Sheppey Sports vs Clapton CFC preview: Men’s First Team crunch away day

Sheppey Sports vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Saturday, March 29 2025 with a 3pm kick off at Holm Park, Queenborough Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3DB

Five games to go in the SCEFL season and it’s a long away day for the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team in the bid to squeeze into fifth place and the last play-off spot.

Last Saturday’s draw against Croydon – and results elsewhere – mean we realistically need to win all our games and hope both Croydon in fifth and Sheppey Sports in sixth drop points.

Beating Sheppey seems like a must but that’s easier said than done, being one of the division’s form teams and having won at the Old Spotted Dog Ground earlier in the season.

About the opposition

The club began life in 1919 as Aylesford Paper Mills and was nicknamed the Paperboys. Later they played under the names Reed International, APM Mears, APM, APM Contrast, then becoming K Sports in 2016. They became Sheppey Sports this summer, having moved to groundshare with Sheppey United after being forced to leave their home of 105 years, Cobdown Sports & Social Club near Maidstone. Sheppey Sports now bridge the gap between Sheppey United’s under-23s and their Isthmian League first team for talent on the Isle of Sheppey. There’s been double tragedy this season as their player of the year Dylan Akue died aged just 21, while joint managers George and Ian Batten’s father Ernie (manager of Sheppey United) passed away earlier this month.

Form guide

Sheppey are hitting form at just the right time and are currently unbeaten in their last seven games.

Previous meetings

In the home game in November, we could have had no complaints as we lost 3-1 to a good Sheppey side, Fred Taylor scoring our only goal.

Players to watch

Top scorer Joel Wakefield is one of several Sports players who is dual registered with Step 4 side Sheppey United, and is also a former player of year at Bearsted.

Admission

£7, concessions (8-17 & Over 65) £3, U8s free.

Public transport

The ground is a 21-minute walk from Queensborough railway station.

Driving

Here are the directions from the Sheppey website. There is a car park on site.