The proud history of Clapton FC
is well chronicled and, with the growth of the internet it has become easier to
access and research.
However, the biggest mystery is
this; how have Clapton FC continue to survive whilst remaining at its
traditional home at the Old Spotted Dog Ground when so many other famous names
have merged, moved on or ceased to exist?
Non league / amateur football in
East London and Essex has been decimated for a number of reasons, primarily the
misplaced ambitions of clubs, or individuals at those clubs, to climb football’s
pyramid. The club that now calls itself Dagenham
and Redbridge is an amalgamation of four former Isthmian league clubs. To get to the ‘heady heights’ of League Two,
they sold three football grounds in prime developments sites and at the same
time, destroyed a generation’s worth of football history and tradition.
So, how has Clapton managed to
not succumb to this? Through the years,
many different people, from many different walks of life, have passed though
the gates of the Old Spotted Dog and in some way have left an indelible mark on
the club, the ground, and the history of Clapton.
The first group of people without
who there would be no Clapton FC are the players. After the war and into the 60s, the growth of
‘shamateurism’ was rife in most amateur leagues. Enfield, Wycombe Wanderers and
Hendon were paying some serious money to players, whereas the likes of
Corinthian Casuals, Dulwich Hamlet and Clapton remained Amateur. Whilst it meant that the likes of Clapton,
more often than not, occupied the lower berths of the League table, the
camaraderie at those clubs was special. Even
now, one must always respect the wish to of a player to further a career or
play at a higher standard of football and, in recent years, we have watched and
been proud of the likes of Miguel De Souza, Tarkan Mustafa and Gary Charles
enjoy marvellous careers in the professional game.
However, it would be unfair to
pick out individual players for loyalty to the club. Every player who has pulled on the famous red
and white striped shirt of Clapton through the years, has played his part, purely
for sport, and has done so in the best traditions of their predecessors, going
back over 100 years. This tradition
continues today. This equally applies to
those who have managed the teams through the years.
Behind the scenes, the
administrators, officials and supporters at the club have also played their
part in keeping the Clapton name alive in football today. This group includes some who have been members
of the House of Lords and other, just local, ordinary folk. All their contributions have been invaluable. One example, and I will name him, was ‘Fred’
the deaf and dumb tea-man from the 1970s-90s. Clapton continues to exist
because of the efforts and help from the likes of Fred.
At the moment, the Friends of
Clapton FC are looking for people, like Fred, who will make a positive
contribution to Clapton Football Club. It is easy to criticise the club, the players,
the management and those that have been part of the club over the years. Despite the apparent errors, the failure to
keep pace with the modern semi-professional football and the apparent decline
in the club’s status, the Tons are still alive and kicking today, although
probably not in the manner in which the club’s forefathers would approve.
However, if you want to make a
positive contribution in helping Clapton FC to not only survive, but also thrive,
in non-league football, then join the Friends of Clapton FC. Our first intention is to re-establish a
membership from which committee and officers can be democratically elected. If this were to be achieved then the Tons can
move forward.
Clapton FC may no longer the
force they were in the 1920s and, let’s be honest, never will reach those
heights again. However, we don’t want to
go the same way as the Avenue, Leyton, Leytonstone, Ilford, Romford, Grays, etc
etc.
So, instead of criticising and
bemoaning Clapton FC’s decline, this is a great opportunity to be part of its
resurgence.
Find out more and join the Friends of Clapton FC here
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