So Clapton FC is a club nestled in East London with close connections to West Ham United, being the neighbouring professional club. Formed in 1878 as Downs FC, being located near Hackney Downs, changed their name to Clapton FC a year later. The Tons eventually landed on the Old Spotted Dog ground at Forest Gate in 1888. This land had been vacated by St Bartholomew's Hospital, which coincidentally has its major site right next to the Old Charterhouse in central London, next door to Smithfield Market. Having joined the Essex Senior League, the club played the Old Carthusians that year in a "friendly", the old boy aristocats, drawing a crowd of 4,000. Clapton won 1-0.
Their first attack on the FA Cup was in 1888-9 and in 1890 the club became the first British team to venture into Continental Europe when they toured and met a Belgium XI in Antwerp, winning 8-1.
In 1894 Clapton joined the Southern League division One along with Millwall, Luton Town and Reading. That season the club came 8th out of 9 teams and had to play a "test match" against 9th place Sheppey United to stay in the division. Fortunes fluctuated and there was success in the FA Amateur Cup as shown on the illumination!
In 1908-9 Walter Tull played outfield for Clapton being the first black outfield professional footballer, who later joined up with Tottenham.
The club joined the first season of the Isthmian League and stayed there for a hundred years. I played Clapton on occasions, memorably at their London home. In 2005-6 they slipped into the Essex Senior League and are enjoying that.
This season, on Saturday, Clapton play London Bari away (London Bari ground share with Clapton!!) in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
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