The Clapton CFC men’s first team have been promoted!

The news was announced by the Football Association today when our name appeared on the list of leagues and clubs across the full men’s non-league pyramid for next season.

We have been allocated in the Eastern Counties League Division One South (Step 6) for 2023/2024 season, the 10th division of men’s football.

We finally won the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division title after a tough battle with Shepherd’s Bush, the only other promotion applicant, all season.

However our promotion was also dependent on the FA’s verdict on the improvements we’ve needed to make to our Old Spotted Dog Ground home, London’s oldest senior football ground.

The main work required was to purchase the warehouse which holds the dressing rooms, and to refurbish them to the appropriate standard, but there was a long list of other jobs to do.

After a monumental effort, we submitted our evidence of work done and had two official ground visits, and finally got the green light today.

This is the second promotion achieved by the team, under manager Geoff Ocran, since formation in 2018/2019.

Congratulations to the players and coaches and thanks to all volunteers, donors, contractors and well-wishers who made it happen.

Meet our new opponents

We look forward to making new friends and reacquainting ourselves with some old friends in our new league.

NW London are old rivals from their MCFL days, while we faced Hutton in the BBC Essex Premier Cup. We’ve also played friendlies against Barkingside, Dunmow Town, Enfield Borough and Hackney Wick before.

Below is the full list of teams in the division..