Sunday 28 April 2019

Clapton CFC 3 v 2 London Samurai Rovers

Saturday 27th April 2019
Middlesex County League Division One (Central and East)
The Stray Dog, Walthamstow
Admission : Free (suggested donation £3.00)
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 804


Although low down in the footballing food chain, at step 8 of non-league football and actually below the National League System pyramid, I had been wanting to pay a visit to the phenomenon that is Clapton Community Football Club since their formation last summer, and with the news that they will probably move away from the temporary ground that they have made home this season, and with this game to be a virtual title decider, I decided to head for this game today.





The Stray Dog is about a twenty minute bus ride from Walthamstow Central train and underground station and is part of the Wadham Lodge sports complex which consists of the main, senior ground which serves as home for Essex Senior League outfits Walthamstow FC and Leyton Athletic, a full-size plastic pitch and three others for smaller-sided games, and an intermediate standard grass pitch, which Clapton CFC have christened The Stray Dog. Its name was chosen by Clapton CFC as a nod to the Old Spotted Dog, home ground of Clapton FC, the Essex Senior League club. The explosion of fans attracted to Clapton from 2012 quickly became disillusioned with how the club was being run, forming a breakaway club, with one of its clear aims being the new club's future at the Old Spotted Dog. To access The Stray Dog, visitors walk down a path alongside one of the plastic pitch cages, past a hot dog stall and a small gazebo offering cans of beer for sale, before reaching a red gazebo, where spectators are able to donate an admission fee if they wish to, and obtain a programme. On the other side inside the gazebo, previous issues of the club's programmes were available, along with a variety of club merchandise. The pitch is railed off on three sides, with a combination of plastic matting and artificial grass laid providing a path from the entrance in the corner to roughly the half way line. On this side, a stand has been constructed of corrugated iron and scaffolding by the club, with two wooden steps to stand on, but with plenty of room to stand at the front. A club banner is draped along the top, apparently for the first time today, and indeed many flags are dotted around the railings, flags are waved amongst the crowd, and a nice old-fashioned little touch is a manual scoreboard hanging from the pitch side railing in the corner by the entrance, all adding plenty of colour and identity to what would otherwise be a very nondescript ground. There is no hard standing along the other half of this length nor behind either goal. The remaining length is out of bounds, as it borders the full size plastic pitch on the complex. Tall trees line one end, housing behind one length, with the rest of the complex the background behind the other two sides. The programme was superb, 30 page in full colour and printed on stiff paper, each issue has a completely differently designed cover, and with lots of interesting articles to read and statistics to digest - important in a league for which there is not an abundance of information otherwise available.





Although Clapton CFC and London Samurai went into this game in third and fourth place respectively, today's game was almost certainly a winner takes all affair, as either club would then just have to win their final game against one of the division's lesser lights to claim the title. Clapton CFC had won ten and drawn three of their 18 league games, a point ahead of London Samurai, although that is something of a false position for them, as they have had twelve points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.  They had won 15 and drawn two of their 18 league games. When the two teams met in the reverse fixture, London Samurai Rovers won 5-1, but when they met in the Division One Cup at The Stray Dog, Clapton won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.






On a very blustery, overcast and chilly afternoon, both teams traded an early chance, before Clapton CFC took the lead on 11 minutes. The ball was clipped forward from the centre circle for Sherwin Stanley to chase, although he looked second favourite to get there, but a mix up between the covering defender and the keeper by the outer edge of the penalty area allowed Sherwin to strike the ball into the empty net. Both sides then created some decent chances, before the visitors equalised with virtually the last action of the half. A cross on the run from the right wing took a big deflection off a defender, to loop towards goal, and although the keeper got a touch to it, the ball fell for the Samurai forward to tap in from close range.





So everything was very much still to play for after the break, but Clapton CFC restored their lead within 2 minutes of the restart. A defensive free kick close to their own penalty area was pumped down the left wing, with the ball breaking for Stanley to run to the byline, before passing the ball low across the six yard box for Eliot Crosbie to tap home. But the visitors equalised for a second time on 52 minutes with an excellent goal, lashed home across the keeper from the right side of the penalty area. But just two minutes later, Clapton CFC went back into the lead when a long throw in was headed goalwards by Louis Rene, and the keeper could only palm it into the net. The game was far from over though, as the visitors created plenty of chances to equalise, playing some decent football, but in the end, they just could not find a way through, and it was Clapton CFC who are now red hot favourites to win the division in their first ever season. With leaders Stonewall winning their last game of the season, Clapton CFC now just to win against FC Roast in two weeks' time to win the division. Although FC Roast are in ninth place in the eleven team division, it will not necessarily be a walk in the park, given that the reverse fixtures ended in a 4-4 draw in early October. Anything other than a win for Clapton CFC, and Stonewall will be crowned champions. As for London Samurai Rovers, the best they can hope for now is a fourth placed finish, should they beat sixth placed FC Star next Saturday. They will certainly rue their 12 points deduction though, as they would have won the division without it.




Just as I had expected, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, quirky and unique experience, being one of an enormous attendance of over 800 for a Middlesex County League fixture, and the atmosphere generated by the fans was something really special, with the constant singing, chanting and drum playing, and there was a feeling that everyone was there just to have a good time and drink plenty of beer with their friends, supporting a club that means so much to them. Indeed, the support throughout was nothing but positive (including a "well played Samurai" chant after the funal whistle, and even more refreshingly, nothing negative towards the officials) - except towards the chief executive of the original Clapton FC, Vince McBean. It will be very interesting to see how the club progresses in the coming years, with such amazing support, surely only good times can follow. Arguably though, it might be a shame to see the club eventually progress into senior football, where their supporters may not have the freedom to "do as they like" as they have been able to so far and would be more constrained by rules and regulations.




An electronic version of the programme can be viewed by clicking here

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