After narrowly missing out on promotion to Step 5 in the Eastern Counties League play-offs last season, the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team go again in a new league after being moved sideways.

Geoff Ocran and his management team have been busy over the summer prepping for the unknown challenge of the Southern Counties East Football League, signing six new players and promoting four others from the Men’s Development Team.

Here’s what we know on the new faces…

Joshua Boateng

A product of Welling United U18s, 19-year-old goalkeeper Joshua stepped up into senior football last season playing for Letchworth Garden City Eagles in the Spartan South Midlands (Step 6), keeping 2 clean sheets in 10 starts.

Tami Unuefa

Want to feel old? Tami is just 17 so was probably still at primary school when Clapton CFC was founded. The defender represented Barking up to U16 level and then Buckhurst Hill at U18s. Performances in the summer suggest this could be his breakthrough season in men’s football.

Sam Cook

The 29-year-old defender and defensive midfielder played sixth and seventh tier football in Germany for SFC Stern 1900 and FC Internationale Berlin, then moved to Haringey Borough in the Isthmian Premier Division. Strictly speaking not a summer signing, as Sam was an unused sub in March away at Benfleet and player of the match in a friendly against Sporting Bengal United in February, but it’s about time he was properly introduced.

Ross Broadway

A player with a solid pedigree in the SCEFL, Ross spent the previous three seasons at our new Division One counterparts, Tooting Bec. A central midfielder, CDM or right back, he netted 4 last season from 13 appearances. Previously he spent four seasons between Risborough Rangers and Amersham Town in the Combined Counties and represented Cambridge University in his student days.

Noah Salama

Observant spectators at the Spotted Dog may have picked out Noah playing centre-mid for Brimsdown in a narrow win for Clapton last December. A spell with old friends NW London appears on his CV as well as Spartan South Midlands side Hadley FC.

Azariah George-Lawal

A player well accustomed to the SCEFL Division One, Azariah spent the last 3 years with Forest Hill Park. Playing mostly at full-back, he made 22 appearances last season. Prior to this he represented Dagenham United in the Essex Alliance League.  

Louis Brown

30-year-old Louis is an experienced, versatile attacking midfielder and forward who is one of our tallest players at 6ft 3 inches. He has previous experience of Step 4 and 5 football but spent last season at Old Parmiterians of the Southern Amateur Alliance League, where he scored 8 goals in 15 games. 

And four more players are stepping up from the Men’s Development Team… 

Toby Emerson

24-year-old keeper Toby won the Management’s Unsung Hero award last season, his first for the Devs. He’s since made some friendly appearances for the Men’s First Team.

Andrea Caio

The 33-year-old Italian-born defender made 16 appearances for the Devs last season, and made his First Team debut in a friendly against Athletic Newham in March. His previous clubs include Edinburgh University.

Seb Hartwell

The 24-year-old defender, formerly of Brackley Town and Coventry University, was a key figure in the Men’s Development Team’s promotion last season. He’s played a few friendlies including the trip to Madrid but is still awaiting his competitive debut for the Men’s First Team.

Emmanuel Olasehinde

Forward Emman scored 16 goals in 25 games for the Devs last season, winning two awards in the process. He’s still only 17 but there are high hopes he can make a similar explosive impact in the Men’s First Team. He made his First Team debut this summer in the Cheshunt Community Cup tie against Harlow Town.