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WELCOME TO THE OLD SPOTTED DOG GROUND No place for
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - Donation 25p
138th Season 2015-16 Ground : Old Spotted ‘Dog’, Upton Lane, Forest Gate President : Mr M.J. McShea Chairman - Mr P. Maybin Life Members : Mr M.J. McShea, Mr M.E. Fogg, Mr I. Hollowell Hon Secretary – Mr A. B. Barr, Les Chauvières, 53250 Javron les Chapelles, France Tel 0751 4518440 - email : secretary@claptonfc.info Club Office – Markham House, 35 Station Road, Chingford, London E4 7BJ WINNERS OF FA AMATEUR CUP -1906-07, 1908-09, 1914-15, 1923-24, 1924-25 LONDON AMATEUR SENIOR CUP – 1889-90, 1908-09, 1910-11 ISTHMIAN LEAGUE – 1910-11, 1922-23 LONDON CHARITY CUP -1898-9, 1899-1900, 1901-2, 1902-3, - Joint Holders 1923-34 ESSEX SENIOR CUP – 1890-1, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1954-55, 1982-83 MIDDLESEX SENIOR CUP 1888-89 ESSEX SENIOR TROPHY 1988-9 AFA INVITATION CUP 1965-66 The First English Club to play on the Continent (1890)
CLAPTON v ETON MANOR ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE – Tuesday 11th August 2015, 7.45pm CLAPTON ULTRAS
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Next Home Matches th
Sat 15 Aug 3.00PM FA CUP Sat 22nd Aug 3.00pm Essex Sen Lge Sat 12th Sep 3.00pm Essex Sen Lge
CLAPTON v STANWAY ROVERS CLAPTON v ENFIELD 1893 CLAPTON v GREENHOUSE LONDON
Welcome to the Old Spotted Dog Good afternoon and thank you for buying this match day programme of the first home match of the 2015/15 season. In normal parlance, this document would be termed an ‘unofficial programme’ but, given the unusual set of circumstances at Clapton FC in recent years, it is not. This programme has been sold to you by the same organisation that played its first match here on the Spotted Dog Enclosure in 1888. How can we say that as it would appear that we are not taking the gate money this afternoon and another person or organisation are in control of the proceedings? We can do so because the purported sale of the club which took place in 1999 was fraudulent. This ‘sale’, which, in any event, was never formalised into a legal contract, purports to transfer the club and its interests to Knights Securities plc, a fraudulent company, and then to Vincent McBean. Mr McBean was intrinsically linked to this company who had purported to ‘buy Clapton FC for £63k and then sold it to him six months later, for £3k. A month later, Mr McBean formed the ‘Clapton Members Club’, a separate organisation from Clapton FC, with separate rules. It is that entity, unrecognised by the Football Association or London FA, which you have come to watch today. The Football Authorities do, however, continue to recognise Clapton FC and are in possession of information from which, one would have expected, they could and should, have launched an investigation at the very least. However, it has been their choice to ignore the Clapton situation in the hope it will go away. It won’t. Within our membership are three surviving life members of Clapton Football Club. They have re-established the club and our intention is now to establish Clapton as a club that is run by the fans for the fans. To arrive at this situation may take time and some serious negotiations. We know that, given the present situation, this might be difficult but we are confident that, in the end, good sense will prevail and the club will return the members entity it always has been. Therefore, by giving us a donation for this match day programme, you are helping Clapton Football Club. When the club is fully operational, using the ground and facilities as per the Lease and Licence, to which the aforementioned life members were party, following successful negotiations in the early 1990s, you can say that you played a part in saving this great old club. However, you are welcome to do more! Join us, for just £5 a season and become part of a non-league club that is run by its supporters for its supporters. Your support is vital if we are going to negotiate and remove the obstacle standing in our way. It’s no longer an option to stand on the sidelines. Please enjoy today’s game, sample the unique atmosphere of the Old Spotted Dog, London’s oldest senior football ground and get behind the Clapton players. For 90 minutes we can unite behind the team. However, it is our hope that after the final whistle blows, you will unite behind the real club.
COMINGS AND GOINGS. As ever, the playing staffs in non league football are vigorously shuffled every close season with comings and goings on all fronts. Some clubs make decisions to ‘up their budget’ in a bid to land a prize and invariably this can attract the players, who they hope will get them promotion or a trophy. It’s a shame that this practice reaches down to step 5 and even below. and we have all seen clubs amalgamate, or go out of business due to their stretching the budget beyond their means. So loyal players are of a premium and it is good that we have retained some of the players from last season. It is also good to see the return of former captain Ben Lowes, Peter Moore, and Cory Alleyne. Welcome back gentlemen. In the words of Mr Listz, “once Clapton, always Clapton.” New faces include ex Tower Hamlets defender, Quentin Monville, an exciting wing forward, Kevin Plange-Tabil who has played for Braintree Town, That is not to say that, as supporters, we do not understand that all players are ambitious and want to get games under their belt. We are also aware that this is not the Premier League where player can spend half the games of the bench and still pick up a mega salary. So, to all the players that find themselves ‘track suited’ this evening, or in future games, bear with it. You are a member of the best supported non league team in East London, hopefully your chance will come and, when it does, show us what you can do! The alternative is to leave the Dog and play your football elsewhere which, in comparison, the atmosphere could be like Lubbock, Texas on a Monday night. Congratulations to Geoff Ocran who has been named Clapton captain for the coming season. Geoff follows in the illustrious footsteps of Micky Cleaver, Gary Pettit, Peter Mason, England Internationals Bill Bryant and Jim Crussell, and Edwin Sharpely who, 100 years ago, lifted the FA Amateur Cup following our 1-0 victory over Bishop Auckland. Exalted company indeed! It is hoped that the actual team list for today’s match will be displayed outside the club house. This has been done at many other grounds and we are delighted that the practice has reached Clapton. Notwithstanding any of the off the field issues, it is important for the club that the supporters and those responsible for the team continue to interact as this certainly helps that process and saves Lew Listz from shouting “Play Up Number 5” ---- 0000 ----SOME INTERESTING WEBSITES AND DECENT BLOGS www.pitchero.com/clubs/essexseniorleague www.essexsenior league.co.uk http://thecoldend.blogspot.co.uk http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk
CLAPTON FC Fixtures & Results 2015/16 Date 08 Aug 15 11 Aug 15 15 Aug 15 22 Aug 15 29 Aug 15 05 Sep 15 12 Sep 15 19 Sep 15 26 Sep 15 03 Oct 15 10 Oct 15 24 Oct 15 31 Oct 15 07 Nov 15 14 Nov 15 28 Nov 15 05 Dec 15 12 Dec 15
Comp ESL ESL FAC ESL FAC FAV ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL
Opponents Basildon United Eton Manor Stanway Rovers Enfield 1893 Bowers & Pitsea or Ilford Codicote Greenhouse Sports Sawbridgeworth Town Burnham Ramblers Wadham Lodge Ilford Hullbridge Sports Barking Bowers & Pitsea Newham FC Romania Stansted London Bari
Ven A H H H A A H A H A H A H A H H A A
Result Lost 1-2
* provisional upon result of Stanway Rovers FA Cup tie ESL = Essex Senior League
FAC = FA Cup
FAV = FA Vase
The contents of this programme, save for the fixtures, are the copyright of Clapton Football Club.
*
DID YOU KNOW? On the evening of the 7th December 1953 the first competitive English football match played under floodlights took place at Upton Park when Clapton met Barking in the Essex Thameside Trophy match. The Directors of the ‘Hammers’ made the gesture in recognition of Clapton’s 75th anniversary. Lawyers were forbidden to advertise until the 1980s but Clapton were the first British club to carry shirt sponsorship when Messrs Landau & Cohen Solicitors of Burnt Oak had their name emblazoned upon the Tons’ playing strip. The former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was Patron of Clapton Football Club for the 1981/82 season. The goal posts at the Old Spotted Dog Ground were previously those in situ at Granleigh Road, the home of Leytonstone FC (latterly Leytonstone Ilford) and were used during the Isthmian League Division 1 Championship winning season in 1981/82. They made their journey across East London following the sale and closure of the ground in 1986. Clapton FC holds the record for the heaviest defeat in the FA Cup proper when, in 1890/1 the lost 0-14 to Nottingham Forest at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. Five goals down at half time, the Tons fell apart against a team made up of 11 internationals. By all accounts, Clapton were lucky to get nil. Clapton stalwart James Briggs may not be aware, but he shares the same surname as one of the most famous Clapton players of the 19th century. Stanley Briggs not only captained the English FA on their tour of Bohemia and Germany in 1899, but four years earlier had left Tottenham Hotspur for Clapton in protest against their decision to turn professional in 1895. He was a cause célèbre of his day and, following his retirement from the game, was ‘mine host’ at the General Havelock public house in Ilford. He later emigrated to Canada. His great grandson, Stanley Briggs III, remains in contact with the club. The FA Charity Shield match, which these days is contested by League Champions and FA Cup winners at the beginning of each season, was not always such an illustrious affair. On 6th October 1924 it was contested by a team of Amateurs v their Professional counterparts at Highbury. The amateur team included Clapton forward Viv Gibbins and Dulwich Hamlet icon Edgar Kail whilst the Pros included England Internationals Charles Buchan of Sunderland and Alf Baker of Arsenal within their ranks. A crowd of 12,000 saw the pros win 3-1 with Kail scoring for the Amateurs. In the Ilford’s match day programme for the 1924 Isthmian League game against Clapton there is a plea for supporters to refrain from ‘barracking’ which “spoils sport and good fellowship amongst players”. I wonder what they would have made of the light hearted gibes of the Clapton Ultras? “The right half back’s a lizard”
An Alternate Approach to Modern Football The Clapton Ultras are a group of supporters, who have revitalised matchdays at Clapton FC, making for an exciting, enjoyable and inclusive atmosphere that is unique at this level of football. Many of the Ultras, disillusioned by the financial costs and corporate rule of the modern game, have found a place to enjoy their football once more, the Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate. Come along and join in the fun. ---- 0000 -----
The New Team Management As you may have read, Mike Walther has shuffled the managerial pack in the dugout following the departure of Marc Nurse to West Ham Ladies. Initially Andre Thomas was appointed as his assistant, however, Walther has now changed tack by placing Thomas in charge of the reserve team where he can concentrate on younger players, which is his forté. As a result, he has brought in two new recruits, Peter Harrington and Daniel Portsmouth who were both with Sporting Hackney FC up until the end of last season. Whilst at Hackney the pair enjoyed considerable success, winning the Middlesex County League Cup last season and completing a League and Cup Double the season before. They have also enjoyed considerable success in schools football, guiding Bishops Challoners School to the English Schools FA Cup Final. Peter was a player with East Thurrock, Hornchurch, Dagenham & Redbridge FC, Bideford FC and Tunbridge Wells F before calling time on his career in 1998. Both Peter and Dan are PE teachers and therefore have accumulated an excellent knowledge of good young players in the London area who, we hope, will figure in Clapton’s future. In addition, they are likely to bring with them Mike Whittaker, a Sports Therapist who will, again, add to the mix which we hope will provide the Tons with a successful campaign. Oh yes, they also apparently have a mini bus. Everyone’s a winner !
---- 0000 ----COME ON YOU TONS !!!!!
TODAY’S VISITORS - ETON MANOR FC As always, it is a pleasure to welcome Eton Manor FC to the Old Spotted Dog and like Clapton, they boast not only a fine history but also some notable old boys who once wore their light and dark blue colours with distinction. Eton Mission was formed in Hackney Wick in the 1880s by masters and pupils of Eton College. Early games were played at Victoria Park and London Fields. They then became instrumental in securing the use of Hackney Marshes for football. In 1896-7 they won the Middlesex Junior Cup and, by the turn of the century, they became known as Eton Manor. The term ‘Manor’ stemmed from their use of the disused Manor Dairy Farm in Riseholme Street, Hackney where they built an impressive clubhouse. The club house, which stood in what is now the Olympic Park, has since been demolished but a stone tablet stands on the site and recalls the club and those who enjoyed the facilities it provided to East End youth. The ‘Boy’s Club from which the football team evolved, was officially formed in 1901 and vatious grounds were used in the early years. Eventually the sports ground at Hackney Marshes known as "The Wilderness" became home and this started a period of great success in the thirties for the club's football, cricket and rugby sides. The pitch at the Wilderness had a cinder running track around it, the cinders coming from Wembley Stadium left over from the 1948 Olympic Games. The success continued into the forties, fifties and sixties with many famous players coming from the club, Alf Ramsey (the England Manager who won the World Cup in 1966, Len Wills (Arsenal) and Eddie Clayton (Spurs) are just two to have played for the club in the past. The club became founder members of the Aetolian League in 1959 and followed other former member clubs into the Greater London League as founder members in 1964, winning the championship at the first attempt in 1964–65. The club played at several different venues during this period. After becoming founder members of Metropolitan-London League Division One in 1971, and finishing third in 1973–74, the club moved to the Essex Senior League in 1975 and have stayed with the competition ever since. The club currently use the Capershotts ground, the home of Waltham Abbey FC and have previously ‘ground shared’ with a number of clubs including Walthamstow Avenue. The ‘Manor’ have done well against Clapton in recent seasons and have recorded an number of recent successes here. Last October they won by the odd goal in five and a couple of seasons ago romped home 6-0! However, our away match last season, played at Wadham Lodge due to Capershotts being flooded, and the Tons left E17 with a 2-1 victory under their belt. Eton Manor’s pre-season matches have included a 4-3 win at Hatfield Town and defeats against Thamesmead Town and Wivehoe Town. But pre-season counts for nothing tonight when three Essex Senior League points are at stake. Here’s to a good game fitting of two wonderful and historic clubs.
TONIGHT’S TEAMS
CLAPTON F.C. Red and White … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Pape Diagne Peter O’Connor Paul Barry Nathan Cook Kristian Haighton Kingsley Davidson Troy Ricketts Peter Moore Jerry Jarriette Jake Stevens Jamie Lyndon Tobias Lancaster Idu Bogdan Quentin Monville Geoff Ocran (Capt.) JoJo Degraft Tom Webb Freddie Morris Andy Mott Kevin Plange-Tabil Warren Mfula James Briggs Billy Wise Ben Lowes Cory Alleyne Alex Biddle Sirbu Ahmed
ETON MANOR F.C. Light Blue and Dark Blue … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Simon Alabaster Lukas Adivul Alam Joseph Anang Brian Bontamba Michael Castle Daniel Chambers Jacob Dixon Jake Evans Josh Flood Kingsley Francis Charlie Gardner Adam Gomes Cuney Hassan William Hunt Nasir Ibrahim Claudio JoseMahdi Khan Kai Law Jack Leachman Joe Lustig Maxwell Marshall Eren Mehmet Harry Moore Jack Newbury-Neale Max Nicholson Chid Onokwai Anton Ostrii Luke Roberts Aaron Ryan Renato Santana George Sharpe Luey Young
TODAY’S MATCH OFFICIALS Gary Baker, Gavin Holleran, Kojo Amwuku