Clapton Community FC vs Park View takes place on Saturday, December 2 2023 with a 3pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, Forest Gate, East London.

The Clapton CFC men’s first team put their 16-game unbeaten league run on the line with a potential banana skin game against Park View at the Old Spotted Dog Ground on Saturday.

Last week’s impressive goalless draw away at fellow high-flyers Harlow Town nevertheless saw us edged off the top spot by Hutton on goal difference, but we’re very much in the mix.

The North London visitors are bottom of the table but shouldn’t be taken lightly, as a couple of wins would take them mid-table, and they are a top-half away side.

It’s the second to last home game of 2023 for the men’s first team so wrap up warm and come along, our Christmas party is after the game and the shopping can wait for another time.

The opposition

Park View are a non-profit club formed in 1991 and originally drew many players from London’s Ghanaian community. They joined the Middlesex County Football League Division One Central & East and won it in the first season – exactly like we did a decade later. Since then they’ve progressed through the levels while also forming a women’s team and several junior teams. They also offer community fitness projects and free youth coaching sessions and support social diversity and integration.

Form guide

It’s been a tough season for Park View so far, with a warning in September that the club would need to fold for financial reasons. They’ve managed to stay afloat but are in the congested area at the bottom of the table. However, their away record is top half standard with four away wins so far. CCFC are still on this great unbeaten run and have lost the fewest games in the division this season, but have drawn four more than any other team too.

Previous meetings

This will be our first meeting. We have played at their home ground of New River Stadium, though, against NW London.

Players to watch

Brandon Fulton is their top scorer so far this season with 6 goals while also making the most appearances.

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 (we are not allowed to charge less by the FA at this level), concessions can pay what they want, and under 13s are free. A full list of concessions is available here

Cash and cards are accepted everywhere in the ground – cash is quicker at the turnstile to help prevent queues but card quicker elsewhere.

Food and drink

The Clubhouse bar will open at 2pm with last orders at midnight – later than usual because it’s our Christmas party night.

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.

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

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

Outside, Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options.

Toy Appeal collection

We’re collecting for the annual Newham Christmas Toy Appeal this weekend. Now in its 46th year, this project provides a stocking of new gifts to children who may otherwise have nothing to unwrap on Christmas Day. All money donated will be spent on buying presents for Newham’s most underprivileged children in advance of Christmas Day.

Please stick some cash in the bucket if you can afford it. Toy donations can be made in person at the Terence Brown Arc In The Park, Canning Town, and Galleons Reach shopping centre. An online JustGiving page has also been set up, at justgiving.com/campaign/toyappeal2023

Hygiene bank collection

The hygiene bank collection is back at all home games, with the collection box at the main entrance. Our charity partners Magpie Project support mums and young children in temporary accommodation. They need:

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

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.

If/when Clapton CFC wins a game, children are invited to join the players in their post-match celebration on the pitch.

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 usually take the Gospel Oak-Barking Riverside line on the London Overground, engineering works are taking place this weekend and the whole line is closed. Rail replacement services are operating between Gospel Oak and Seven Sisters (for South Tottenham) and between Walthamstow Central and Barking. The Victoria Line will take you between Seven Sisters and Walthamstow.

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