Meridian Sports & Social FC started as a five-a-side team including current manager and chairman Dwinder Tamna and three of his brothers. They joined the Dartford & District League in 1995, then the Kent County League in 2003. They have been at this level since 2011 and two years later merged with Valley Park FC, becoming Meridian VP. The name presumably derives from being based in Greenwich near the meridian line.

Although bottom of the table without a win, don’t be fooled. Having appointed new manager Darrell Queeley formerly of Forest Hill Park, they are unbeaten in the last three games, all against high-flying sides. They were seconds away from a first win away at Thamesmead last week before conceding an injury time equaliser.

In the away game earlier in the season, we bagged three points by the narrowest of margins. An early Fred Taylor goal put us ahead, but we had to survive a second half onslaught with Jack Francis kept busy. Geoff Ocran felt they were in a false position after that performance. 

Top scorer Rami Halloufi has five goals this season, while the fantastically named Robinhood Mensa Sowah is formerly of our old divisional rivals Park View and Barkingside.

Gates open at 2pm.

Spectator entry is via the Upton Lane turnstiles, next to the Spotted Dog pub. This is because of building work at the Disraeli Road end. The alleyway is also closed.

So please go directly to 212 Upton Lane, E7 9NP (What3Words: option.dark.limes).

If you forget and end up at Disraeli Road, it’s a five minute walk around the perimeter, via Salisbury Road and Margery Park Road. 

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

Standard admission for Men’s First Team games: £5
Concessions: Pay what you want
Under 13s: Free 

Concessions include: 

• Clapton CFC members 
• Newham residents 
• Teenagers (13 to 19)
• Over 60s
• Students and apprentices
• Trade union members
• Unemployed people and those on low income
• People with disabilities and health conditions 
• Refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants 

The concessions option is available to anyone who needs it. No ID is required to qualify for concessions, we will take your word for it. At the turnstile, just say that you are a concession (you don’t need to say which) and pay what what you want for entry.

If you can afford it, however, please do pay the £5 standard price.

Heads up it’s a bus replacement service to Forest Gate station this weekend due to engineering works. These are the walking times from alternative stations…

• 18 mins Wanstead Park
• 19 mins Upton Park
• 20 mins Plaistow
• 26 mins Abbey Road
• 28 mins Stratford

Here are some even more detailed directions.

You can lock your bike on the fencing near to the main stand.

There may be less space to leave your bikes inside the Old Spotted Dog Ground than usual due to building works.

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

There is no parking on site.

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

London’s oldest senior football ground has one of the best bars around, too.

We have a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale, which at the time of writing includes…

On tap

• Old Scaffold Daze, our own IPA made by Forest Gate/Walthamstow-based Pretty Decent Brewery – £5
• Gulp Lager, a pilsner also from Pretty Decent Brewery – £5

Cans

• Red Stripe, Cruzcampo and San Miguel lagers – £2.50
• Thatcher’s Gold and Thatchers Blood Orange ciders – £2.50
• Guinness and Guinness Zero – £3
• No/low-alcohol beers from Leyton-based Nirvana Brewery – £3
• Existence Is A Radical Act pale ale from Leyton’s Queer Brewing – £4
• Other cans from Pretty Decent, including Gulp lager, I Could Get Better In Tesco For A Quid IPA and The Greatest Love pale ale

Due to our licence, we ask that you don’t bring your own booze in. The profits from the bar are invested in maintaining and improving the grounds.

Soft drinks

• Gaza Cola – £2
• Cawston Press Elderflower and Rhubarb, R Whites Lemonade and Old Jamaica Ginger Beer – £1
• Orange juice and apple & pear juice – £1
• Bottled water – £1 (but tap water is free, see below)

Returnable pint and half-pint cups

The Clubhouse has ditched single use plastic and switching to returnable pint and half-pint cups.

Just pay a £2 deposit, which is refunded when you return the cup to the bar. If you’d rather keep the cup, you’re welcome to take it home.

Hot drinks

We have coffee, tea, hot chocolate and Bovril in the Clubhouse on a ‘help yourself’ basis.

We’re introducing a small charge for disposable hot drink cups in the Clubhouse – with all proceeds going towards maintaining the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

If you need a cup, buy one at the bar for £1 then refill it as many times as you like. There’s no charge if you bring your own reusable cup.

Please make sure any children using the water heater are supervised.

Water

We also have water at the bar, please help yourself. If you want a water bottle filled, hand it over at the bar and we will fill it up from the tap.

Outside, Messy Patty will be making their debut, selling burgers and fries.

We have Pipers crisps, nuts, scampi fries and bacon fries on sale in the clubhouse.

You can also bring in your own food if you wish.

The merch stall is open before the game, at half-time, and after the game.

While the building work is taking place, the stall can be found inside the Clubhouse, on the stage.

Most of the merch is also available to buy online on our store page.

We produce a printed programme for all competitive Women and Men’s First Team home games.

They are free to pick up but donations are welcome. If 50 or so people donate £1 each game, that will cover our printing costs.

The programmes are also uploaded to the website after the game for those who could not make it. You can also buy a bundle of six random programmes for £3 from our website.

Either is fine. Cash and cards are accepted everywhere in the ground – entrance, bar, merch stall and food stall.

However, paying cash at the entrance will be speedier for all, so if you can bring the right money in hard currency, we would appreciate it.

The hygiene bank collection is back at all home games, with the collection box at the entrance.

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

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

The pitch has been battered by the recent games and adverse weather, though the games should be ok to take place. However, only match officials, players and grounds volunteers can go on the pitch at any point please while it recovers.

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 too please.

If/when Clapton CFC wins a game, children are invited to join the players in their post-match celebration on the side of the pitch. In good weather, kids can also have a run round and a kickabout on the pitch after the game, but not when it’s muddy, please.

Spectators are welcome, in fact encouraged, to bring dogs to the OSD, but please keep on leads. It’s free entry for dogs.

Take a look around our facilities.

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.