Unfortunately the men’s team game has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitvh after a 9am inspection.

Sometimes you’ll get a football team who also have a great clubhouse.

Indian Gymkhana are more like a great clubhouse that also have a pretty good football team too. 

The club was first established way back in 1916 to play cricket. Since then hockey and football teams have been added 

The football section was created in the 1980s and now has a men’s, boys’ and girls’ teams.

It was the first Asian football club in Britain to set up a girls’ team and they are determined to see girls and boys get the same opportunities.

Their historic venue in Osterley was enough to make for a memorable away trip for the Clapton support earlier this season.

The pitch wasn’t much to speak of – just a roped off bit of grass – nor was the visitors’ performance up to much. 

The Tons took an early lead through Marlinho, only to go 4-1 behind. A late rally saw the deficit narrowed to 5-4, but it was too little too late.

The return fixture sees Gymkhana visit the Wadham Lodge Stadium where the Tons are on four wins from four league games. 

The overall form has picked up as well, with the emergence of the likes of volley-dispatcher Aaron Yfeko and midfield dynamo Julian Austin. 

The return from injury of Sherwin Stanley and the return from Wakefield FC of Lewis Owiredu have further bolstered Geoff Ocran’s attacking options.

Gymkhana’s danger man is undoubtedly Edward Simon. The striker scored four against Clapton and has 11 for the season so far despite having played just four games.

Since that game in early Autumn, IGK have defeated Kensington Dragons, Stonewall and Hilltop. A draw with Samurai further underlines their quality. 

Last weekend’s 3-1 home loss to Pitshanger Dynamo means they currently sit in eighth, three points behind Clapton.

Match information

The game takes place on Saturday, December 14th at 2pm at Wadham Lodge Stadium, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JP.

There’s covered seating and both covered and uncovered standing.

Entry as always is free, but we welcome donations, with a suggested £3 for waged adults.

We have a range of merch on sale at all home games, including our away shirts, photo book and calendar.

Our full-colour matchday programme will be on sale for £2. There’s a different cover artist each time.

Fusion Foods will be selling hot food at the entrance. They will have meat, veggie and vegan options and accept cards or cash.

Our landlords Matchday Centres run an outside can bar and a full bar inside.

Christmas Toy Appeal

Clapton CFC members and supporters are being asked to dig deep again with a bucket shake for the annual Christmas Toy Appeal.

This year’s appeal aims to collect 18,000 gifts to ensure that every child referred to the appeal, aged from 2 months to 16 years, has a gift to open and a smile on their face on Christmas morning.

If you can’t make the game, you can still help by donating cash directly to the charity’s fundraising page.

If you would like to donate a toy rather than money, click here for information on drop-off points.

Magpie Project collection

At each home game we collect food and toiletries for our charity partner, the Magpie Project. They support mums and young children who live in temporary and emergency accommodation in East London.

If you have any of these to spare, please bring them to our collection point at the entrance:

● Toothpaste ● Toothbrushes ● Shower gel ● Shampoo ● Soap ● Deodorant ● Bags of rice ● Bags of pasta ● Breakfast cereals ● Washing powder

Directions

Wadham Lodge Stadium is about 20 minutes 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.

There’s also plenty of car parking space available at the ground.

Any questions? Email comms@claptoncfc.co.uk, Join the Facebook event here.