Hackney WFC vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Sunday, April 21 2024 with a 3.30pm kick off at the Wadham Lodge 3G pitch, Walthamstow, East London.

The Clapton CFC women’s first team finish the season with two tough away games, starting with this Sunday and an East London derby against Hackney. It’s a return to our former home at Wadham Lodge, although on the 3G pitch.

We are guaranteed a top four spot, matching last season’s position, but have already gathered four more points. We have a small chance of finishing third, though the top spot is a two-horse race between Brentford and Sport London e Benfica.

The opposition

Hackney WFC was the first totally women-run team and the first out lesbian team in the country. It currently has around 100 players across its three teams. Last season they launched a new red and black kit which includes the club’s slogan, ‘Playing with Pride since 1986’, on the sleeve along with the progress flag and the black triangle which has been reclaimed by lesbians as a feminist symbol of pride and solidarity.

Previous meetings

In October, we won 3-1 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground in the women’s first team’s first, and so far only, midweek night game. Then in filthy weather in January, we grabbed a 1-0 win at Wadham Lodge 3G in the Capital Women’s Cup.

Our first ever competitive meeting came in February 2023 when we squeezed a 2-0 win at their then home at the Douglas Eyre Centre in Walthamstow. In the return fixture in April 2023, we lost 2-1 to a revitalised Hackney side with the winner a top strike from our former hotshot Fae Fulconis.

Form guide

Hackney’s last two home games have seen narrow losses to the two promotion contenders – 1-0 against Sport London e Benfica, and 3-1 against Brentford.

Meanwhile with 6 wins and 1 draw in new CCFC head coach Jay Murray’s 9 league games in charge, there are lots of signs of progress and optimism for the next campaign.

Players to watch

Top scorer Lizzie Tucker has 13 goals in 16 games with Amy Nicholson chipping in 7 goals too.

Admission

It’s free to watch and we should be able to watch from inside the cage rather than outside.

Note there’s no cover although the weather forecast is fine. Note also the unusual 3.30pm kick off time.

Directions

• Wadham Lodge is a 31 minute walk from Walthamstow Central station. Turn onto Hoe Street and follow the road all the way along (past the junction with The Bell pub) until Chingford Lane. Continue past Sir George Monoux 6th Form College and take the first right onto Brookscroft Road then left onto Kitchener Road.
• You can catch a bus along that route too. The 357, 34, 97, 215 will all take you to the top of Brookscroft Road from Walthamstow Central. It will take about 12 minutes. You can park on nearby streets.