This is our first ever meeting with our visitors, who are affiliated with the world famous Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
We won’t have to wait long for the second meeting, however, as it’s just seven days later at their home ground Rectory Park, the Middlesex FA headquarters in Northolt.
Clapton CFC have a win, a draw and a defeat in the three home league games at the Old Spotted Dog Ground so far so will be looking to make it a fortress.
SL Benfica are exactly half-way up the table in sixth, in their second season at this level. Striker Kimberley Castro is one to watch, averaging more than a goal a game.
Last season they finished seventh after being awarded a double promotion following Covid-affected seasons when they were streets ahead of their rival teams. That meant they leapfrogged over CCFC, before we caught up with them this season.
The Eagles were the opponents when Brentford Women attracted 1,010 spectators to Bedfont Sports Club last season, so they will be used to bigger crowds than ours, if perhaps not noisier.
The club’s men’s team folded around a decade ago but reformed this year in the Middlesex County Football League Combination, three divisions below the CCFC men’s first team.
Match information
Clapton Community FC vs Sport London e Benfica takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 2pm on Sunday January 15 2023.
We no longer have a limited capacity so you do not need to book a ticket in advance.
Entry to all our games is free, but with donations welcome. We suggest £3 for waged adults for competitive games.
We will have a mini programme available, pick one up for free, donations welcome. We have some woolly hats and scarves on sale too.
Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road gates only. The gates and the clubhouse bar will open from 1pm, with kickoff at 2pm, and the bar will remain open after the game.
Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options – and accept cards or cash.
There are 28 seats in the main stand, If these are all used and you need to sit, please ask a high-viz safety rep for a chair.
Old Dogs Disco will be DJing after the game in the Clubhouse.
Directions
The Old Spotted Dog Ground is at 212 Upton Lane in Forest Gate, London E7 9NP.
If you’ve not been to the OSD yet, here are some even more detailed directions.
Forest Gate station (Elizabeth Line) and Wanstead Park (Overground) are 15 minutes’ walk away, Plaistow (District / Hammersmith & City) is 20 minutes’ walk, and Stratford (National Rail/Overground/Elizabeth/Jubilee/Central/DLR) is 25 minutes’ walk.
There’s parking for bikes inside the Old Spotted Dog Ground, you can chain your bike to the railings.
Parking is free on the streets to the north and west of the ground (e.g. Disraeli Rd) on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, parking is restricted on streets to the east and south of the ground (e.g. St George’s Rd and Upton Lane), but there are no restrictions on Sundays. Always check local signage for any changes. And if possible come by public transport, bike or walk.
New tinned food bank trial
From today we will have a box for food donations in the clubhouse for anyone to use, donate to or collect for others. Anyone; members, volunteers, parents, players, builders etc are welcome to come & take what they need, when they need it.