Romford vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Saturday, October 17 2026 with a 3pm kick off at Mayesbrook Park, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2JR
After a blank weekend, Clapton CFC go in search of a first away win to move up the Essex Senior Football League table.
The team have two wins in a row at the Old Spotted Dog Ground but have yet to register a win away from home since promotion. Can this East London derby be the springboard?
But the main focus will be on Romford, as this game is the centrepiece of their 150th birthday celebrations. The club was formed way back on October 11, 1876 and played its first game 10 days later.
They will also be collecting donations for the Collier Row & Romford Foodbank at the game. Any donation of cupboard staples you can make will be appreciated – a list of suggested items is here.
About the opposition
Romford FC have a rich history full of huge highs and some lows too. They’ve been to Wembley twice, playing in front of 93,000 fans in the FA Amateur Cup in 1949 and then in 2024 returned there to win the FA Vase. On a sadder note, they also had to reform several times and lost their Brooklands home. Since then, they’ve shared grounds at (deep breath) Hornchurch, Rush Green, Sungate, Aveley, Thurrock, Brentwood Town, East Thurrock United, and now Barking. They survived for a long time in the Isthmian League with no budget but are now back in the Essex Senior League.
Previous meetings
There’s been just one meeting, last season in the BBC Essex Senior Cup. That one ended 3-1 to Romford, with our goal scored by Azariah George-Lawal from the penalty spot.
Form guide
Romford sit three places and two points above us in the table, although have two games in hand. They’ve had some good wins against the likes of Soul Tower Hamlets and Ilford.
Player/s to watch
Jaxon Brown joined in the summer from Swindon Town, where he had loan spells at Hashtag United and Aveley, and has scored 8 goals already. They’ve also added two new attacking signings recently in Ezra Agyiri, from Great Wakering Rovers, and Harlow’s Jack Zielinski.
Admission
It’s £10 in, or £5 concessions and £2 for U16s.
There will be a programme for sale at £2.
Directions
The nearest Tube stations are on the District Line – Upney is about a 20 minute walk away through the park, while Becontree station is about 25 minutes.
Barking station is a 40 minute walk but you can get the 368 from there, which stops right outside the ground.
Alternatively there’s a car park with free parking.