It’s the first of three cup quarter-finals at the Stray Dog in Walthamstow on Saturday for the men’s first team as the season hots up.

The Larks are well poised in the Middlesex County Football League Premier, just below us but they could go top with games in hand.

However, Clapton CFC have edged all three meetings between the teams so far, with two 2-1 away wins and a 2-0 at home.

The Tons reached this stage of the Alec Smith Premier Cup, which is the league cup, with a 5-2 win away at Sporting Hackney, while Larkspur were given a bye. 

The winners of this tie will host CB Hounslow United Res or Cricklewood Wanderers in the semi-final on February 26. The final will then take place on April 30 at Uxbridge FC – a Saturday night match.

Larkspur Rovers were formed in 1950, joined the Middlesex County Football League in 2013/4, and have enjoyed three rapid promotions since then. 

They have now been in the MCFL Premier now for four seasons but only completed one due to Covid-19.

They offer football for boys, girls, men and women from four-year-olds to vets based at their new £1million complex at Lord Halsbury Memorial Playing Fields in Northolt.

Brighton & Hove Albion and England under 21 player Tariq Lamptey started out at Larkspur in their youth team, before signing for Chelsea and then the Seagulls.

After this cup game, we will face Manford Way in the BBC Essex Premier Cup the following Saturday and then NW London away in the Anagram Records Trophy next month.

A good run in the league could put us back in title contention despite recent poor form, meaning we are still in the running in four competitions.

Match information

Clapton CFC vs Larkspur Rovers is on Saturday, January 22 2021 at 1.30pm at the Stray Dog, Wadham Lodge, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow.

Advanced tickets are not needed, you can just turn up. Entry as usual is free but with donations welcome, with a suggested £3 for waged adults.

We will have a mini programme available at the entrance, pick one up for free, donations welcome.

Fusion Foods are back selling hot food. They will have meat, veggie and vegan options and accept cards or cash. The Matchday Centres bar will be open.

We are collecting for our charity partners Magpie Project but it’s toiletries only, they can’t accept foodbank donations right now.

Covid rules

• Please do not attend if you are ill, have symptoms, tested positive, been told to self-isolate or have been pinged
• If you’re arriving by public transport, a reminder that face masks are still compulsory unless exempt
• Spectators are encouraged to wear face masks indoors, such as when visiting the bar or toilets
• There’s hand sanitiser at the entrance and a QR code for those checking in on the app
• Free NHS lateral flow tests are available and we recommend you take a test before the game
• Please follow the signs around the site and instructions from matchday volunteers
• Spread out around the ground as much as you can

Directions

• Wadham Lodge 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 car parking space available at the ground but it may be better to park on a street nearby.

An important note

Matchday Centres have asked us to ensure that there is no more use of pyro, flares, smoke etc on their property.

This has caused damage to their facilities and complaints from staff, officials and neighbours.

They have also banned glass bottles after a serious incident during a game not involving Clapton.

We have a good working relationship with MDC, who have played an invaluable role in helping us establish the club.
They have said that a failure to observe these rules will lead to sanctions that would be damaging for the club, including but not limited to requiring us to play behind closed doors.

We ask all our fans to respect MDC’s requests in solidarity with our teams and everyone who works hard to run the club.