The Clapton CFC men’s first team will look to continue their promising early season form with a home game against in-form Dunmow Town on Saturday, August 26 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

CCFC are still unbeaten in the league in third place after the first five games in our first season in the Eastern Counties League.

Our visitors, like us, are in their first season at this level after promotion. In Dunmow’s case they won the Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division title losing just once all season.

They’ve bounced back from a tough start with three wins in a row in league and cup to be sat in midtable.

There’s plenty of goals in both teams. For CCFC, Arthur Wright is on 5 goals, Noah Adejokun 3, while last season’s top scorer Fred Taylor made a scoring return after injury last time out.

Meanwhile for Dunmow, Stuart Zanone has scored 6 goals so far this season after an incredible 61 last season, while new signing Asa Cansdale already has 3 alongside him.

Former professional striker Paul Hayes was appointed their manager in the summer. He made hundreds of appearances in the Football League for the likes of Scunthorpe United, Wycombe Wanderers, Barnsley and Brentford.

Dunmow Town were formed in June 2020 and originally played at Braintree Town’s Cressing Road but have since moved in with Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road. Their ultimate aims is to have a ground of their own within the town of Dunmow itself, reach Step 3 and attract crowds of 500. 

This will be our third meeting, but our first competitive, with the previous two being pre-season friendlies. We beat them 2-1 on the Wadham Lodge 3G in July 2021 having lost 3-0 on the stadium pitch there in August 2020.

Match Information

Clapton Community FC vs Dunmow Town takes place on Saturday August 26 2023 with a 3pm kick off at The Old Spotted Dog Ground, 212 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, E7 9NP.

Spectator entry will be via the Disraeli Road turnstile and gates from 2pm. Cash and cards are accepted everywhere.

If you have any further questions on the day, look for anyone wearing a pink hi-viz vest or the bar staff who will be happy to answer.

Entry

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

Standard admission is now £4 (due to FA minimum pricing at this level), concessions can pay what they want, and under 13s free. A full list of concessions is available here.

Food and drink

The Clubhouse bar will open at 2pm and close at 7pm. As well as a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale, we also have hot drinks and water at the bar which are free.

Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options – near to the entrance.

Volunteer stall

We will have a volunteer stand at every home game from now on. If you’re interested in volunteering, pop along to a game and speak to a member. There’s loads of volunteering opportunities and we’d love for more people to get involved. Look for the table by the merch stand.

Merch

We will have an eight-page matchday programme available, pick one up for free, donations welcome to cover the printing costs.

There are limited numbers of both home and away shirts plus scarves and a few bucket hats on the merch stall at home games.

The stall is open before games, at half-time and a bit after the game but not during the match itself.

Accessibility

There is an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities next to the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse main entrance is also step-free.

Children welcome

Prams and pushchairs are always very welcome in the OSD, but please avoid blocking walkways. Make sure all children are behind the perimeter fencing during games please.

Kids can play on the pitch (weather permitting) after the game but not before or at half-time.

Pitch access

The Grounds committee need to request all spectators keep off the pitch before games and at half-time. They need to carry out safety pitch inspections before play begins, which are voided if people have gone on the pitch.

Dogs welcome

Spectators are welcome, in fact encouraged, to bring dogs to the OSD, but please keep on leads.

Bikes welcome

There’s space to leave your bikes inside the Old Spotted Dog Ground, to the right of the outdoor toilets. You can lock them to the fencing. It’s best to arrive early so you don’t have to push your bike through crowds. Please don’t leave them locked to the pitch perimeter as it blocks the walkway.

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

Directions

The Old Spotted Dog Ground is at 212 Upton Lane in Forest Gate, London E7 9NP.

Forest Gate station (Elizabeth Line) and Wanstead Park (Overground) are 15 minutes’ walk away, Plaistow (District / Hammersmith & City) is 20 minutes’ walk, and Stratford (National Rail/Overground/Elizabeth/Jubilee/Central/DLR) is 25 minutes’ walk. The Aslef union will be operating an overtime ban as action short of a strike, so this may affect you if travelling on a National Rail route.

If you’ve not been to the OSD yet, here are some even more detailed directions.

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

Map of the Old Spotted Dog Ground