The club began life as Bly Spartans in 1982 playing Sunday football, switching to Saturdays in 1997 and changing their name in 2012. They stormed up the levels quickly and have been in the Southern Counties East League since its inception in 2013. Last season they secured their best ever finish in fourth but lost to Staplehurst Monarchs in the play-offs.

The Spartans have the joint best points per game record in the division, along with Forest Hill Park. They’re on the same points as us, but with loads of games in hand on everyone, including a whopping nine in hand on leaders Canterbury City. They’ve won their last three in a row.

In the away game earlier in the season, a close game with good chances at both ends was settled by two late goals for Rochester.

Striker Mack Reilly is the top scorer in the entire division with 21 in 22 games. (Our own Fred Taylor is third). Meanwhile winger Luis dos Santos, who scored both goals in our meeting in December, has 7 goals in his last 3 games. Both have played higher.

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, including…

On tap

• Old Scaffold Daze, our own IPA made by Pretty Decent Brewery – £5
• Gulp Lager, a pilsner from Pretty Decent Brewery – £5

Cans

• Red Stripe, Cruzcampo and San Miguel lagers – £2.50
• Guinness and Guinness Zero is back in stock – hurrah £3
• No/low-alcohol beers from Leyton-based Nirvana Brewery – £3
• Guest beers from Queer Brewing in Leyton, a queer and trans-owned brewery. They donate 10p from every beer to a LGBTQ+ charity.

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.

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, Bovril at the bar, please help yourself. There is no charge but please put some change in the donation box if you can.

Water

We also have water and squash 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.

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

Outside, Simply Moreish Flavours will be selling Caribbean food – meat and vegan options.

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 Grounds committee 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.

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.

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.