We’re delighted to welcome our friends Hackney WFC to the Old Spotted Dog Ground for an East London derby on Sunday, April 2.

Our first ever competitive meeting came in February when we squeezed a 2-0 win at their home at the Douglas Eyre Centre in Walthamstow. Our former hotshot striker Fae Fulconis is now playing up front for Hackney WFC and had a great game against us that day. Watch out too for Amy Nicholson and Kea Felix who have seven goals apiece.

While Hackney Women’s FC are bottom of the table, their form has picked up with a draw with Brentford and a win over relegation rivals Leatherhead. That was followed up last Sunday with a stunning win and draw in a double header against the division’s promotion favourites Dorking Wanderers.

Clapton CFC meanwhile are still top of the league with just three games left to play ourselves. With Dorking having five games in hand they are the overwhelming favourites for the one promotion spot, despite their setback last week.

About Hackney WFC

Hackney WFC was founded when it was still illegal for queer people to promote their identity publicly. They created a safe space for women to live their passion for football and express who they really are.

It currently has around 100 players across its three teams: the first team, the reserves and a development team.

They have spent over 10 seasons training outside Hackney due to the lack of suitable pitches in the borough, particularly for women’s teams.

They recently launched their new red and black kit which includes the club’s slogan, ‘Playing with Pride since 1986’, on the sleeve along with the progress flag and the black triangle which has been reclaimed by lesbians as a feminist symbol of pride and solidarity.

Match information

Clapton Community FC vs Hackney WFC takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 2pm on Sunday April 2, 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 and woolly hats on sale too.

Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options.

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.

Dogs on leads are very much welcome. Cash and cards are accepted everywhere.

Post-match entertainment

We’ve delighted that special guest DJ Gina Baber will be spinning records before and after the game in the Old Spotted Dog Ground clubhouse alongside our residents Old Dogs Disco.

Toiletries collection

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 Gospel Oak to Barking Line to Wanstead Park station is running as a replacement bus service. If you’re able to walk, it may be quicker to do that from one of the other stations above, rather than wait for the replacement buses.

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