Clapton Community FC vs Dunmow Town takes place on Saturday, August 2 2025 with a 3pm kick off at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, 212 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, East London, E7 9NP.
It’s the second of the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team’s three home games on the bounce and our first Saturday game of the season.
CCFC will look to get back to winning ways after that home defeat to Basildon Town in midweek. For Dunmow, meanwhile, they secured a hugely impressive 4-0 away win at Cannons Wood on Wednesday night to start their season with a bang.
About the opposition
Dunmow Town formed in 2020 playing in the Essex & Suffolk Border League and were promoted to the Eastern Counties League in 2023. They reached the play-off finals in their first season, losing to Wormley Rovers, who beat us in the semis. Now based at Hoddesdon Town’s Lowfield, Dunmow have previously groundshared at Braintree Town, Heybridge Swifts and Saffron Walden Town.
Form guide
Last season Dunmow finished 12th, winning their last two games and have started this season with a win and clean sheet. They were quiet online and on social media over the summer, but they played two higher division teams in friendlies, losing to Saffron Walden 4-3 and Basildon United 3-0.
Previous meetings
This will be our third competitive clash. In 2023/24, Dunmow became the first side to beat us at Step 6, with a 2-0 win at the Old Spotted Dog Ground in August. The return game at Heybridge in February was a 1-1 draw, Noah Adejokun with our goal. Prior to that, we’d played a couple of friendlies, winning 2-1 in the summer of 2021 after losing 3-0 in 2020.
Players to watch
Striker Darnell Fuller scored a whopping 32 goals last season, second best in the division. He’s back for another season along with the vast majority of last season’s side.
Entrance – where and when
Gates will open at 2pm for a 3pm 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: £5
Concessions: Pay what you can
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 you can for entry.
If you can afford it, however, please do pay the £5 standard price.
Bucket shake
Workers from Stratford Draughts Cafe will be doing a strike fundraising bucket shake.
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.
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
Simply Moreish will be selling hot Caribbean food – with meat 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.
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.
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.