After last weekend’s nail-biting win in the semi-final of the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy against Newhaven, it’s back to league football.

It’s a crucial time as Clapton CFC women’s first team are still top of the table, although level on points with second-placed Brentford and with Dorking Wanderers sat in third with four games in hand.

However, to be at the right end of the table in our first season at this level is an amazing achievement by the same group of players who secured promotion.

AFC Whyteleafe was formed in 2021, hoping to fill the void and temper the bad taste left by the loss of Whyteleafe FC which folded as a result of an Ian Rush-related property scheme.

We’ve met AFC Whyteleafe women’s team once this season, winning 3-1 away in September, at a time when they were rebuilding with a new squad after being relegated by a single point. Their scorer that day, Abigail Woollvin, is in the division’s top 10 scorers with 12 goals so far this season.

Since October, they have been the most in-form side in the division, with four wins, two draws and no losses. That run includes an impressive 0-0 draw with title favourites Dorking Wanderers who have been averaging five goals a game. They also were drawing 1-1 with Brentford before the match was abandoned due to bad weather.

There’s been some big cup wins too, including against Bromley, who beat us to the title last season. It’s going to be tough.

Match information

Clapton Community FC vs AFC Whyteleafe takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 2pm on Sunday March 12 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 and after the game.

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 has a replacement bus service in East London. If you’re able to walk, it may be quicker to do that from one of the stations above, rather than wait for the replacement bus to Forest Gate.

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