The Clapton CFC women’s first team will host East Sussex side Newhaven at the Old Spotted Dog in the semi-final of the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy on Sunday.

Newhaven won three away ties to get here – at Steyning and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves and higher division New London Lionesses. 

CCFC reached the semi with narrow wins over AFC Acorns and then in extra time over Eastbourne United. Newhaven must be annoyed they’re not travelling 14 miles to Eastbourne and instead making the 85-mile trip to East London.

Newhaven are sat in seventh place in the L&SERWFL Division One South, which also features our former opponents Bromley, Eastbourne United and Ashford. Goals have been shared out around the team with Chloe Evans leading the way on 8 and Lucy Collinson on 6.

If this game is level at 90 minutes, there will be extra time and then penalties to find a winner on the day.

The winners will be in the final against Ashford, Richmond Park or Whyteleafe at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Sunday, April 23 at 2.30pm.

Match information

Clapton Community FC vs Newhaven takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 2pm on Sunday March 5 2023.

You do not need to book a ticket in advance, just turn up. 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 should have some replica shirts, woolly hats and scarves on sale too.

Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road turnstile and gates. The ground and the clubhouse bar will open from 1pm, with kickoff at 2pm, and the bar will remain open during 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.

Toiletries collection is back

We’re now in a position to bring back the hygiene bank collection at every Old Spotted Dog home game.

Our charity partners Magpie Project support mums and young children in temporary accommodation. They need:

● Toothpaste ● Toothbrush ● Shower gel ● Shampoo ● Deodorant ● Sanitary towel

We’ll have a collection box in the OSD clubhouse area.

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.

Directions

The Old Spotted Dog Ground is at 212 Upton Lane in Forest Gate, London E7 9NP.

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.

The Elizabeth Line is running to Stratford but it’s a replacement bus service further east. If you’re able to walk, it may be quicker to do that (25 mins) from Stratford rather than wait for the replacement bus.

If you’ve not been to the OSD yet, here are some even more detailed directions.

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