This  was posted in a Facebook Tribute Group  about Walther Tull, by Mr Andrew Barr, which has resulted in very negative comments on the social media. This is just one of a long string of events and actions that Mr Barr has embarked on over a prolonged period of time, requiring a lot of time and effort being diverted away from playing and developing football!

For a very long time, Clapton Football Club has refused to respond to all of the negative and, often defamatory, comments made on the internet. However, we have increasingly been told by supporters and people who now understand the truth behind a lot of Andrew Barr’s actions, that we should respond otherwise the facts will never be known.

Walter Tull Tribute – The Facts

Clapton Football Club works with the local schools of the area. As a tribute to commemorate Walter Tull we arranged for school children to come to the Old Spotted Dog Ground and commemorate with us the achievement of this great man. These young people placed in the goal mouth and on the net their tribute to Walter. Some felt great to be walking on the same ground as he did. The players signed a shirt for the school which is being framed.

My record on addressing the plights of soldiers is well documented, and it’s disgusting to know that someone could use one of our heros to score points in the way that Andrew Barr has done, using a forum that is intended to pay tribute. As an ex-soldier I find this very offensive.

The Walter Tull signage placed on the gate at the Old Spotted Dog, was without our approval or any discussion with us. It was therefore removed. It would appear we should ask for permission to remove it, when none was asked to attach it!

We have had discussions with the council regarding a statue in memory of Walter and a museum. Clapton Football Club has a strategy on developing the club, which has been established via discussion with fans, officers, league officials, players and management.

For some time now, Andrew Barr has been making all types of allegations and false statements about myself, my family and friends. Third party correspondence has been sent to: The FA, the London FA, The Essex Senior League, The Essex County making allegation against me. However, all have recognised the current management at Clapton as legitimate.  This is not what he wanted to hear. I was a hirer of the ground, before I became involved in Clapton. I have been at the club almost 20 years. When we first took control of the club, the ground was condemned by the league and stayed shut until the works specified by the league was completed.

I understand that Andrew Barr was the secretary before we came in.

A lot of people have been informed (taken in) that Clapton is in danger and it’s the current management, led by me, that has created this danger.  This has resulted in many joining a group called Friend of Clapton (FoC) which is, not part of Clapton Football Club, but controlled by Andrew Bar. He lives in France and some members have never seen him, matter of fact nor have I.

Some previous members of the Friends of Clapton have said “I joined believing what I read when really it’s a camouflage to take Clapton away from you”.

We currently have many people in and around Clapton who are working hard promoting the club, and they are a real joy to work with.

A lot of people have been quite supportive, once they have realised what is really happening. Mr Barr has been peddling as much negativity as possible about officers of the club and myself using whatever information possible, with a little imagination. There is no justification for any officer of this club or myself having this type of abuse thrown at us.

A lot of clubs have gone to the wall. Clapton nearly did, but it was saved by us the current management. We currently provide football for four youth teams, with a number of them going for trials to pro clubs.