The double-winning Clapton CFC players will say farewell to our temporary home the Stray Dog in Saturday’s Legends game.

Subject to FA approval, next season Geoff Ocran and the boys will be playing next door instead, on Wadham Lodge’s main stadium pitch.

Members recently voted to accept our landlord Match Day Centre’s offer of a one-year lease on the stadium after a slot became available for the 2019/20 season.

We have grown to love the Stray Dog, from the clean-up sessions to get it fit for purpose, to building the temporary stand, and the little touches like the home-made scoreboard.

However, FA ground requirements mean that we would be ineligible for any further promotions if we stayed at the Stray Dog.

Vacancies at suitable stadiums don’t come along very often so we are happy to be ground-sharing with our friends Walthamstow FC. And we’ll make sure that feels like home too.

We’ve already played there twice this season – a 0-1 defeat in a friendly vs Walthamstow and a 4-4 thriller vs NW London in the last nail-biting weeks of the league campaign.

This isn’t the end of our links with the Stray Dog. We’re hopeful that other Clapton CFC teams will be able to use the pitch. Our men’s first team could also play friendlies on it. Watch this space.

Of course, our eventual aim is to see members-run, community football return to the Old Spotted Dog in Forest Gate. The High Court case regarding its liquidation continues.

But, for now, join us on Saturday as our league and cup winning players say their fond farewell to the Stray Dog, our home in a year of firsts and the backdrop to a joyously crazy season.