Clapton Community FTFA Team vs Goal Diggers South takes place on Saturday, October 18 2025 with a 2pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, 212 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, East London, E7 9NP.
While the CCFC Men’s First Team are away on Saturday (a leisure centre in Dagenham), we’ve slotted in a big game at the Old Spotted Dog Ground too.
The latest team to be added to the CCFC ranks – FTFA – will make their debut at our ground in a league game against our friends Goal Diggers, kick off 2pm.
Like our Women/NB Development Team, our FTFA Team play outside the FA jurisdiction in the London Women’s Saturday Football League, which means they can remain properly inclusive after the FA’s ban on trans women playing. However, these games usually get played on municipal pitches so we wanted to move some fixtures to the OSD where possible.
Alongside the footy we’ll have tasty street food, Baller FC DJs, delicious drinks, ‘Let the Dolls Play’ fundraiser Ts, loads of great prizes in a raffle, the Chip it in the Bin game and a pitch without ankle-breaking craters in it.
In terms of the CCFC line-up, you’ll likely see a mix of existing First Team and Reserves Team players – and some old favourite players from the CCFC Women/NB teams of old too, according to Jack Francis.
See you there for the party!
About the opposition
Goal Diggers FC is a non-profit club founded in 2015 to make football more available and accessible to all women and non-binary people regardless of previous experience or ability. Both clubs field teams in both the London Women’s Saturday Football League Division One North and Division One South. In our visitors’ case, they’re called Goal Diggers North and Goal Diggers South.
Baller FC
Baller FC is a group of friends, event producers, DJs, musicians, passionate members of the Queer community and HUGE football fans. They’ve created inclusive spaces to watch women’s football after years of tramping between pubs that either refused to show the WSL or relegated it to a tiny TV in the dingiest corner of the bar.
Form guide
The season is only a couple of games old and results are not always easy to find. For our part, the FTFA Team have won 1 and lost 1 so far.
Entrance – where and when
Gates will open at 1pm for a 2pm kick off.
Spectator entry remains via the Upton Lane gate, next to the Spotted Dog pub. 212 Upton Lane, E7 9NP (What3Words: option.dark.limes).
However…. it’s just a 30 second walk down the Walter Tull Way if you want to arrive via Disraeli Road, (E7 9JT, lifted.paying.influencing) instead.
Admission prices
No tickets are needed, just turn up and pay at the turnstiles.
This game is pay what you can for all.
Public transport
There are 7 stations, on umpteen different lines, within walking distance of the Old Spotted Dog.
- Forest Gate (Elizabeth) – 14 minutes’ walk
- Wanstead Park (Suffragette) – 17 minutes’ walk
- Plaistow (District/Hammersmith & City) – 19 minutes’ walk
- Upton Park (District/Hammersmith & City) – 19 minutes’ walk
- Maryland (Elizabeth) – 22 minutes’ walk
- Abbey Road (DLR) – 26 minutes’ walk
- Stratford (National Rail/Mildmay/Elizabeth/Jubilee/Central/DLR) – 28 minutes’ walk
Buses
These bus services stop on Upton Lane (St Georges Road stop or Stratford School stop, 4 minutes’ walk away)
325 (from East Beckton or Prince Regent)
678 (From Beckton or Stratford)
These bus services stop on Romford Road (Disraeli Road stop, 7 minutes’ walk away).
25 (from City of London or Ilford)
86 (from Stratford or Romford)
425 (from Lower Clapton or Ilford)
These bus services stop on Woodgrange Road (Claremont Road or Romford Road stops, 11 minutes’ walk away).
58 (from Walthamstow or East Ham)
330 (from Forest Gate or Silvertown)
Bikes
You can park your bike on the fencing at the back near to the main stand. We are currently working on plans for a better bike parking and locking system – watch this space.
Parking
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
Drinks
London’s oldest senior football ground has one of the best bars around, too.
The Clubhouse bar will be open an hour before kick off with a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale. Last orders are 7pm.
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 and Bovril in the Clubhouse on a ‘help yourself’ basis.
There’s no charge if you bring your own reusable cup. If you need a cup, buy one at the bar for £1 then refill it as many times as you like.
Please make sure any children using the water heater are supervised.
Water
We have tap water at the bar, please help yourself. If you want a water bottle filled, we have a water fountain outside the new toilet block, or you can ask at the bar.
Food
Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food with meat, veggie and vegan options.
We usually have crisps, nuts, scampi fries and bacon fries on sale in the clubhouse.
Toilets
The new toilet block is now open next to the seated stand.
These are in addition to the toilets in the Clubhouse.
Merch for sale
The merch stall is open before the game, at half-time, and after the game. The stall can be found inside the Clubhouse, on the stage. The merch stall is taking cards only at the moment.
Most of the merch is also available to buy online on our store page.
Matchday programme
No programme for this game, sorry.
Cash or card?
Both cash and cards are accepted everywhere in the ground – entrance, bar, and food stall – except the merch stall, which is card only.
Paying cash at the entrance is speedier for all, so if you can bring the right money in hard currency, we would appreciate it.
Hygiene bank collection
The hygiene bank collection is back at all home games, with a new permanent collection point inside the ground.
Our charity partners Magpie Project support mums and young children in temporary accommodation. They need:
● Toothpaste ● Toothbrush ● Shower gel ● Shampoo ● Deodorant ● Sanitary towel
Pitch access
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.
After a game, in good weather, kids can have a run round and a kickabout on the pitch, but no adults please.
Children welcome
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. After a game, in good weather, kids can have a run round and a kickabout on the pitch, but no adults please.
Dogs welcome
Spectators are welcome, in fact encouraged, to bring dogs to the OSD, but please keep on leads. It’s free entry for dogs.
Any questions?
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.