Frank Smith Pool League

Current Champions 2025/26

Winter Singles: Richard Chapman
Winter Pairs: Jason Verrillo & Phil Holding
Winter Cap & Secs: Trevor Biggs & Alex Biggs
Summer Singles: George Taylor
Summer Pairs: Gary Smith & Del Power
Summer Cap & Secs: Bruce Shulver & Jamie White

AGM 2025 RECAP

Dave Coppen has resigned as General Secretary and Simon Stevens is now the General Secretary.

Match format for next 12 months will remain as 12 Singles and 3 Pairs.

New Match Result will be being used from Summer 2025, with new expectations on how to be completed:

  • Sheet Owner – so we can track which sheet belongs to which team
  • Date – so we can track all sheets
  • Names and Signatures – each player must sign at least once per sheet, and ideally before their game starts
  • Both Captains to sign both sheets at the end of the match to accept result and names

The FSPL will be looking into the possibility of running two Singles comps simultaneously; one for the Premier League and one for Divisions 1 and 2 for the winter only, details to be confirmed, if warranted.

Team Knockout to become straight KO and Plate competition.

  • Shot clock remains as per the constitution (Rule 6d) with the addition of how to display the clock; the only acceptable clock is the official EPA clock.
  • Touching the white ball; clarified as per Rule 26; taking the white from a pocket on a foul remains loss of frame
  • Touching the table during doubles matches; the AGM Attendees voted for a blanket no touching of either the outside of the table of the cloth while talking, a few examples of touching the table (included but not limited to); all will result in a Standard Foul and ball in hand being awarded:
    • Picking chalk of the table
    • Player picking the white ball up when a foul is called
    • Player placing the white ball following a foul
    • Leaning on the table while talking to partner

When competition matches are re-arranged the new date should be sent to the General Secretary or Chairman and becomes the new match date; if either player fails to adhere to the new date they will be expelled from the competition.

The Committee have decided to re-introduce docking points, a few examples below:

  • no date on sheet: 1 point – why? having the date helps us keep them in order if we have to refer back to them
  • no team owner on sheet: 1 point – why? having the team owner helps us keep them in order if we have to refer back to them
  • no signatures for entire team: 3 points
  • player doesn’t sign at least once: match(es) forfeited and docked 1 point
  • if captains don’t sign: dock 1 point
  • result no added: 1 point
  • no result: 1 point
  • no sheet sent within 24 hours: 3 points
  • anything outside of these will be discussed and decision made

see below

CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION - AGM 2025

Any forms incorrectly completed will be rejected by the Committee.

All forms must be for the current season, have names and signatures of each player and be signed by the Captain and either the Treasurer, Chairman or General Secretary when handed in (if emailed a receipt will sent).

AGM, EGM and SGM meetings are mandatory, failure to attend means the team lose voting rights on any changes to the league and constitution.

All league matches shall be played on Tuesday’s and commence at 8.00pm. No matches to be rearranged unless agreed by the Committee, the final decision is made by the Chairman.

Matches should begin as soon as there are players available, you do not need to wait for all players or captain to be in attendance.

Any match started on time and not completed on the night (for any reason) must be concluded within 7 days. If players cannot agree within the original 7 days the committee will give a date and may select a neutral venue (if circumstances prevail). If either team fails to turn up points are awarded to attendees, only players present on original match night will be eligible to complete the match.

Teams shall inform their Divisional Secretaries of unfinished matches within 24hrs.

Only the players on the original match sheet can play the incomplete match, if they are not available the frame will be forfeit, no substitutions will be allowed.

A time limit rule has been introduced as per International Rules for taking shots in Singles and Pairs league matches and competitions alike.

This rule can be ignored if both captains agree or applied if one captain insists, the clock can be applied at any time during the match.

If the shot clock is being used you must use the official EPA clock and the timer must be shown to the player.

At the start of each match two sheets are to be filled out (one per team) with the first pairs followed by 3 singles names on each sheet then swop sheets after the fourth frame three names on sheet, then in the second half; pairs followed by first pairs, 3 singles, then 3 singles and final pairs names.

Signatures should be attained before each game begins.

The match result sheet must be signed by the players before the start of each game. Failure to provide a correct match result sheet or failure to notify the Divisional Secretary of a match result may result in points being docked.

Both teams must send the result to their Divisional Secretaries on the night and a copy of the match result sheet should be sent to the General Secretary and/or the Divisional Secretary. Failure to do this would result in no ranking points being awarded, and possible points reduction.

Any team not attending or attending with insufficient players (a minimum of 4 players are required to complete a match) a score of 9-0 + bonus will be given to attendees, 3 ranking points will be given to each player (up to 9 players) in attendance, they must complete the match result sheet with their names and signatures and send to the General Secretary or Divisional Secretary on the night.

All singles and pairs knockout matches shall be played on a Wednesday. Players must be at the venue and ready to play by 8.30pm at the latest. All games must be completed by the date set for each round, to enter competitions £2 singles and £4 pairs in all competitions.

Substitutes will be allowed before the first round of any pairs competition, once the competition begins, regardless if you have played or not, substitutions will not be allowed.

Results must be phoned to General Secretary within 24 hours of date set for the competition or the match will be forfeit.

Any player playing in the Frank Smith Pool League Winter Singles Competition must have played a minimum of 8 frames at the Quarter Final stage, if not they will be expelled from the competition.

On finals night if you are late you will lose a frame for every 10mins after the stated 8 o’clock start time, at the discretion of the Committee.