Forest Hill Park vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Saturday, May 10 2025 with a 2pm kick off at Mayesbrook Park, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2JR
Having just missed out on the play-offs, the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team end the 2024/25 season with a final shot at glory.
It’s the same opposition for the second game in a row in Forest Hill Park. The game will do well to match the excitement of the last game of the season against them, featuring the unveiling of the International Brigades memorial, the Billy Bragg gig, our record crowd of 1432, and on the pitch our visitors at one point being 45 minutes from the title.
Forest Hill Park’s play-off ended in defeat on penalties in the final, so this is their last shot of glory this season too. It is likely to be their final competitive game as Forest Hill Park before their expected rebrand as SE Dons.
This will be Geoff Ocran’s team’s fourth cup final in our history, two of which have been won on penalties against Hilltop and Kensington Dragons. The other one ended in a defeat against Catholic United.
Three important notes: you need to buy a ticket online, you can’t pay at the turnstile; it’s a slightly earlier than traditional 2pm kick off; and if the scores are level at 90 minutes we’ll go straight to penalties.
About the competition
The Southern Counties East Football League Division One Trophy launched last season, when Lewisham Borough lifted the inaugural trophy. They beat Larkfield & New Hythe 3-2 in the final, which was held on a Tuesday night at a neutral venue, Corinthians FC’s ground in Longfield in Kent.
Form guide
As well as finishing third in the league, Forest Hill Park reached another cup final and the play-off final. It’s been a successful season by any standard, but having lost those two finals, they could be forgiven for being disappointed if they don’t win some silverware to show for it. Of their last 12 games, they drew 8 including against us on the last game of the season where they could have clinched promotion if results had gone their way.
Previous meetings
At our away game in September at the Ladywell Arena, we led at half-time through Noah Adejokun. However, a second half comeback sealed a 2-1 win for FHP. For the home game last month, Charlie Fagan’s equaliser earned us a 1-1 draw.
Players to watch
Former AFC Whyteleafe winger Temi Alaka scored and looked like the star man at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. Nathan Palmer has 13 goals this season, including the winner against us at Ladywell Arena. Georgi Steeds and Ed Mbango have 12 between them since joining with manager Antonio Gonnella from Croydon mid-season. They both scored against us for their former side.
Admission
Tickets are on sale online from here now.
Tickets are £8, with concessions (over 65s and 11-16-year olds) £5 and under 11s £1. Entry will only be via tickets bought in advance – there will be no pay on the day option.
The game being all ticket is not specific to this game: both Forest Hill Park’s SCEFL Challenge Cup final and play-off final were the same. With 1500 people attending the first of those, you can see why SCEFL officials would want to know in advance how many will be there so they can staff accordingly.
Transport
The nearest Tube station is Upney on the District Line, which is about a 15 minute walk away through the park, while the 368 bus stops outside. Alternatively there’s a car park with free parking.