Sport London E Benfica vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Sunday August 27 2023 with a 2pm kick off at Rectory Park, Northolt, England UB5 6AU

After last week’s opener was postponed by the league due to the clash with the Women’s World Cup final, the Clapton CFC women’s first team season finally gets underway.

Our team will be looking to build on a hugely encouraging first season in the sixth tier. We’ve said goodbye to coach Claudio Gomes and some fan favourite players, but we also welcome some new faces into the fold.

Previous meetings

We played two very difficult fixtures against Sport London E Benfica last season, losing one and drawing one, and they will no doubt prove to be challenging opposition again this season.

The home game in front of 244 in chilly January finished 0-0, our first ever goalless draw. The return game a few weeks later saw The Eagles edge it 2-1 despite an equaliser from Maria Casanovas.

So we’re looking for our first ever win at the third attempt.

The opposition

Our hosts are affiliated with the world famous Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Last season they finished in sixth place, exactly in the middle of the final 11-team table. It was their second season at this level, having risen up the leagues very quickly after finishing the Covid-affected seasons miles ahead of their rivals.

The men’s team folded around a decade ago but reformed last year in the Middlesex County Football League Combination and won promotion to Division One and the Middlesex County Junior Trophy. The club also have youth football and Futsal teams.

Players to watch

Top goalscorer, Kimberley Castro fired 21 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, while Kendal Drake scored 9 and provided 8 assists in the same number of games. Indeed, they scored a goal apiece to seal the aforementioned 2-1 victory over Clapton CFC last season. Both have signed up for this season.

About the venue

Rectory Park is the Middlesex FA’s multi-pitch facility in Northolt. The game is likely to be on the second pitch which has no cover. There’s a bar and a cafe on the site.

Admission

Admission is free.

Travel

It’s a 32-minute walk from Northolt station (Central Line, Zone 5) or 46 minutes from Southall (Elizabeth Line, Zone 4). Parking is free.