in the slightest, and with the prohibitive costs of rising rent I wouldn't be surprised if in future more clubs end up having to do this.

Because some of the players in the league would complain

That's what they do

Frequently in my experience