We’re back! Clapton CFC men’s team play their first home league game for over two months against our friends, Polish community club PFC Victoria.

Our visitors have had a phenomenal rise since being formed just four years ago.

They started in the Division 2 of the Middlesex County Football League in 2016/7 and gained back-to-back promotions straight to the Premier Division. 

Last season the club came agonisingly close to gaining a triple promotion, but ended up second in the Premier just behind St Panteleimon. 

They also won the Middlesex Intermediate Cup and were invited to Warsaw for a friendly against two-time Polish champions Polonia Warsaw.

This is a season of transition after manager Emil Kot moved on to Bedfont & Feltham and then side British Airways, taking several players with him.

However, after a slow start, they are now just two points behind CCFC under new manager Robert Nędza.

Meanwhile Clapton CFC are motoring well, unbeaten in the last six league games, though they let slip a two-goal advantage in drawing at leaders Brentham last Saturday.

The two teams met at PFC’s home at Rectory Meadows in November, where the Tons squeaked home 3-2 with goals from Sherwin Stanley, Bilal Hussain and Julian Austin. 

Clapton CFC player-manager Geoff Ocran told us:

PFC Victoria pushed us right to the end in the reverse fixture so we will have to make sure we put in a similar performance if we want to take all three points. 

It was a shame that we couldn’t play the two previous fixtures at home before Christmas as I feel our momentum has been disrupted slightly. However, a draw away to top of the table Brentham to start the year is still a good result. 

All in all after a shaky start to the season, we have put ourselves in a great position in the league and cup to try and replicate last season. 

A PFC spokesman told us about their long-term goals:

“The club’s aim is to build a profit-generating and professionally-run sports organisation that can reach the Conference level football.

“We also want to play a vocal role in the local community as well as in the rich folklore of football in London. 

“The playing squad is predominantly based on footballers with professional experience from Poland as well as young local talents who pass the trials at the club.”

Match information

The game takes place on Saturday, January 11th at 2pm at Wadham Lodge Stadium, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JP.

There’s covered seating and both covered and uncovered standing.

Entry as always is free, but we welcome donations, with a suggested £3 for waged adults.

We have a range of merch on sale at all home games, including our away shirts.

Our full-colour matchday programme will be on sale for £2. There’s a different cover artist each time. This one was designed by Robin Cowan.

Fusion Foods will be selling hot food by the side of the main stand. They will have meat, veggie and vegan options and accept cards or cash.

Our landlords Matchday Centres run an outside can bar and a full bar inside.

Magpie Project collection

At each home game we collect food and toiletries for our charity partner, the Magpie Project. They support mums and young children who live in temporary and emergency accommodation in East London.

If you have any of these to spare, please bring them to our collection point at the entrance:

● Toothpaste ● Toothbrushes ● Shower gel ● Shampoo ● Soap ● Deodorant ● Bags of rice ● Bags of pasta ● Breakfast cereals ● Washing powder

Directions

Wadham Lodge Stadium is about 20 minutes walk from Walthamstow Central station. Turn onto Hoe Street and follow the road all the way along (past the junction with The Bell pub) until Chingford Lane. Continue past Sir George Monoux 6th Form College and take the first right onto Brookscroft Road then left onto Kitchener Road.

You can catch a bus along that route too. The 357, 34, 97, 215 will all take you to the top of Brookscroft Road from Walthamstow Central. It will take about 12 minutes.

There’s also plenty of car parking space available at the ground.

Any questions? Email comms@claptoncfc.co.uk, Join the Facebook event here.