The Clapton CFC men’s first team have won the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division!

The magical 3-0 win against Kensington Dragons in front of 902 spectators at the Old Spotted Dog Ground was enough to ensure we finish above Shepherd’s Bush, the only other promotion applicant.

A draw away at Stonewall FC on Tuesday night meant we also finish above Indian Gymkhana and therefore have won the title.

Our promotion to the next division up – the Eastern Counties League Division One South – is now dependent on the FA’s verdict on the OSD’s ground grading. We’re expecting to hear in mid May.

We are hoping the MCFL Premier Division trophy will be present on Saturday for the players and coaches to lift after the game.

About the opponents

OIR – short for Oasis Rovers – formed in 2020 when they joined the Middlesex County Football League.

They were champions of the Division One (Central & East) last season, but are in a relegation scrap this season, not helped by losing six points when AVA pulled out.

They also compete in the Somali British Premier League against the likes of our old friends Hilltop and East London side Tower United.

The club also has teams playing in the Islington Midweek Football League and the Edmonton District Sunday League.

Match information

Clapton Community FC vs OIR takes place at the Old Spotted Dog Ground at 3pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road turnstile and gates from 1pm. Cash and cards are accepted everywhere.

If you have any further questions on the day, look for anyone wearing a pink hi-viz vest who will be happy to answer.

Tickets

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. You can donate on the gate (cash is quicker, card also accepted) or you can donate online here.

Food and drink

The Clubhouse bar will open as soon as we can after gates open 1pm. We are aiming to have two outdoor bars as well as the Clubhouse to reduce queuing. The bar will close at 9pm at the latest.

As well as a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale, we also have coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Bovril, squash and water which are free, help yourself, donations welcome.

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

Merch

We will have 200 mini programmes available, pick one up for free, donations welcome.

We have a really small number of shirts left (4 home, 18 away) which will be on sale. We should have stickers and and woolly hats on sale too.

Minute’s applause for three life members

Before the game, the club invites you to take part in a minute’s applause for three sadly-missed life members Mike Fogg, Martin McShea and Iain Hollowell.

The fact that Clapton CFC owns London’s oldest football ground is in no small measure down to all three, who all have died in recent years.

Each of them loved this place, and played an essential part in sparing the OSD from the developers from 1979 onwards. They would have loved to see what the CCFC, and its members, have achieved. 

Please give them a round of applause before today’s game.

Pre and post-match entertainment

Pre-match warm-up in the Clubhouse will be DJ Decor. After the match, there will be our resident DJs Old Dogs Disco with special guests TRON.

Toiletries collection

We host a hygiene bank collection at every 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

The collection box is usually at the Disraeli Road entrance but if not will be 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.

Children welcome

Seeing dozens of children play on the pitch at our last home game was an amazing and uplifting sight. We just need to make a few tweaks as we learn how to make the best and safest use of our community space.

All children are welcome to play on the pitch at half-time but please stay on the half nearest to the clubhouse only. This allows subs to warm-up at the other end if needed.

Please also ensure everyone leaves the pitch as soon as the players return, and that everyone of any age stays behind the perimeter fence during the game.

Prams and pushchairs very welcome of course, but please avoid blocking walkways.

Dogs welcome

Dogs on leads are very welcome.

Bikes welcome

There’s space to leave your bikes inside the Old Spotted Dog Ground, near to the outdoor toilets.

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. It looks like all lines are operating as normal.

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

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

Map of the Old Spotted Dog Ground