After a whirlwind 10 days, the Clapton CFC’s men’s first team take a break from the league on Wednesday with a trip to Billericay Town’s ground.

The team have won two and drawn one of their first three games but will be taking on early league leaders Hutton FC in even better form in the Eastern Counties Football League Cup.

This is the second midweek away trip and will give the CCFC management team the opportunity to try out a few different players and formations.

Player-manager Geoff Ocran said after Saturday’s win: “We’re going to try to win every game. We may rotate slightly because we’ve got a strong squad. But a cup run is always great so it’d be great to get through to the next round.”

Hutton have had a perfect start to the season, winning 5-1 at one of the title favourites Harlow Town and 2-0 and 2-1 at home to Barkingside and Tower Hamlets respectively.

The two teams both won promotion from different divisions last season – Essex Olympian and Middlesex – and have met once before.

In fact Clapton CFC men’s first team had their first competitive home fixture against Hutton FC back in September 2018. A healthy crowd of over 400 saw Hutton progress to the second round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup in a 5-4 thriller.

About Hutton FC

As one of the largest clubs in Essex and established in 1928, opponents Hutton FC have grown from humble beginnings, most recently merging with local youth club Hutton Medway in 2005.

It currently fields a massive 60 teams, with over 600 playing members from 5-50 years of age. By our calculations that means 0.8% of the entire Brentwood population play for this lot.

With a strong ethos of developing youth talent, their senior men’s team won the Essex Olympian Premier Division last season, and were promoted to the Eastern Counties League Division One South like us.

Match Information

Hutton FC vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Wednesday, August 9 2023 at 7.45pm, New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Havering’s Grove, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA

Admission: Adults: £5. Concessions: (16-18, over 65) £3. Under 16: Free.

Hot food is available within the ground and there are two bars. Digital programme is free – QR Code at the gate and around the ground.

Car parking is available in the community astro car park or further down in the cricket club car park.

Directions

By Road

Leave the M25 at the junction with the A12 (J28) and take the A1023 through Brentwood. When you get to Shenfield take the A129 towards Billericay. Alternatively on leaving the M25 continue down the A12 towards Chelmsford until you reach the next exit (Mountnessing). At the roundabout take the first exit (turn left) then take the first right (just after the scrap yard). Continue along this route until you reach a mini-roundabout. Turn left, then you are on the road into Billericay. Note there is a height restriction of 13’3″ on this route. Both of these routes will bring you into Billericay on the same route. On entering Billericay turn right at the first set of traffic lights (near the Texaco Garage). Blunts Wall Lane is a little way along on the right.

By Rail

Billericay is located on the Liverpool Street – Southend Victoria line; trains run approximately every 20 minutes on most days. Billericay Town Football Club is approximately 25 minutes walk from the station. On leaving the station turn right into Radford Way. At the top of the road turn right, crossing the railway line by the footbridge. Then turn right again at the bottom of the High Street into Western Road. Walk the full length of Western Road, then cross over at the traffic lights into Tye Common Road. Blunts Wall Lane is a little way along on the right. Note Mayflower taxis are located just outside the station and will transport you to the ground for a modest fee.