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Clapton Football Club is a football club in Forest Gate, London, England, who are members of the Essex Senior League. They play at The Old Spotted Dog Ground. ==History== Established in 1878 as Downs Football Club and initially based at Hackney Downs, Lower Clapton, the Hackney club originally played in dark blue shirts and white shorts with a distinctive white Maltese cross on the left breast.〔 The following year the club adopted its current name.〔(Club History ) Clapton Football Club History〕 First based in headquarters at the Downs Hotel,〔 In 1880 the club moved to a pitch adjacent to nearby Lea Bridge Road in Leyton, but moved on again shortly afterwards to a ground at Elm Farm. In 1888 The Tons made their last switch to the historic sports grounds at The Old Spotted Dog in Forest Gate after it was vacated by St Bartholomew's Hospital. The first game at their new home drew a crowd of over 4,000 to see a 1 - 0 victory over Old Carthusians 1–0.〔 Clapton began competing in the FA Cup in 1888–89, and in 1890 became the first club from Great Britain to play in continental Europe, defeating a Belgian XI in Antwerp.〔 In 1894 the club became founder members of the Southern League, alongside Luton Town, Millwall and Reading,〔 and were placed in Division One. Finishing eighth in a nine-club league they were forced to play test matches to avoid relegation, defeating Sheppey United 5–1. The following season saw them finish eighth again. Despite winning this round of test matches against 1st Scots Guards, the club left the league at the end of the season as several of the other clubs turned professional.〔 In 1904–05 the club reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup for the first time, losing 3–2 to West Hartlepool. 1905 also saw Clapton become founder members of the Isthmian League, finishing as runners-up in the inaugural season. The following campaign The Tons won their first Amateur Cup, defeating Stockton 2–1. Three years on, In 1908–09, they won the Amateur Cup again, thrashing Eston United 6–0. In subsequent years Clapton's stock continued to rise and 1910–11 they won their first Isthmian League title. However, growing stature in the league didn't affect their pedigree as a cup team, as in 1914–15 the club won a third Amateur Cup with a 1–0 victory over Bishop Auckland.〔 In 1922–23 Clapton won another Isthmian League title, and in 1924 celebrated their fourth Amateur Cup success, defeating Erith & Belvedere 3–0 in the final. They remarkably went on to retain their title as Cup holders in the following season by edging out Southall FC 2 - 1 at The Old Den. In 1925–26 a strong Clapton team, containing two full England Internationals, qualified for the first round of the FA Cup after wins against Norwich City and Ilford in the first and second round. They were eventually knocked out, losing 3–2 at 'home' to Swindon Town, a match that was played at West Ham's Boleyn Ground due to massive local interest. The club would reach the first round of the FA Cup in 1926–27, 1927–28 and 1957–58, losing each to Brentford, Luton Town and QPR.〔 In season 1975–76 the club finished bottom of Division One of the Isthmian League, dropping down to Division Two, (renamed Division One in 1977). In 1981–82 Clapton were relegated once more to Division Two, but bounced back at the first time of asking as champions. The club won the Essex Senior Cup for a third time in 1984, but were relegated again at the end of the 1984–85 season sinking to Division Two North. In 1991 the club was placed in Division Three after league reconstruction, which later became Division Two due to further reorganising. In 2005–06 Clapton finished in last place in the league for the second consecutive season,〔 and subsequently joined the Essex Senior League after Division Two was disbanded altogether. In 2014/15 a resurgent Clapton crowned their first consecutive top half league finish since the 1920s by appearing in the final for both The Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and The Essex Senior League Cup, losing out to Barking and Bowers & Pitsea respectively.〔http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/football/clapton_assistant_admits_barking_scored_at_the_right_time_in_final_1_4060876〕〔http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/football/tons_thrashed_by_bowers_and_come_runners_up_in_another_final_1_4068028〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Clapton F.C.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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