We recently received the following email from a frustrated supporter. After careful consideration, as we do not know the identity of the author, we are publishing it in full (the only changes we have made are to correct some of the typos and to put some sub headings in to help to break up the text:
To the true supporters of Clapton.
I have been one of the long suffering supporters of Clapton Football Club for many years, and was here when Ken Harris was the Chairman and witnessed the club going into disrepair and finally condemned by the Ryman League. I was here when the existing Chief Executive (Vince) and others came into Clapton when the club was a whisker away from folding he and others rallied around and finally saved this club.
Saturday (25 June) was clean up Clapton Day and I was pleasantly surprised at the work that has been done. Equally I was disappointed that not many supporters came to help improve the club. How can we now criticise any issue pertaining to the club when we won’t help out on one day in the year?
The pitch is the best I’ve ever seen it
The pitch is the best I’ve ever seen it; we now have some impressive gates and other improvements. The players and everyone who came was commenting on how good the ground played well done to Vince and his team. There was also many new players on show some from the Ryman clubs others answering the website add all showing their talent. I was very proud to be a Clapton supporter.
The problem we now face
The problem we now face is are we the fans going to contribute to the club or are we going to continue this “Support the club not the regime” that someone initiated a few years ago. This whole creation is a scam to get the club from the existing management and we are the ones being used to achieve this. I don’t believe that anyone of us can say the club is not better off now than previously. This is on the back of someone sending anonymous letters to sponsors and other stakeholders, and disgraceful comments and statement made about the Chief Executive of Clapton. As a true fan for many decades I was angry to find out that someone had contacted the sponsors and other stakeholders who had provided support to Clapton, and they were asked “Why are you propping up Vince” How can anyone say they are supporting Clapton yet trying to stop sponsors and organisations from helping our club? If we like it or not Vince is one of the prominent faces of Clapton Football Club making him look bad undermines the club and the good brand we have. This is the same club that we cheer about every week
Against McBean Football
The notices “Against McBean football” and other actions are based on a redundant pride to save face, nothing more and you are defiantly not doing what you do on our behalf. We are winning the club is going forward even with the obstacles placed in its way, not one person can say the club is worse off or going backwards under Vince’s stewardship.
Clapton is in a good position. We need to truly support the management, and stop undermining it. Although not many of you came on Saturday, people came throughout the day and we got lots of work done ,which we the fans will all benefit from. Believe it or not some people came yesterday to see us Clapton supporters! If people genuinely couldn’t make an event lets communicate that that day is not a good day and agree another so we maximise time and resources.
Some of us want to see our club back
Some of us want to see our club back in the Ryman where we were there previously. We don’t need much to fulfil the criteria, with the new facilities such as the toilets, the turnstiles and the proposed undercover stand should do it.
The passion for the club is high and what we as true supporters should be putting forward is our list of works needed to improve our club on and off the pitch. I am certain Vince and the management would agree with them. There are plenty of tradespersons amongst us to achieve this, therefore why are we making him pay craftsmen when that same money could be used for other needs of the club? We need more hands, not stupid signs like “Against McBean Football” If some don’t want to help, the work will still be done but then don’t make demands later on. How do you expect anyone to take us serious when we won’t help fix up our home ground?
These self-interested agendas being used to undermine Clapton and the management, must be stopped and we must stop it. I saw some of the new players for next season which will make us a stronger team than last season, we should be looking at how can we retain some of our better players and support the club to achieve this. Simple match one player at £10 per week is £1k for the season. Key players are paid £100 plus per week, an average player is paid £40 per week. To maintain the pitch in its current condition will take money the club was quoted £1200 just to cut the pitch, to pick up the grass cuttings would be more!
Are we going to help the club wholeheartedly?
Yours in Clapton
Dedicated, frustrated but loyal to Clapton Supporter.
