Covid-19 cases are massively on the rise in London, and within the last week we have gone from Tier 2 through Tier 3 and now into Tier 4 restrictions.

All adult football below ‘elite level’ – which are the top six divisions in men’s football, top two in women’s football – are now not permitted.

That means no matches or training for any of our adult teams – men’s first team and development, women’s first team, development, beginners, flexi 5s and beginners 5s and women/non-binary open training.

All of our opponents are also in Tier 4 areas, so all of our leagues will be paused. We will update with any specific statements received from leagues in due course.

Organised outdoor sport is still allowed for under 18s, so the Young Tons training and the under 8s team games could continue.

The next review of the tiers is due on December 30th, but restrictions are not expected to be eased.

Keep safe and we will see you in 2021, when hopefully circumstances will have improved.

With our move to the Old Spotted Dog Ground on the way, it should be a monumental year.

Hardship Fund

A big part of our community response to the pandemic has been helping our members who are struggling financially, no questions asked, through our Hardship Fund.

We continue to ask members who can afford it to support our appeal by donating, perhaps setting aside the money they would have spent watching a Clapton CFC game.

The idea is to provide some short-term, cashflow relief to those in most need.

We are thinking about the unemployed, those made redundant or on benefits, the self-employed, those on zero-hour contracts or freelancers who suddenly find they have a dramatically reduced income.

Give what you can, take what you need.