Clapton CFC men’s first team continue their run of home games on different pitches with a return to the Wadham Lodge 3G for the BBC Essex Premier Cup on Saturday.

While the women’s first team have moved into the Old Spotted Dog Ground, the men’s first team are still nomadic while the dressing rooms are sorted.

Having been knocked out of the Alec Smith Premier Cup last Saturday away at Kensington Dragons, this is one of two cup competitions we remain in, along with the Anagram Records Trophy.

Geoff Ocran’s team have started the league season well, in second place and unbeaten from five games, and have been playing some delightful football.

Our opponents’ origins can be traced to 1921 after returning troops in the village of Wickham Bishops near Witham were asked what they wanted to remember their fallen comrades by. The request was not for a monument, but a sports field.

The team changed their name to Beacon Hill Rovers when they moved in 1928 but since 2005 have been back playing on the same Wickham Bishops pitch next to the Mitre Inn pub.

Meanwhile their first women’s team was founded in 1946 in defiance of the FA ban on women’s football, playing exhibition games against other Essex sides.

Nowadays Beacon’s men’s first team play in Division One of the Essex Olympian League, one level below our own team.

They’re currently mid-table having been promoted two seasons ago. Top scorer Bertie Whymark has notched three in five games so far.

They reached this round by beating Saffron Walden Town Reserves 3-2 while we were handed a walkover win as Corinthians Reserves pulled out before our tie.

Last season Clapton CFC reached the semi-final where we lost to Woodford East.

Meanwhile Beacon Hill Rovers pulled out of the competition at this stage last season giving their opponents a walkover win.

Match information

Clapton CFC vs Beacon Hill Rovers takes place on Saturday, September 8 2022 at 3pm, on the 3G pitch at Wadham Lodge Sports Ground, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow.

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

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

The Matchday Centres bar will be open. There will be no catering.

Travel

There’s a strike on the train lines, so please use the Victoria Line to Walthamstow Central.

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. You can also alight at Blackhorse Road Station. The 123 from the stop opposite the station on Forest Road will take you as far as the crossroads with Hoe Street/Chingford Road – alight at the stop for Bromley Road.

You can bring your bike and leave it around the pitch if there are no spaces left in the bike rack near the Wadham Lodge clubhouse.

If you’re driving, please park on a street nearby, as the car park will be busy.