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CLAPTON COMMUNITY FC

We are the Clapton

A truly amazing and heart-warming story is breaking at a tier 12 club in east London.

Somehow we’ve just sold over 2,500 replica shirts and it’s nuts

AUGUST 28, 2018

Clapton CFC have not even kicked a ball in competitive football yet, but we’ve seen an overwhelming demand for our replica shirts, particularly our away strip.

The colourful red, purple and yellow shirt, inspired by the International Brigades and voted for by our members, was formally launched on Saturday at the team’s home friendly against the first FA Cup-winners Wanderers FC, a brilliant occasion in front of 232 fans.

By then members were already overjoyed to have sold over 400 replica shirts, way above our expectations. We are a Step 8 (that is, division 12) club, after all. Before the Bank Holiday weekend was over, however, we had received an amazing 2,600 orders and rising.

To the thousands of you who have bought a shirt, or followed us on social media, or sent us a message, thank you very much.

Our unexpected spot in the limelight has meant lots of frantic planning, working out how on earth we can process so many orders. And we’ve had to rush to register for VAT – we never expected our income to be high enough to need to do so – which has forced a £5 rise in price.

The now-famous shirts did cost £25, but will now be £30 including VAT – still half the cost of many Premier League shirts. They are made in Italy by Rage Sports, a small, ethical manufacturer with material meticulously sourced from companies that pay their workers fairly. Find out more about Rage Sports here.

Most of the demand has come from Spain, due to the design being based upon the colours of the International Brigades, who joined the fight against fascism in Spain during the Civil War of the late 1930s. Over 2,500 men and women from the UK and Ireland travelled to fight, with more than 500 dying for the cause.

“It has been quite the shock for us, as we only expected to sell about 250 shirts in a year,” says kit designer and Clapton CFC member, Thom. “Fans voted from a total of 16 kit designs, but this was by far the most popular. I really wanted to make something that marked the importance of the sacrifice of those who fought against fascism.

“We have always been known as fans who do not accept racism, sexism and homophobia, so it made total sense. We didn’t expect our tiny club to be noticed by Spanish football fans but we’re delighted nonetheless.”

We will use some of the money to help with the running of the club, which is a community benefit society entirely run by volunteers. We also be consulting fully with out members.

However, funds are also earmarked to help the International Brigade Memorial Trust, who work to keep the memory of those who travelled to Spain to fight alive. The IBMT counts actress Maxine Peake and musician Christy Moore among its patrons.

Jim Jump, National Secretary of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, said: “We’re delighted that the shirt highlights the sacrifice made by those who joined the International Brigades, and we are excited that some of the income from the shirts will enable us to work with Clapton CFC on education and memorial initiatives here in the UK.”

Rage Sports are doing their best to cope with the surge in demand, and Clapton CFC members will do our best to send them out as soon as we can. Further details to follow. Shirts are still available to buy at https://www.claptoncfc.co.uk/store/ but please do be patient as we try to process orders.

The club has also gained 20 new members in Spain, swelling our ranks to over 400, just a few months after being founded. All members have a full and equal say on how the club is run, with volunteer committees overseeing day-to-day business. All you have to do to get involved is to join us, for £5 concessions and £10 waged. (Steve’s note …. I am one of the new members!)

Some people are understandably confused, but just to be clear, we are not the Clapton FC which fields a team in the Essex Senior League.

Our club was established by Clapton FC’s life members, who have hundreds of years of supporting the Tons between them, and who can trace their family links to the club as far back as the early 1900s.

We publicly launched in June 2018 after a long, tightly-observed fan boycott of Clapton FC home games, legal disputes over ownership and membership, and that club’s declared owner forcing a charity that he also runs into voluntary liquidation.

This charity, which controlled the lease on the historic Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate, east London,, is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission and legal action by fans is ongoing in the High Court.

So this will be Clapton CFC’s first season as a club and the team will compete in the Middlesex Counties League Division 1, at our temporary home of The Stray Dog, Wadham Lodge Sports Ground in Walthamstow, east London.

Clapton CFC’s first competitive home game will be a BBC Essex Premier Cup game against Hutton FC at 2pm on September 22.

In Spanish from Marca and AS

Brentford vdoc

Brentford Football Club has continued the growth of its partnership family with the addition of vdoc as Official Healthcare Partner for the 2018/19 season. vdoc is a private healthcare concierge service provider that gives 24/7 access to a doctor via video call or phone for as little as £4 a month. The multi-award-winning healthcare company provides businesses with immediate access to private doctors and prescription services within the workplace with key features including access to 400+ doctors, a secure video platform, confidential appointments, fast prescriptions and specialist referrals.

Although primarily a business to business model, vdoc will be offering Brentford supporters the opportunity to have the service as a feature of the partnership. Bees fans will be able to sign up for £10 for a year, a huge saving on the RRP of £48. More details of the offer will be sent out in the coming weeks. vdoc, a winner at the 2017 West London Business Awards, will sponsor the ball boys at Griffin Park.

Suresh Sivagnanam, Founder and CEO of vdoc, said: “We’re delighted to be getting involved with Brentford, our local team, during a very exciting time in the Club’s history. vdoc’s mission is to become one of the first 24/7, 365 days a year digital healthcare provider globally.”

Adam Ward, Brentford FC Partnership Development Manager, said: “Health and wellbeing is paramount to everyone, so it’s fantastic to have vdoc, who have strong links within West London Businesses, onboard for the exciting season ahead.”

The attached picture features Adam Ward, right centre, and Suresh Sivagnanam with two Brentford FC Ball Boys.

New 2018 2019 Shirts

So, the season is days away and all clubs have been presenting their shirts. Many clubs have as many shirts as their association allows.

Here are a few that have caught my eye this week.

Málaga CF

Málaga CF now has a new away kit for the 2018/19 season. The Malaguista jersey pays tribute to the city that has seen this Club come to life and grow, as well as the people who meet at La Rosaleda every weekend to watch their team. Málaga, together with NIKE, wanted to return this love to the fans with a shirt that has a touch of green and purple on a black background, highlighting the elegance of Málaga.

In an intense green, the team’s shield and NIKE logo; in purple, the neckline of the polo-style shirt that stylises and enhances the kit. #TeQuieroMálaga had to be featured in such a Malagueña shirt that is so us, which is why the slogan is present on the back.

The fabrics of the 21st century are ever present in this new kit. All official Málaga Club de Fútbol shirts have the Dry-Fit technology, a polyester microfibre material that absorbs and expels moisture to keep the player dry and comfortable.

Want to get your hands on one first?

We’re in love with Málaga and you’ll fall in love with this shirt. The black, green and purple colours are available from 26th July. The shirts will be on sale in the Online Store and official Málaga CF stores: La Rosaleda, CC Larios, CC Vialia, Centro histórico, CC Rincón de la Victoria, Fuengirola and Torre del Mar.

Who are our sponsors?

Our sponsors are an essential part of our shirts and have pride of place. In addition to the NIKE sports brand as a technical sponsor, the locality of Benahavís, where we undergo our pre-season training, is also featured this year on the back under the player number. Together with Málaga municipality, the BeSoccer technology firm is displayed on one of the sleeves. Pure technology born in the Costa del Sol capital.

Real Madrid

Official third strip for 2018/2019

FC Barcelona

Shirts at the Cinema

I came across a fun thread on Twitter recently where people uploaded photos of football shirts that were worn in films or in TV programmes. There are clearly a lot of eagle-eyed viewers as this thread quickly filled with the Good, Bad and Ugly of shirts from today and yesteryear …..and some futuristic ones too!

Enjoy.

Roger Cummiskey

My dear friend Roger produced this great drawing of Croatia´s midfielder Luka Modric this week. Modric has been one of the stars of this summer’s World Cup in Russia and I thought the portrait deserved to be shared far and wide.

Roger says, “I have been watching Luka with RM over the years and so often his performances have been exceptional. In my opinion he is a very brave and skillful player.

Yesterday I had him in mind after the England game and made the drawing. It was a great pleasure to draw him and I hope that I caught some of his Croat features and his passion.

The WC games have been played in a strange fashion and the hosts seem not to have put a foot wrong. I expect Trump to take credit for it’s success on Monday!

England’s goal after five minutes and their first half performance was very creditable but it was obvious that they could not sustain that. Everything changed, changed utterly in Croatia’s favour in the second half. A terrible beauty was born!

France will not be an easy task. Roll on the final.”

More details of the image and Roger’s work here

2018 2019

Well, here we are in the middle of the World Cup (England have just beaten Sweden) and clubs are now launching their kits for teh 2018/2019 season which for some smaller clubs has alread y started with the Europa League qualifying rounds.

Here are a few that I have noticed. Please feel free to add yours.

Valencia

Barcelona

Manchester United

Gillingham

This is the new Gillingham FC kit 2018/19, Gillingham’s new home strip for the upcoming League One season. The shirt will have a new sponsor in the form of Medway Council, with the deal apparently “not a financial one” and with “no burden on the tax payer”

The new home kit was unveiled at the club’s end of the season awards at Prestfield. Other kit designs, including their special 125th anniversary black and white jersey with a collar (the club was founded in 1893), were also revealed.

Full story on Football Kit News

FC Porto

OFFICIAL FC PORTO RETRO COLLECTION

After working with many famous clubs from all over Europe, we are pleased to announce a collaboration with the Portuguese superpower FC Porto. The first official collection consists of four classic retro shirts, a retro jacket, a captain T-shirt and a ‘My First Football Shirt’ for the youngest fans.

The extensive licensed collection captures the essence of the club’s rich history. The classic retro shirts recreate many of the club’s most celebrated shirt designs through the decades, including the iconic 1987 shirt, in which the ‘Dragões’ won their first ever European Cup.

The official FC Porto collection can be found online on copafootball.com, in our Flagshipstore in Amsterdam, through the official FC Porto fanstores and via selected retailers and online resellers. All the retro items are packaged and dispatched in luxury gift boxes.

Common Goal

Hi Team!

The World Cup is a moment of togetherness and unity. A moment where the whole world is gathered together to witness the power of football. There’s no better time to send out the message that football can change lives all over the world, and that anyone can participate in that change. And for the first time in the Common Goal movement, you – dear fan – can now take part! There are two ways you can do this:

One way is by participating in our World Cup campaign! Every week, until the end of the World Cup, some of the Common Goal players will be hosting fundraisers on Facebook. World Cup bound, Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong launched his this week, make sure to check it out and donate! Common Goal has also partnered with co-working space WeWork to host live events in Bogota, London, and Berlin during the first two weeks of the World Cup. Make sure to stop by!

But that is not all! For the first time, you can now, officially, join the Common Goal Team. Head over to our new website, and take the pledge just like Juan Mata, Alex Morgan, and the rest of the Common Goal players. By taking the 1% pledge, you’ll be supporting organisations promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and peace-building on the African continent, empowering girls and women in India to take control of their own lives and grow into independent adults, and so much more.

Whatever way you decide to take part in Common Goal’s journey, we’re proud to step onto this path with you. Let’s enjoy this incredible moment of football together.

And good luck to those Common Goal members who are participating at the World Cup – William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Mats Hummels (Germany), Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark), Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (Iceland) and Shinji Kagawa (Japan)!

Humbly,

Your Common Goal team

World Cup Retro Shirts

GET YOUR RETRO SHIRT NOW

There is just one week to go until the kickoff of the World Cup. Choose your favorite retro shirt or jacket and stand out from the crowd. We have retro shirts and jackets available for each competing country in Russia.

Do you support one of the favorites like Germany, England, France, Spain or Belgium? Or do you go for the underdog? What about Portugal, Croatia, Iceland or Peru?

Let this summer be one to remember forever! All retro shirts and jackets can be found online at copafootball.com, and in our Flagshipstore in Amsterdam.

Manchester City

Come and meet Manchester City legends

* Peter Barnes

* Colin Hendry

* Asa Hartford

* Tommy Booth

* Andy Dibble

* Dave & Gary Bennett

…. plus many more for a Q & A at the Casino Mediterráneo Orihuela Costa, Alicante.

The event will take place 15th June 7.00pm start.

Up for auction 2 fantastic prizes:

* 4 matchday tickets for any game of your choice apart from the Man Utd derby, tickets include food and drinks,

* bid on a signed shirt from the Premier League Champions

So come and enjoy a nice relaxed evening and mix with the former top boys from Manchester City. And we will watch the game Spain Portugal together.

Proof of I.D ensures entrance to the Casino