On Tuesday 24th April 2018, we attended a Case Management Meeting at the Rolls Building in front of Judge Sally Barber. The Petitioner, ourselves and respective solicitors and barrister were present. The hearing was to agree the time frame for the proceedings to follow. It was not to present any case. At the hearing there was Paul Cockerton, and two others (a ginger haired man and an elderly Clapton Ultra fan – we don’t know names as so many like to remain anonymous).

Unfortunately, information put out by Clapton FC News and others that has then been re-tweeted is “five per-cent of actual facts and ninety five per cent of creative writing.”

This case surrounds the fact that individuals are owed money and we the Directors of Newham Community Leisure Limited, took the route of a Voluntary Liquidation rather than a compulsory one to repay creditors. The intention , taken under advice was with the view to selling the warehouse or the land adjacent, which would release funds to pay creditors and the remainder to be used to refurbish the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

However, the Petitioners, who have spent the past few years trying to claim ownership of Clapton Football Club, went to the High Court via an Ex-parte action and took out an injunction against the Liquidator on the grounds that the “Ground would be sold off” and there was a danger that Clapton and London Bari Football Clubs would have nowhere to play their home matches. Based on the information provided, the judge granted the injunction. This Ex-parte action meant that no other party was present to challenge the information put forward.

Once they got the injunction Andrew Barr and the members of Clapton Ultras wrote to the league to replace Clapton Football Club in the Essex Senior League.

Then followed picketing at the entrance of the ground with Clapton Ultras informing supporters not to go into the ground,  using “McBean is selling the ground” as the reason; we want a fans based club; the ground has no insurance; health and safety issues… just to mention a few.

It is said that the compulsory liquidation is on hold. The fact is the court has made an order on a simple fact, Newham Community Leisure Limited owes money and those individuals want their money back. We tried to do this where there would be the least disruption, but you were told “Save the Spotted Dog Ground”.  The ground has never needed saving since this new management has been in place. On the contrary, when we arrived, the ground needed major refurbishment, due to some of the existing Petitioners managing it into a dilapidated state, with the ground being  condemmed by the Ryman League (where Clapton played at the time.

As we know, there is no asset of a charity that can be sold off without the permission of the Charity Commission, but that has not stopped Andrew Barr, Clapton FC News and the Clapton Ultras touting the story of us trying to sell the ground.  There has never been an application to sell the Old Spotted Dog Ground, transfer it into a company that is owned or control by Vincent McBean, including Veercourt CIC or any other action.

Veercourt CIC was set up to establish the Clapton Academy. This information is known to all the Petitioners, including Andrew Barr and no doubt others. They will not tell you the true facts based on what has been transmitted so far because your support is valuable to them.  However, the individuals who are to manage this academy know and it is for the benefit of the Newham community.

This has been a disappointing year for Clapton Football Club, due mainly to the activities of those who are set to discredit anything and everything so that they can take over and “save the day”.  We do not have the time or resources of Andrew Barr and the Clapton Ultras to spend in such a destructive manner – writing to our opponents saying we have no insurance, telling players we will not have a ground to play in, negative social media campaign, using contacts within the council to start investigations, contacting our sponsors, the FA and so much more – the past years have been nothing but a witch hunt under the guise of ‘securing the Old Spotted Dog Ground’.

Even with all of this, our focus still remains on football and next season (2018-19), we will be looking to get promotion again. Clapton Football Club has been at the Old Spotted Dog Stadium since 1878. We have no intention of moving. We want to advance up the Leagues. We would love everyone to join us but if you don’t want to be part of that, please feel free to go your own way and we will continue on our path. That said if you want to celebrate the end of season with us we look forward to seeing you this Saturday for our last match of the season.

Our unreserved thanks to all who support Clapton Football Club and for the assistance you have provided to us during this time.