Clapton Community FC vs Tooting Bec takes place on Sunday, February 18 2024 with a 2pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, Forest Gate, East London.

The draw for the quarter final of the Capital Cup has taken place, with Clapton CFC women’s first team facing a tough home tie against Tooting Bec.

The tie will take place on Sunday, February 18 at our Old Spotted Dog Ground, kick off 2pm. If level at 90 minutes, we’ll go straight to penalties, with no extra time.

This will be the team’s first home game of 2024 and there’s no men’s first team game that weekend, home or away, so let’s make it a big crowd. It’s also the only cup competition either of our first teams are left in.

The opposition

Tooting Bec FC men’s team founded in 2004, having a rapid rise up the low rungs to become a Step 6 side within 14 years. That same year, 2018, they launched a women’s team in Greater London Women’s Football League Division 3, improving every year to reach the GLWFL Premier for this season.

While still playing at the level below us, they are fighting out for a second successive promotion against the likes of Comets and Leyton Orient.

Form guide

In the third round, Tooting Bec won 4-0 away at Actonians Reserves, who themselves beat us 5-1 in the league earlier in the season and are above us in the table. Meanwhile Clapton CFC beat Hackney 1-0 in the third round and London Seaward Reserves 6-1 in the second round, both away from home.

Previous meetings

This will be our first meeting.

Players to watch

Former Burnley striker Bryony Bancroft has notched 17 goals in 11 games so far, the second top scorer in the division.

Capital Women’s Cup – Intermediate

The Capital Women’s Cup Intermediate is for teams in London, Middlesex and Surrey playing at tier 6 and 7 of the women’s football pyramid. We reached the final of the competition in May 2022 but lost to higher division Dorking Wanderers 1-0 at their own ground.

We are one of four tier 6 teams in the competition along with Brentford and AFC Whyteleafe, who play in our division, and Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One South side Woking.

We’re joined by Tooting Bec, Comets and Camden Town of the tier 7 Greater London Women’s Football League Premier Division and Leatherhead of the tier 7 South East Counties Womens Football League Surrey Premier Division.

Leatherhead v Camden Town
Clapton Community v Tooting Bec
Brentford v Woking
Comets v AFC Whyteleafe

Admission

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

Admission for women’s first team games is by donation, with a suggested £4 for waged adults to match the charge for the men’s first team, but any amount or none at all is fine.

Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road turnstile from 1pm with kick off at 2pm.

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 1pm and close at 6pm.

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. We usually have two beers on tap – Pretty Decent Lager and Old Scaffold Daze, our own IPA.

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.

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 towels

Merch

You can buy a shirt, beanie, scarf, badges and tea towels on the merch stall. The stall is open before the game, at half-time, and afterwards, only.

We will have a 4-page matchday programme available, pick one up for free, donations welcome to cover the printing costs.

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’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