Policies

Terms and Conditions

By accessing and using the Essex Senior Football League (ESL) website ('the Website'), you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions, which govern your access to and use of all pages, content, services, and materials made available through this site.

Please read these terms carefully. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you should not use the Website.

Ownership and Purpose
The Website is operated and maintained by the Essex Senior Football League, hereafter referred to as 'the League'. All content, including but not limited to text, images, logos, data, fixtures, results, and documents, is either the property of the League or used with permission.

The primary purpose of this website is to promote the activities, governance, competitions, and community engagement of the League in accordance with FA guidelines.

Acceptable Use
You agree to use this Website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not:

Violate any applicable laws or regulations (including but not limited to the Communications Act 2003, Computer Misuse Act 1990, or Equality Act 2010)

Infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the Website by any third party

Introduce or transmit viruses, trojans, or any other malicious or technologically harmful material

Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity

We reserve the right to restrict or block your access to the Website if we believe you are misusing it.

Privacy and Data Protection
Your privacy is important to us. Any personal data submitted through this Website (e.g. via contact forms, email signups) will be processed in line with:

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

The Data Protection Act 2018

The League’s Privacy Policy

Relevant guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and The Football Association (FA)

We will never sell or share your data with third parties without your explicit consent, unless legally required.

For full details, please read our Privacy Policy.

Cookies
This Website may use cookies to enhance your experience and collect anonymous usage data. By continuing to browse the site, you consent to the use of cookies in line with our Cookie Policy. You may disable cookies via your browser settings, although this may affect site functionality.

Intellectual Property
All intellectual property rights in the content, structure, and design of the Website are reserved by the League or its licensors. You may:

View and print content for personal, non-commercial use only

Share links to public pages on social media, provided attribution is given

You may not:

Reproduce, copy, or commercially exploit Website content without written permission

Modify or adapt content in a misleading or damaging way

Third-Party Links
The Website may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., club websites, FA services). The League is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of external sites and users access them at their own risk.

FA Compliance
All content and behaviour on this Website must adhere to the rules and regulations of The Football Association (FA), including but not limited to:

The FA Respect Programme

FA Safeguarding Policies

FA Disciplinary Regulations, including improper online conduct

The League reserves the right to remove any user-submitted content (e.g., comments, forum posts) that is abusive, discriminatory, defamatory, or breaches FA codes of conduct.

Disclaimer
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the League accepts no liability for:

Any errors, omissions, or outdated information

Any disruption or damage caused by access to the Website or any linked sites

Loss of data, business, or revenue resulting from use of this Website

All use of the Website is at the user’s own risk.

Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated “Effective Date”. Continued use of the Website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

Contact Us
If you have any questions about these terms or your use of the Website, please contact:

Essex Senior Football League
Email: secretary@essexseniorleague.co.uk
Website: www.essexseniorleague.co.uk

Privacy

The Essex Senior Football League'the League') is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all individuals who interact with us, whether online, in person, or through affiliated clubs and competitions. This policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018, FA Rules and Regulations, and relevant guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Who We Are
The Essex Senior Football League is a football competition operating within the National League System, under the governance of The Football Association (FA). Our activities involve players, club officials, referees, volunteers, and members of the public.

Data We May Collect
We may collect the following types of personal data from you when you interact with us:

Contact Information: name, email address, phone number, club affiliation

Demographic Data: age, gender (if relevant for competition or safeguarding purposes)

Football Participation Data: player registration details, disciplinary records, match reports

Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited (via cookies and analytics)

Photography & Video: images captured at events or matches for publicity, reports or safeguarding (in line with FA guidance)

Safeguarding Information: where appropriate, details shared under safeguarding referrals (processed under lawful bases with strict confidentiality)

We do not collect unnecessary sensitive personal data (e.g. ethnicity, health, religion) unless legally required for safeguarding, equality monitoring, or disciplinary matters, and only with appropriate protections in place.

Lawful Basis for Processing
We collect and process your data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

Consent – where you have given explicit permission (e.g. for marketing or media use)

Contractual Obligation – where processing is required to administer competitions or services

Legal Obligation – compliance with safeguarding, disciplinary, or tax/legal regulations

Legitimate Interests – managing league operations, promoting events, and maintaining contact

Vital Interests – safeguarding or protecting an individual from serious harm

How We Use Your Data
Your personal data may be used for:

Registering clubs, players, officials, and volunteers

Publishing fixtures, results, and disciplinary outcomes (as required by FA rules)

Communicating updates, news, and fixture changes

Managing safeguarding or misconduct cases (in line with FA and legal requirements)

Improving our website, services, and engagement

Complying with legal and FA reporting requirements

Sharing Your Data
We do not sell or trade your personal data. However, we may share data with:

The FA and County FAs for registration, safeguarding, and governance purposes

Affiliated clubs for administrative or operational reasons

Appointed data processors (e.g. IT or hosting providers) under strict data agreements

Law enforcement or safeguarding agencies where required by law or serious concern

Any data sharing is done securely, with appropriate data protection agreements in place.

Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

To access your personal data

To request correction of inaccurate data

To request deletion of data where appropriate

To object to or restrict certain types of processing

To withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent)

To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

How We Protect Your Data
We implement a range of technical and organisational measures to ensure the security of your personal information, including:

Secure password-protected systems and encrypted communications

Limited access only to those who need it (e.g. League officers or FA representatives)

Regular reviews of our data processing procedures

Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, in accordance with:

FA regulations (e.g. retaining disciplinary records)

Legal obligations (e.g. safeguarding referrals or financial records)

League operational needs

When data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

Use of Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance your user experience and monitor visitor interactions. Cookies help us analyse traffic and personalise content. You can manage cookie settings via your browser. For more, see our Cookie Policy.

External Links
This website may contain links to other third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. Please review their privacy policies before submitting any personal data.

Policy Updates
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation or league operations. The most recent version will always be published on this page with the effective date noted.

Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this policy or how your data is used, please contact:

Data Protection Lead
Essex Senior Football League
Email: secretary@essexseniorleague.co.uk
Website: www.essexseniorleague.co.uk

Data

Policy Statement
The Essex Senior Football League (ESL) is committed to ensuring that all personal data handled by the League is processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. As a grassroots football league governed under the oversight of The Football Association (FA), we are also committed to complying with all FA safeguarding and data handling policies.

This policy outlines how we manage, store, protect, and use personal data collected through our league operations, website, and affiliated activities.

Scope
This policy applies to:

All ESL officers, management committee members, and appointed volunteers

Any third parties or data processors acting on behalf of the League

All personal data relating to players, club officials, referees, volunteers, parents/guardians, and members of the public

Key Data Protection Principles
In line with Article 5 of the UK GDPR, ESL commits to ensuring that personal data shall be:

Processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently

Collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes

Adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary

Accurate and kept up to date

Kept for no longer than necessary

Processed securely, using appropriate technical and organisational measures

Lawful Basis for Processing Data
The League will ensure that any data it collects and processes is done so under a lawful basis, including:

Consent: where clear permission has been given

Contract: for managing league registrations and fixtures

Legal obligation: for safeguarding or financial compliance

Legitimate interests: for the effective functioning of the League

Vital interests: in the case of safeguarding and safety-related actions

Types of Data Collected
We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

Names, addresses, contact details (email, phone)

Club and team affiliation, registration records

Disciplinary or safeguarding information (subject to FA rules)

Website usage and IP information (where cookies apply)

Photos and media (with appropriate consent)

We do not routinely collect special category data (e.g. ethnicity, health conditions) unless specifically required for safeguarding, inclusion, or equality monitoring—with clear justification and safeguards.

Roles and Responsibilities
The League Secretary or Data Protection Lead will act as the primary contact for data protection matters.

All League officers and committee members are responsible for understanding and applying this policy in their work.

Any third-party processors (e.g., hosting services or league system providers) must adhere to data processing agreements that reflect UK GDPR obligations.

Data Security
We will ensure:

Password protection for digital systems

Secure cloud or encrypted storage for records

Restricted access only to authorised personnel

Safe disposal or anonymisation of outdated personal data

Incident response plans for any data breaches

Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as is necessary for its intended purpose. This may include:

6 years for financial and contract data

3 years for disciplinary or match-related data (unless specified by FA rules)

Longer periods for safeguarding records, as required by law

When no longer required, personal data will be securely deleted or anonymised.

Subject Rights
Data subjects (i.e., individuals whose data we hold) have the right to:

Access their personal data

Request correction or deletion

Object to or restrict processing

Withdraw consent where applicable

Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

All subject access requests (SARs) must be submitted in writing and will be responded to within one calendar month.

Breach Management
Any data breach—accidental or deliberate—must be reported immediately to the League Secretary or Data Protection Lead. If the breach poses a risk to individual rights, it will be reported to the ICO within 72 hours, and affected individuals will be notified where necessary.

Training and Awareness
All League officers, volunteers, and affiliated partners are expected to:

Read and understand this policy

Attend relevant data protection or safeguarding training (as required by The FA)

Follow FA guidance on handling sensitive or safeguarding data

Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually or in response to significant legal or procedural changes.

Contact
League Secretary
Essex Senior Football League
Email: secretary@essexseniorleague.co.uk