Clapton CFC’s men’s first team take a midweek away trip to a familiar venue on Tuesday evening, as we take on Newbury Forest at the Oakside Stadium in Barkingside.
We played an Anagram Records Trophy final there at the end of our first season, losing to higher division opposition, Catholic United.
Then in January of 2022, we even played a ‘home’ BBC Essex Premier Cup quarter final at the ground, with Liam Smyth netting a late winner to see off Manford Way.
This will be the second game at Step 6 for Geoff Ocran’s newly promoted team following on from Saturday’s visit to Wormley Rovers.
Last season, Newbury Forest finished 16th out of 19 teams in the division, with the lower half of the table tight and competitive.
Matt Connolly top scored with 15 goals from 27 games across all competitions, with Ali Abdulhadir and Chaka Barnett close behind on 14 and 12 goals respectively.
Connolly and Barnett are on the squad list for the 2023-24 season, but there is another name which stands out; popular former CCFC defender, Tafari Nicholas!
About Newbury Forest FC
Newbury Forest FC were founded in 2003 as a Sunday league side, before adding three adult teams and youth teams down to under-10s.
The club then moved into the English football league system when they joined the Romford and District League in 2008, winning the senior division in 2010. Progression to the Essex and Suffolk Border Football League followed, and a steady rise continued.
They finished third in the Premier Division in 2012, before moving to the Essex Olympian Football League Division One, and were later promoted to the Premier Division after again finishing third in 2013.
The club applied to join the new Division One South of the Eastern Counties League for the 2018–19 season, and their application was successful. They have remained in the division ever since, and even topped the table when the 2020-21 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Match Information
Newbury Forest FC vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Tuesday 1st August 2023 at 7:45pm, Oakside Stadium, Barkingside, Station Road, Ilford, IG6 1NB.
Admission: Adults: £5. Concessions: (16-18, over 65) £3. Under 16: Free.
Directions
If you are travelling by public transport, this is a straightforward one. Oakside Stadium is next door to Barkingside Station on the Central Line of the London Underground. No industrial action is due to take place on the Underground next week, but if you are connecting to the Tube from a National Rail route, be aware that Aslef are operating an overtime ban as action short of a strike and this may affect some London commuter services.
The 169 bus runs between Barking town centre and Clayhall, the stop for Barkingside Station is approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the ground. Journey planning websites suggest a 47 minute journey from Barking.
According to the Redbridge FC website (Newbury Forest FC groundshare with them), there is adequate car parking at the club free of charge, when full there is local off-street parking within easy walking distance. Please note parking is at your own risk and Redbridge FC/Newbury Forest FC will not accept any responsibility for any damage accidents or loss.