Clapton Community FC vs Enfield Borough takes place on Saturday, October 21 2023 with a 3pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, Forest Gate, East London.

The Clapton CFC men’s first team have followed up five draws in succession with three wins in a hectic October period.

Tuesday night’s exhausting win versus Clapton FC in front of an intensely noisy and (self-imposed) capacity crowd was one of the highlights of our club’s history so far.

But after rising to such a big occasion, the team will need to be on their guard against a talented Enfield Borough side.

Please note due to recent rain we’ve taken a look at the pitch and it looks fine!

The opposition

Enfield Borough formed in 2016, first groundsharing with Enfield Town, and now with Wingate & Finchley. The club – one of the three in the pyramid with Enfield in their name – hope to return to the borough in the near future. Enfield-born Michael Duberry is a club ambassador after a 20-year professional career that included Chelsea and Leeds United.

The Panthers started out at Step 7, the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two, and in their first season they won promotion to take them to this current level. They’ve always had an emphasis on youth with many players coming through the ranks. This season the club launched a post-16 academy in partnership with CONEL College and expanded its youth programme to cover U13 to U18 boys.

Previous meetings

This will be our first competitive meeting. We played a pre-season friendly away in September 2020 at the charming Maurice Rebak Stadium which saw us lose 6-0.

Form guide

These are the two draw specialists in the division. Both teams managed five draws in a row in the league at one point, which means they are lower down in the table than their losses column suggests.

Players to watch

The club were pleased to sign former Enfield Town player Samuel Aggrey-Adams this summer and he’s made the most appearances so far this season.

Admission

No tickets are needed, just turn up and pay at the turnstile.

Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road turnstile from 2pm.

Standard admission is now £4 (the minimum we are allowed to charge by the FA at this level), concessions can pay what they want, and under 13s free. A full list of concessions is available here

Cash and cards are accepted everywhere in the ground.

Food and drink

The Clubhouse bar will open at 2pm and close at 7pm.

Please help the club by purchasing drinks from the bar. The premises are licensed so we ask you not to bring your own alcohol into the OSD. The profits from the bar are invested in maintaining the grounds.

We have a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale. Two beers are on tap – Pretty Decent Lager and Old Scaffold Daze, our own IPA.

We also have hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Bovril) and water at the bar which are free, please help yourself.

Fusion Foods are no longer coming along due to the weather so there is no hot food.

We have crisps, nuts, and Hackney Gelato on sale in the clubhouse.

Hygiene bank collection

The hygiene bank collection is back at all home games.

Our charity partners Magpie Project support mums and young children in temporary accommodation. They need:

● Toothpaste ● Toothbrush ● Shower gel ● Shampoo ● Deodorant ● Sanitary towel

At the moment they’re also appealing for canvas/tote bags so please do donate if you have spares.

The collection box will be at the main entrance.

Merch

We will have an 8-page matchday programme available, pick one up for free, donations welcome to cover the printing costs.

There are limited numbers of shirts, scarves, pin badges and keyrings on the merch stall. The stall is open before the game, at half-time, and afterwards, only.

Accessibility

There is an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities next to the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse main entrance is also step-free.

Pitch access

The Grounds committee request all spectators keep off the pitch before games and at half-time. They need to carry out safety pitch inspections before play begins, which are voided if people have gone on the pitch.

Children welcome

Prams and pushchairs are always very welcome at the OSD, but please avoid blocking walkways.

Make sure all children are behind the perimeter fencing during games please.

Kids can play on the pitch (weather permitting) after games but not before or at half-time.

Dogs welcome

Spectators are welcome, in fact encouraged, to bring dogs to the OSD, but please keep on leads.

Bikes welcome

There’s space to leave your bikes inside the Old Spotted Dog Ground, next to the main stand. You can lock them to the fencing. Please don’t leave them locked to the pitch perimeter as it blocks the walkway.

We are currently working on plans for a better bike parking and locking system – watch this space.

Any questions?

If you have any further questions, look for anyone wearing a pink hi-viz vest or the bar staff who will be happy to answer.

Directions

The Old Spotted Dog Ground is at 212 Upton Lane in Forest Gate, London E7 9NP.

Forest Gate station (Elizabeth Line) and Wanstead Park (Overground) are 15 minutes’ walk away, Plaistow (District / Hammersmith & City) is 20 minutes’ walk, and Stratford (National Rail/Overground/Elizabeth/Jubilee/Central/DLR) is 25 minutes’ walk.

If you’ve not been to the OSD yet, here are some even more detailed directions.

Parking is free on the streets to the north and west of the ground (e.g. Disraeli Rd) on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, parking is restricted on streets to the east and south of the ground (e.g. St George’s Rd and Upton Lane), but there are no restrictions on Sundays. Always check local signage for any changes. And if possible come by public transport, bike or walk

Map of the Old Spotted Dog Ground