We welcome higher division AFC Acorns for our final shot at cup glory this season in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy.
Of course we had more than our share last season – winning one cup, runners-up in another, not to mention the run to the third round of the FA Cup.
And in our first season in the L&SERWFL Division North, we’re currently top of the table, although having played more than Dorking Wanderers.
However, a first home cup win in the Old Spotted Dog era and another cup run would be great.
This competition is for teams knocked out early rounds of the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Cup. We lost 4-2 at Acorns’ division rivals Enfield Town.
If CCFC, we will be in the quarter-final on February 12 while the semi-final is earmarked for March 5. If we are knocked out, we should receive league games on those dates.
About the opponents
The Nuts, formed in 2018, are based in Lingfield in Surrey and play in the L&SERWFL Premier Division, one division higher than us.
AFC Acorns was founded in 2018 by its sponsor Acorns Health & Leisure to provide football in the Medway area of Kent.
The club has since grown to include two women’s teams and a men’s team plus four girls’ teams.
After many, many promotions in a short space of time, the women’s first team now play in the L&SERWFL Premier Division, the division above us, and are in tenth place.
Last season they also boasted the division’s top scorer Samantha Rowland, formerly of West Ham and Crystal Palace, with 38 goals, who has since moved on to Hashtag United.
However, The Nuts have a quartet of Eleanor Killick-Bird, Sami Phillips, Lauren Tyler and Megan Allard who scored nearly 50 goals between them last season.
Match information
Clapton Community FC vs AFC Acorns takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 1.30pm on Sunday January 29 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.
Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options – and accept cards or cash.
Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road gates only. The gates and the clubhouse bar will open from 12.30pm, with kickoff at 1.30pm, and the bar will remain open during and after the game.
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.
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
We 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.