We’re heading for the last Saturday before the Eastern Counties League season begins for the Clapton CFC men’s first team. So we will be fielding TWO teams in friendlies to give as many players some game time.

The first XI will be playing Woodford East of the Essex Alliance League at Barking FC’s Mayesbrook Park, kick off 4pm. We’ve played the Peacocks twice before, once in the BBC Essex Premier Trophy semi-final which we lost and then in a friendly last summer, which we won.

The development team will be playing Sporting Hackney, who are nowadays also in the Essex Alliance League, on the Wadham Lodge 3G in Walthamstow at 3pm. We’ve played the Parrots many times when both teams were in the Middlesex County Football League so this will be a big test for the development team.

Come along to either game if you fancy a final look at the squad before the season starts – or save yourself for the big kick-off!

After-party!

Afterwards, come along to the Old Spotted Dog Ground Clubhouse from 6pm and 9pm. We’ll be celebrating three years of ownership of the OSD, and the men’s first team players are having a social too.

Match information

Woodford East vs Clapton CFC is on Saturday, July 22 2023 at 4pm at Mayesbrook Park, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2JR.

Admission is donate what you want. All donations are appreciated at entry to help Woodford East cover the costs of the game.

The nearest Tube station is Upney on the District Line, which is about a 15 minute walk away through the park, while the 368 bus stops outside. Alternatively there’s a car park with free parking.

Sporting Hackney vs Clapton CFC is on Saturday, July 22 2023 at 3pm at Wadham Lodge Sports Ground, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow.

Wadham Lodge is about 25 minutes’ walk from Walthamstow Central station. Turn onto Hoe Street and follow the road all the way along (past the junction with The Bell pub) until Chingford Lane. Continue past Sir George Monoux 6th Form College and take the first right onto Brookscroft Road then left onto Kitchener Road.

You can catch a bus along that route too. The 357, 34, 97, 215 will all take you to the top of Brookscroft Road from Walthamstow Central. It will take about 12 minutes. You can also alight at Blackhorse Road Station. The 123 from the stop opposite the station on Forest Road will take you as far as the crossroads with Hoe Street/Chingford Road – alight at the stop for Bromley Road.