Representative Caps
English Veterans FC
Age Group Caps
Once a player has made five qualifying EVFC appearances for a particular age group they are entitled to claim a Cap. They cannot claim more than one Cap per age group regardless of how many qualifying appearances they go on to make. Only three qualifying appearances are required to claim a Cap for any age group or groups Over 70.
The maximum number of caps a player could currently claim would therefore be six if they have made the required number of qualifying appearances for each of the six age groups (Over 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75). Both current and past players may make a claim.
Appearance Caps
Following the overwhelming success of the representative Age Groups Caps introduced in August 2023, the EVFC Committee have introduced a parallel scheme to award Appearance Caps across age groups. Any appearance that would qualify for an Age Group Cap under the rules stated below would add cumulatively from over 50s through to 55s, 60s, 65s, 70s, 75s and beyond. Whilst unlikely, qualification could occur within one age group, or more likely, straddle a number of age groups.
Once a player has made:
- 25 qualifying appearances they are entitled to claim a Bronze Appearance Cap.
- 50 qualifying appearances they are entitled to claim a Silver Appearance Cap.
- 75 qualifying appearances they are entitled to claim a Gold Appearance Cap.
- 100+ qualifying appearances they are entitled to claim a Platinum Appearance Cap.
Therefore the maximum number of Appearance Caps a player could currently claim would therefore be four if they have made the required cumulative number of qualifying appearances across the age groups. Both current and past players may make a claim.
The following players are entitled to Appearance Caps.
Bronze Cap
For 25 qualifying appearances
- Beel, Rob
- Brooks, Harry
- Cranch, Andy
- Durrance, Andrew
- Edkins, Steve
- Ewing, Martin
- Forty, Deane
- Gibbs, Darron
- Gombas, Andy
- Greenwood, Ian
- Hegarty, Tom
- Hollamby, Ian
- Lazell, David
- Moore, Chris
- Pollock, Ken
- Price, John
- Ridgeon, Geoff
- Shepherd, Russ
- Smith, Bruce
- Steadman, Darren
- Suggett, Barry
- Thwaites, Micky
- Warren Drew
- Wintle, Chris
- Wintle, Chris
- Wood, Alun
Silver Cap
For 50 qualifying appearances
- Edkins, Steve
- Gombas, Andy
- Lazell, David
Gold Cap
For 75 qualifying appearances
- Edkins, Steve
- Gombas, Andy
Platinum Cap
For 100 qualifying appearances
Process
If a player wants a Cap and they think they are entitled they must email a member of the Management Committee to make a claim.
- The onus is on the player to provide the Management Committee with the necessary evidence of entitlement – proof of five qualifying appearances for the 50 to 65 age groups and three for the 70 age group(s).
- Players must pay for their own Cap (s) – cost is £35 per Cap.
- The Management Committee either accepts or rejects the claim, providing reasons for their decision.
- Upon receiving payment from the player, the Management Committee orders the Cap.
- The player is presented with the Cap by a Management Committee member or dignitary at a suitable time and location.
Qualifying games
A qualifying representative game will be a match against:
- Other countries – International representative teams comprising players national to that country. This includes countries participating in competitions which also include club sides e.g. Thailand in the 70+ World Cup
- Countries and Dependencies of the United Kingdom – Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Guernsey, Jersey etc. comprised of players national to that country or dependency.
- Armed Forces representative teams – RAF, Army, Navy etc.
- Not appearances against County representative teams – Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire etc.
- Not appearances against League representative teams – Southend Borough Combination League, Farnham and District League, Birmingham County League etc.
- Not appearances against ‘club’ sides whilst on Tour e.g. Boston Braves (USA), Akademisk Boldklub and Boldklubben 1903 (Denmark), East Algarve and Destination Football (Portugal), Krabi (Thailand) etc.
- Not appearances against ‘club’ sides whilst participating in Tournaments e.g. Freddy Fund and NC United in the 70+ and 75+ World Cup.
- Not appearances against individual club sides – Old Parmiterians, Newport, Harborough Town, Droitwich Spa, Shifnal Town etc.
- Not appearances in trial matches.
- Not appearances in trial matches when representing All Counties FC.
- Not appearances in reserve team games e.g. England Veterans’ A or B teams
- Not appearances in small sided games – 7 a-side, 5 a-side, 4 a-side etc. This may be relaxed on a case by case basis for prestigious international fixtures for the older age groups e.g. 8 a-side, Over 75’s game versus Germany.
- Not appearances against qualifying teams in 11 a-side tournaments where games are less than 80/90 minutes duration – e.g. against Wales in the Oxfordshire tournament.
Qualifying appearances
A player is deemed to have made a qualifying appearance for England Veterans if they:
- Start a match, regardless of how long they play for.
- Participate in a match as a substitute, regardless of how long they play for.
A player is deemed not to have made a qualifying appearance for England Veterans if they were:
- Under age when they made that appearance e.g. were only 48 when they played for the Over 50’s
- An unused substitute.
- Selected as a squad member but subsequently withdrew or were withdrawn from the squad.
Qualifying evidence
Satisfactory evidence of entitlement will be:
- Documentary evidence of having represented England Veterans in a given age group – a programme, poster, flyer, photograph, video, newspaper cutting, social media post etc.
- Anecdotal evidence, supported by a former Manager or a current or former Management Committee member and accepted by the current Management Committee.