Clapton Community FC vs Basildon Town takes place on Tuesday, July 29 2025 with a 7.45pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, 212 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, East London, E7 9NP.
The 2025/26 season kicks off with the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team playing under the floodlights at Old Spotted Dog Ground against Basildon Town.
After a season away of travelling into South East London and Kent playing in the Southern Counties East Football League, we’re now back in the Eastern Counties Football League among fellow East London and Essex sides.
Our last game in this division ended in a late defeat in the play-off semi-final at Wormley Rovers in April 2024. So while the clubs that we’ll be playing are nearly all familiar – including Basildon – it’s likely that their teams have completely changed in the 15 months since.
About the opposition
Basildon Town are the town’s oldest club, formed nine years before Essex Senior League side Basildon United. Town were a major force in the Essex Olympian League, but were unable to be promoted due to the ground grading at their Basildon Sports & Leisure Club home. In 2021/22 they moved to groundshare with United and promotion came at the first attempt as runners-up. In 2022/23 they finished agonisingly one point away from back-to-back promotions but missed out in the play-offs. Last season they returned to Basildon United’s Gardiner Close ground, after a spell at Rookery Hill, former home of East Thurrock United.
Form guide
After finishing a decent ninth place last season, manager Alec Simm will no doubt be looking to a promotion push this time around. In pre-season they’ve been playing higher level opposition, losing to Tilbury and Great Wakering Rovers.
Previous meetings
Two seasons ago, both games ended in draws. It was 2-2 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground in August, with Noah Adejokun and Jeff Twumasi grabbing our goals. In the return game in September, Adam Sidky’s goal secured a 1-1 draw. So we’ve yet to beat them.
Players to watch
Joint top scorers Dylan Jones and Luke Winter, who both scored 11 goals last season, have signed up again for the new season.
Entrance – where and when
Gates will open at 6.45pm for a 7.45pm kick off.
Spectator entry is via the Upton Lane turnstiles, 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.
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.
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 from 6.45pm with a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on sale.
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, hand it over at the bar and we will fill it up from the tap.
Food
Fusion Foods will be selling hot and cold food – meat, veggie and vegan options.
We usually have crisps, nuts, scampi fries and bacon fries on sale in the clubhouse.
You can also bring in your own food if you wish.
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.
If you ordered the new trans solidarity keeper shirt and chose the ‘pick-up at a game’ option, please come to the stall to get yours.
Most of the merch is also available to buy online on our store page.
Matchday programme
We produce a small (four-page) printed programme for all competitive Women and Men’s First Team home games. Pick one up for free.
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.
Cash or card?
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.
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.