Clapton CFC have WON our appeal for the Men’s First Team to move back to the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One South.

In March we formally requested a lateral move back to the ECLD1S, the Step 6 division containing teams north of the River Thames, in both East London, Essex and beyond.

However, on May 15 the Football Association panel decided to allocate us for a second season in the Southern Counties East Football League Division One, the Step 6 division south of the river, in South East London, Kent and Surrey.

Our appeal was heard remotely for two hours on June 4 by a different arm of the FA. Today (June 12) they confirmed our appeal has been successful.

A statement from the FA said:

“Clapton Community FC will be laterally moved from the Southern Counties East League Division One to the Eastern Counties League Division One South. The SCEFL D1 will operate with 18 Clubs and the ECL D1S with 21 Clubs.”
 

Last summer we also appealed but that was unsuccessful. However, there were a couple of key differences this season. Last summer, we were being moved with two other East London teams (one of which subsequently folded) and our presence took the division up to a round number of 18 teams.

This season, however, we would have been the only north of the river side in the division. In fact we would have been the only team playing on the ‘other’ side of the river at Step 6, Step 5 or even Step 4. Our presence would also have meant the SCEFL would have meant the division running at an odd number of 19 teams.

The threshold to win such an appeal is extremely high. The decision needed to be judged not just as unreasonable, but so unreasonable that no reasonable body acting reasonably could have made it (the ‘Wednesbury unreasonableness’ test). As such it is exceptionally rare to succeed. Indeed all ten appeals lodged last summer lost.

A big thanks to the CCFC members Paul Cockerton and Ric Prescod who gave up their time on the appeal process. Thanks also to the members of the FA Appeal Board who heard our case. We will receive a full refund of our £100 appeal fee.

Thanks too to all the friends we made in the SCEFLD1 last season, from the league, match and club officials to the players, coaches and supporters across the teams. As manager Geoff Ocran said on social media:

Just to clarify, this has nothing to do with the SCEFL who as an entity have been very accommodating and welcoming this season. It’s purely based on geography for our players, fans, members and volunteers.

With this matter now resolved, we look forward to pre-season and trying to improve on our performance in the ECLD1S in 2023/24, where we lost in the play-off semi-finals. We’ll publish a full season preview, including new teams, new grounds, key dates etc, in due course.

For transparency, below is the FA Appeal Board’s written reasons report.