Clapton FC v London Apsa FC

VIRTUAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

CLAPTON v

LONDON APSA Tuesday

29th

Essex Senior League October 2013 Kick Off 7.45pm

CLAPTON FC – VIRTUALLY THE BEST TEAM IN LONDON

Clapton Football Club HONOURS LIST Formed as ‘Downs FC’ in 1877 Re-named Clapton Football Club in 1878 Founder members of the Southern League Founder members of the Isthmian League (now Ryman League) The First English Club to play on the Continent. (1890) FA AMATEUR CUP WINNERS 1906/07, 1908/09, 1915/15, 1923/24. 1924/25 Runners Up 1904/05 ISTHMIAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1910/11, 1922/23.

Runners Up 1905/06, 1907/08. 1909/10, 1924/25 Division Two Champions 1982/83 ESSEX SENIOR CUP WINNERS 1890/91, 1924/25, 1925/26, 1954/55, 1983/8 LONDON SENIOR CUP WINNERS 1888/89. 1908/09, 1910/11 Runners Up 1988/89 ESSEX SENIOR TROPHY WINNERS 1988/89 ESSEX THAMESIDE TROPHY WINNERS 1982/83, 1983/84 A.F.A. INVITATION SENIOR CUP WINNERS 1965/66 Founded by W.R Davies, at a meeting in his father’s house at 11 Queensdown Road, Clapton E5, August of 1877, Downs FC started playing on Hackney Downs. Three years later in 1880, and with a name change to Clapton Football Club, the Tons moved the short distance to North Mill Field, Leyton.

Later that year the Tons were offered their first private enclosure at Elm Farm with a rental of £10 per year. They moved once more before settling at the Dog, to Pilgrims Farm, Walthamstow.

It was the founding of the LondonFA that introduced Clapton FC to the Spotted Dog, The Tons played an LFA Cup match against City Albion who had a pitch in the field just north of the Dog. The tenants of the Dog were St Bartholemews Hospital who were about to vacate, so Clapton obtained a lease from the owner, Mrs Vause. It was a bold step, the rent was £35 a year, whilst the club’s annual income amounted to £40.

The opening game at the Dog took place on the 29 th September 1888 and the Clapton team beat a team from Old Carthusians by a goal to nil. The scorer was J.S. Sellars. The ground was a roped enclosure and the players changed in a barn in Upton Lane. Many games drew crowds of 4,000 or more, and several notable Ton’s players were recruited from those watching when numbers were short.

In 1982 a Southern League game was the first league match ever to be played at the Dog. Before this, only friendly and cup matches had taken place. The brewers, Watneys took over the freehold of the ground and during the second world war the Dog became an anti-aircraft station. During these five years, Clapton played at Newbury Park, the home of Ilford FC. A crowd of 12,000 watched Clapton play Spurs in a cup tie in 1898 which resulted in a 1-1 draw. In more ‘recent’ times, a crowd of 2,000 witnessed an FA Amateur Cup match against Barnet in 1964.

In 1992, the Clapton Trust managed to negotiate and finally secure, in 1995, a 99 year lease on the ground. This achievement should have secured the club’s future at the Old Spotted Dog, however, recent events and mismanagement have placed this security in jeopardy and these issues will need to be addressed to secure the club’s future once more.

CLAPTON v LONDON APSA Essex Senior League So it’s back to Essex Senior League action at the Dog this evening and we extend a warm welcome to our neighbours from the badlands of E13, London Apsa FC. This game was rearranged after the schedule match on 14th September was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. At the time Apsa had hit a run of form but since then their results have slumped a little. But this is the Newham derby and local bragging rights are at stake so we can expect and interesting and entertaining encounter.

The attendance for the match against Barking was again in excess of 100 and, by all accounts, considerably more than the officialy declared attendance of 119. Notwithstanding the obvious fiddles that are going on, it was a great effort by members of the Friends of Clapton and the Clapton Ultras to get as much pubilicity out there as possible. There has been a flurry of positive feedback on the net about the team and about the atmosphere created by the Ultras in the scaffold. However, the result on the day didn’t go our way, but we do wish Barking all the very best of luck in the next round where they will travel to Ampthill Town.

The FA Vase has caused a change in our fixture list. Our opponents on Saturday 16 th November will now be Southend Manor. This is because the scheduled fixture with Great Wakering Rovers has had to be cancelled due them progressing to the second round of the competition. The kick off will be at the normal time of 3.00pm.

It is hoped that a few of the Clapton injured will be ready for selection this evening. It must have been very frustrating from Chris Wood and Neil Day to see squad that they have assembled dissipated by injuries in recent weeks. Despite all of this, our league position is over and above what many people execed at the start of the season, and it is important that we keep the impetus going and strive to achieve Clapton’s highest league position in over a decade.

On Saturday we are back in action against Greenhouse London FC. Last season, Greenhouse were known as Haringey and Waltham Development FC. This is another good opportunity to add three more league points towards to our tally.

Last week, Gavin Clarke, the treasurer of the Friends of Clapton FC was interviewed about Clapton FC last week by Stephen Porter of East London Radio. This is all part of the Friends and supporters initiative to keep the club to the forefront of local sport.

You can find the podcast at http://eastlondonradio.org.uk/sports-n-all-4-elr/ Gav gave the presenter a Clapton FC/ Scaffold Brigada scarf at the conclusion of the interview, so we hope to welcome Stephen to the Dog very soon.

In the meantime, let get behind team manager Chris Wood and his players this afternoon.Chris Woods.

The support this season, from the supporters in the scaffold to those in the stand and on the harstanding around the pitch has been superb. As the players and management continuially say, “The crowd are the twelfth man”. Lets make that count this evening.

OUR VISITORS

LONDON APSA FC London Apsa Football Club was formed in 1993 at the time of the first Asian Football League. A group of friends at Newham's East Ham College merged with a youth Team known as Young Muslims, who were no longer eligible to play under 16's football. Brought together by the Current Club Chairman Zulfi Ali, London APSA then known as Ahleunnah were crowned the first ever-Asian League Champions.

The team continued for a number of years with some success, playing in various Asian run competitions. It wasn't until April 1999 that the club became really serious about making a mark in mainstream football. The trigger was a trip to Pakistan via a group called APSA based in Manchester. This trip brought together the Chairman and Vice Chairman Zulfi Ali and Anjum Khan. With plenty of spare time the two spent much time discussing plans of how to move forward and how to bring about the birth of an Asian Team which will compete in the mainstream and be the standard bearer for the Asian Football Community.

The plan was good and the team enjoyed major success on return from Pakistan. In the year preceding the tour the club won the Umbro International Tournament Manchester, Business Houses League and Cup Premier Division and the Asian Football League and the UK Asian Championships. This rich vein of form continued as the club tried to make a name for it self and be recognized within the community and in the mainstream. Undoubtedly the impact made on everyone in the Asian football arena was phenomenal. Documentaries with the BBC, CH4, game against the Pakistan national team in Oxford which made the 6 o'clock news. Prime time slot on World Football CH4 after winning the 2002 Inner City World Cup Although so much was happening for the club it was still not enough until the Josh Taylor five-year plan was completed. The club had still not achieved its goal of playing Senior Football. Hence in 2002 the first attempt was made to enter the then Forrester's Essex Senior League.

Plans fell through as the Newham Terence Macmillan stadium was not up to standard and needed work before it could be used for Senior Football. However with the help of Aveley FC, the financial help of the fastest growing Asian Franchise Business KEBABISH, London APSA Projects Teams, persistency and hard work finally paid dividends as they entered the league in August 2003.

2003 was a season of learning for APSA as they held onto mid-table obscurity for much of the first half of the season. The latter part of the season showed the lack of depth within the squad and clearly this was evident in the results. Highlight of the year had to be the 1-0 Victory over Enfield Town FC to win a place in the quarter finals of the Gordon Brasted Trophy.

2004 was much the same, as the club went through major changes in order to find the correct balance. Notable results of this year were a 2-2 draw against league champions Enfield Town and a 2-0 victory over Waltham Abbey, ending their unbeaten run. In the off season JIP sponsored APSA entered the UK Asian Championships and lifted the coveted trophy at Stamford Bridge in a tensely fought encounter against rivals and friends London Tigers. London APSA continued there dominance in the competition by beating FC Smethwick on penalties to win the UK Asian Championships 2007.

In the 2010/11 season APSA finished 10th in the Essex Senior League their highest finish since the 2005/06 season. The reserves won both the Vaughan Cup in the South Essex Sunday Football League as well as promotion to the Premier league , and the Division One cup in the Essex Business Houses League.

At the start of the 2011/12 season APSA won the Glasgow UK Asian Championships beating SEMSA 1-0 in the final, held at Celtic Park, Glasgow- the home of the legendary Glasgow Celtic Football Club. The First team got to the semi-finals of the Gordon Brasted Trophy and the South Essex Sunday Football League side won the Supplementary cup. During the summer of 2012 APSA won the UK Asian Championships for the third time, when they beat the defending champions Beaumont AFC 4-2 at Loftus Road - home of QPR. This season Apsa have been on a good run but crashed out of the Vase on the same day as the Tons when they were beaten 4-1 at Hanwell Town.

FORGOTTEN NEWHAM FOOTBALL EAST HAM UNITED AND BECKTON UNITED Like numerous historical London non-league grounds, The Manorway, where East Ham United played was demolished and is now another housing estate. Great memories are now long forgotten amongst the semi-detached and terraced dwellings that are now built in the area.

Like their Football League neighbours East Ham were known as The Hammers and actually played in the heart of Beckton with their local rivals United playing just up the road at the Sports and Leisure club in the shadow of the Beckton Alps ski-slope. United's ground is still associated with the beautiful game, West Ham United have a floodlit artificial pitch and facilities used by the local community all through the year.

East Ham United, formed in 1933, completed their last campaign in the Essex Senior League in 2000/01 season winning 12 of their 30 games finishing in 11th place of 16 clubs.

This was the season prior to Enfield Town's formation and acceptance into the the ESL. The club moved a short distance East on the A13 to join up with Barking FC to form 'Barking and East Ham United' who existed until 2006 when the club reformed solely as Barking. East Ham United's best finish in the ESL was in the 1979/80 season when they were 5th out of 16 clubs. In the 1976/77 season they had a run of glory in the FA Vase beating East Barnet Old Grammarians, Dartford Glentworth, Basildon United, Edgware Town, Alma Swanley and Epping Town in a replay before losing at home 0-4 to Sheffield in the Quarter Final.

Sheffield went on to the final losing to then ESL side Billericay Town.

Beckton United were formed as Geevor FC in 1966 before changing their name in 1975 and were regular members of the London Spartan League up until 1996 when the club unfortunately folded.

In 1985 they enjoyed a run to the Third Round of the FA Vase beating Eastbourne United, Romsey Town and Gorleston being losing to Stevenage Borough at home.

Beckton United played in the Premier Divsion of the London Spartan League in the 91/92 season alongside Barkingside, Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey to name a few. Division One of the league at the time was Intermediate level and contained Ilford (making their way back up the Pyramid after being reformed), Leyton County and Walthamstow Trojans amongst others. United played in Green and White diagonal striped shirts with black shorts and green socks.

The area is now represented by London APSA (formed 1993) whose roots lie in the Asian community of the East Ham area and play at the near-by Terrance MacMillan Stadium in Plaistow.

London Bari, the third of the non league senior teams in Newham, currently ground share with Clapton at the Old Spotted Dog. Thanks to The Cold End for the above article. www.thecoldend.blogspot.com

We are currently working on an article about other clubs such as Woodville, Upton Park, Forest Gate, Custom House etc that played in the Newham /East London area in the early part of the 20th century. The article will appear on our website www.friendsofclaptonfc.info

CLAPTON FC FIXTURES 2013/14

Sat 10/08/13 Tue 13/08/13 Sat 17/08/13 Sat 17/08/13 Tue 27/08/13 Sat 31/08/13 Tue 03/09/13 Sat 07/09/13 Tue 10/09/13 Sat 14/09/13 Tue 17/09/13 Sat 21/09/13 Sat 28/09/13

ESL ESL FA CUP FA CUP ESL FA CUP ESL ESL LCC ESL ESL FA VASE ESL

Bowers and Pitsea Tower Hamlets Stanway Rovers Stanway Rovers London Bari Mildenhall Town Haringey Borough Hullbridge Sports Great Wakering Rovers London APSA Takeley Wotton Blue Cross Basildon United

A H H A A H H A H H H A A

Tue 01/10/13 Sat 05/10/13 Tue 9/10/13 Sat 12/10/13 Tue 15/10/13 Sat 19/10/13 Sat 26/10/13 Tue 29/10/13 Sat 02/11/13 Sat 09/11/13 Sat 16/11/13 Sat 23/11/13 Sat 30/11/13

ESL ESL GBT ESL ESL FA VASE ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL ESL

Ilford Stansted Tower Hamlets Sawbridgeworth Town Eton Manor Barking Southend Manor London Apsa Greenhouse London Sporting Bengal United Southend Manor Enfield 1893 FC Romania

H 4-0 H 2-1 A 3-0 H 0-3 H 2-1 H 0-1 AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME AWAY AWAY

0-0 2-3 0-0 1-0 2-0 0-2 1-1 0-0 1-1 P 2-0 1-0

Jarriette, Alleyne Matthews Martelli, Hughes Coulson (p) Duyile (p) AET * Parker, Duyile Tacey

0-2 Martelli 2, Jeffes, Jarriette Duyile, Martelli Jeffes, Duyille, Lowes 3.00PM 7.45pm 3.00pm 7.45pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm

* Clapton lose on pens Brian Jeeves is a regular contributor to the ClaptonFC iProg, the Friends of Clapton FC website and to number of football web blogs and magazines. Brian is a Southend fan and a member of the Friends of Clapton. He is a published author and has recently announced the forthcoming publication of his latest book “The Oliver Trigg Experience”. Folks can pre-order by going to Brian’s Facebook page and adding your name and favourite football team.

http://on.fb.me/1b9BPrg LOOK UP OUR LOCAL RADIO STATION

Stephen Porter of ELR

www.eastlondonradio.org.uk

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE TABLE (UP TO AND INCLUDING 23rd OCTOBER 2013)

LEAGUE AND CUP NEWS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Great Wakering R Takeley Enfield 1893 Tower Hamlets FC Romania Barking Clapton Haringey Borough Sawbridgeworth T Basildon United Sporting Bengal Utd Ilford Hullbridge Sports Southend Manor Eton Manor Bowers & Pitsea London APSA Greenhouse Ldn Stansted London Bri

P 12 12 10 10 12 10 11 10 12 11 12 13 11 11 12 12 9 11 9 12

W 10 8 8 7 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0

D 1 2 1 1 3 2 3 2 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 3 4 3 1 1

L 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 5 5 6 6 5 6 7 6 3 7 8 11

F 34 25 25 18 26 23 15 22 24 24 26 20 13 16 23 20 11 8 8 4

A 11 16 10 14 20 9 11 13 27 17 28 25 15 23 32 25 14 22 24 29

Pts 31 26 25 22 21 20 18 17 17 16 16 15 14 13 13 12 10 6 1 1

Great Wakering Rovers are emerging as hot favourites for the League title this season. Last week they racked up another convincing 5-0 home win, this time the victims being London Greenhouse. Congratulations to London Bari who, having broke their duck and gaining their first point of the season art London Apsa, beat Fisher at the Old Spotted Dog by the only goal of the game in the London Senior Cup. Five ESL teams remain in the Vase.

Barking who won here at the Dog , will visit Amtphill Town whereas Great Wakering Rovers entertain Cockfosters in a very tough match.

Haringey Borough have followed their exploits in the FA Cup with an equally impressive vase run. They travel to Walsham Le Willows. Elsewhere, Takeley and Enfield 1893 will entertain Brightlingsea Regent and Norwich United respectively.

YOU’RE A BASTARD REFEREE !

by Brian Jeeves The unfortunately named Segar Richard Bastard was born in Bow, London on January 25 th 1854.

Not only was Bastard a referee, but he was also a footballer. Between 1873-87 he played outside right for Upton Park, Trojans and Leyton. He also appeared as a guest for Corinthians.

He played for England in a 5-4 defeat to Scotland on 13th March 1880. England had trailed 52, but a late fight back almost saved them. Segar Bastard’s performance was described as ‘capable’ – but he was never selected for his country again.

As a referee, Bastard was described as ‘a knight of the whistle’ when officiating the FA Cup Final of 1878, between the Wanderers and the Royal Engineers at the Kennington Oval. He also took charge of the first England v Wales international fixture at the same venue on January 18th 1879.

As well as a footballer, Segar Bastard was a useful cricketer. He played for Essex between 1881 and 1885 before they became a first class County and was one of the first footballers known to have owned a racehorse.

By profession Bastard was an attorney, he was also part of the Football Association committee between 1877 and 1883.

His father, also named Segar Bastard, was a hop merchant.

Segar Richard Bastard died on 20 th March 1921 after suffering a fatal heart attack on Epsom railway station, he was 67 years old.

CLAPTON MATCHES FROM THE PAST CASUALS 2 CLAPTON 4 London Senior Challenge Cup Final - Saturday 12 March1889 Clapton won their first senior trophy at the end of their first season at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

Having negotiated the early rounds of the London Senior Challenge Cup, that included a 3-1 home victory against Millwall Athletic (now Millwall FC) the Tons came up against the might of Casuals FC The Casuals were a team that recruited the very best players in Amateur football and had assembled a team especially for the final which was to take place at Kennington Oval. Among their team were the Walters brothers, known as 'morning and afternoon' due to their initials A.M. and P.M., and Old Boy football enthusiasts regarded a victory for the Casuals as a certainty.

However, it wasn't to be as the ‘real club’ triumphed on a snowy day in March with J.S. Sellar, the player who scored the first ever goal for Clapton at the Old Spotted Dog, netting a hat trick. The other goal was scored by J.S.L. Prior.

Extract from the Belfast Evening Telegraph and Star 2nd March 1889 The Clapton team was. : G.L. Lyons, A.E. Casselton, C.E. Munro, R.H. Clark, T. Radford, S. Smith, W.G. Connell, J.S. Sellar, J. Cowan, J.S.L. Prior, J.L. Bryson.

REMEMBERING FA

by Walt Stanshall In the past week the Football Association has celebrated its 150 th anniversary with a function in London attended by the ‘great and good’ of the football world including representatives of FIFA and UEFA. Pride of place at the banquet will be the original rules of the game that were originally drafted by Ebenezer Cobb Morley at his home in Barnes, south west London in 1863. These rules were adapted from an earlier set that were already in practice in Cambridge and used by the earliest clubs such as Sheffield.

The newly founded Football Association adopted the rules but they were not universally agreed as the ‘Sheffield rules’ continued to be played, mostly in the north of England.

In the next few years, the Sheffield contingent came to embrace more of the southern rules until in 1877 the two codes were eventually unified.

So what of Ebenezer Cobb Morley?

He was born in Hull in 1831, the son of a Minister. The oldest child of 4, his family relocated to the London area in the 1850s. Although he was not educated a public school, he practiced as a solicitor, having chambers at 3 King’s Bench Walk, Temple, London.

Mr Cobb was the FA's first secretary (1863–1866) and its second president (1867–1874). As a player, he played in the first ever match, against Richmond in 1863, and scored in the first representative match, between the clubs of London and Sheffield on 31 March 1866.

E.C. Morley

Alongside his footballing career, Ebenezer Cobb Morley was the founder and secretary of Barnes and Mortlake Regatta and was an oarsman in London Rowing Club’s eight for the Grand Challenge Cup, Henley, in 1864. He also built a gym for footballers and rowers in Barnes.

In later life, Ebenezer Cobb Morley represented Barnes on Surrey County Council from 1903-1919, was a Justice of the Peace and a Conservator of Barnes Common.

Ebenezer Cobb Morley died in 1924 without any children and was buried in Old Barnes cemetery which is situated on Barnes Common. Today, Barnes Old Cemetery is overgrown with trees and shrubs. Many of the monuments have been vandalised and most of the statues have been decapitated. Although efforts have been made to clear the paths, the cemetery has been in a state of acute neglect and disrepair for decades.

I wonder how many of the ‘great and good’ were aware of the state of the final resting place of one of the games founding fathers? It is football’s The original Law of the Game, shame, or that of the corporate business that has inherited the game, that written by Ebenezer Cobb Morley steps cannot be made to restore his memorial and properly commemorate the life of this remarkable man. I fear that most blindly raised their glasses, nibbled their canapés and chowed down, unaware or oblivious.

CAN YOU HELP ?

The Friends of Clapton are currently trying to contact as many former players, officials and supporters of our great old club. If you are a former player, offical or suppporter, or you know how or where we may contact one, please let us know at info@friendsofclaptonfc.info

THE LINE UPS CLAPTON FC

LONDON APSA FC

Red Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks Manager ; Chris Wood Assistant : Neil Day

All Blue Strip Manager : Tom Loizou Coach : Peter Theori

THE TONS PEPE DIAGNE SAM NAYLOR PETER MOORE MATT TACEY JAMIE POOLEY CRAIG GREENWOOD JAMES BRIGGS BEN LOWES BILLY WISE NICK READ STEVE PARKER TOM JEFFES JUSTIN MAYNARD JEROME MARTELLI RAFEAL DUYILLE JERRY JARRIETTE BORJA CAMACHO

Player Sponsored by Gavin Clarke

G.V.O. Andrew Barr

Ian & Peter Simpson

MARK RICHARDSON JASON AGYEKUM CHRISTIAN BEAUPIERRE FAHAD NYANJA KOFI KAY APPIAH RICHARD OFOSU JUNIOR KONADU JORGE SAMBU MATTHEW WARREN FABIO JESUS JOSHUA THOMAS AMOD ADEYEMI SAMSON OGUNWOLE D’SEAN THEOBALDS VANDEL NUNES CHRIS ROTHON

MATCH OFFICIALS : REFEREE – Jason Goldstein LINOS :- John Hyde, Susan Newton

OUR NEXT HOME MATCH

THEN

SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2013

SATURDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2013

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE KICK OFF 3.00PM AT THE DOG

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE KICK OFF 3.00PM AT THE DOG

CLAPTON v GREENHOUSE LONDON

CLAPTON v SOUTHEND MANOR

“LET ‘EM COME, LET ’EM ALL COME DOWN TO THE DOG” Save the Spotted Dog A group formed to preserve the famous old Tudor pub that adjoins the Clapton football ground. Save the Dog ! www.savethespotteddog.org

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CLAPTON FC – VIRTUALLY THE BEST TEAM IN LONDON VIRTUAL MATCHDAY TICKET HOLDERS – Mark Barlow, Michael Fogg, Andrew Barr, Ian Simpson, Peter Simpson, Gavin Clarke, Paul Maybin, Michael Cogan, Lew Listz, Ken Harris, Martin McShea, David Barr, Dermot Donovan, Janis Boyce