the Old Spotted Dog Ground
{{Short description|Football ground in London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = The Old Spotted Dog Ground
| image =
| caption = The exterior viewed from Upton Lane
| nickname = 'The Dog'
| location = Forest Gate, London
| publictransit = {{rail-interchange|london|crossrail}} {{rws|Forest Gate}}
| built =
| opened = 1888
| seating_capacity = 2,000 (100 seated)
| tenants = Clapton (1888–2019)
London Bari (2012–2017)
Hackney Wick (2017–2019)
Clapton Community (2023-)
| website = https://www.oldspotted.dog/
| dimensions = 45 × 90 ft
}}
{{Location map+| United Kingdom London Newham|thumb|width=250|float=right|caption=The location of The Old Spotted Dog Ground within the London Borough of Newham.
|places=
{{Location map~|United Kingdom London Newham|lat=51.542195|long=0.020698|label=The Old Spotted Dog Ground}}
}}
The Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate is the oldest senior football ground in London.[http://www.claptonfc.co.uk/ Clapton FC] Clapton FC Clapton Community FC the fan-owned club purchased the ground in June 2020, having been initially awarded the lease.
The previous tenants Clapton FC and Hackney Wick FC were ejected from the ground in 2018 due in part to a breach in the lease following non-payment of rent. Clapton Community FC Women's team were able to play their first league games at the Old Spotted Dog from September 2022. Clapton CFC are now the owners of the Old Spotted Dog and projects are under way as of now (April 2023) to refurbish the OSD.
On 26 April 2023, Clapton CFC hosted the first competitive match at the Dog since 2019 when they defeated Kensington Dragons 3-0. {{cite web|title=Clapton CFC vs Kensington Dragons preview: men's first team make Old Spotted Dog debut/|url=https://www.claptoncfc.co.uk/event/clapton-cfc-vs-kensington-dragons-3/|publisher=Clapton Community F.C. |date=19 April 2023|access-date=29 April 2023}}
History
The grounds were originally part of the Old Spotted Dog Hunting Lodge, famously used by Henry VIII. The lodge later became a pub, the Spotted Dog, still featuring parts of its original facade, is now a Grade II listed building [http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/council_apology_over_forest_gate_s_spotted_dog_campaigners_claim_1_1655220 Council apology over Forest Gate's Spotted Dog campaigners' claim] Newham Recorder, 13 October 2012 (although closed down in 2004 the structure has since fallen into disrepair).{{cite news|title=East End rescue mission: the London treasures under threat as land prices rise|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/east-end-rescue-mission-the-london-treasures-under-threat-as-land-prices-rise-9311458.html|accessdate=5 May 2014|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=1 May 2014|author=Robert Bevan}} The lands behind the pub became a sports ground, used primarily for county cricket matches before switching its usage to football.[http://www.claptonfc.co.uk/spotteddog.html The Old Spotted Dog ground] Clapton FC
Clapton FC moved to the ground in 1888 after learning that St Bartholomew's Hospital had given up their tenancy.[http://www.claptonfc.co.uk/clubhistory.html History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407014944/http://claptonfc.co.uk/clubhistory.html |date=7 April 2012 }} Clapton FC The former Hackney club played the first match at the ground on 29 September 1888 against Old Carthusians, winning 1–0 in front of over 4,000 spectators. The highest attendance at the ground for a Clapton match was recorded as 12,000 for an FA Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur during the 1898–99 season.Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p658 {{ISBN|978-1-869833-77-0}}
Clapton's former status as one of English football's leading amateur clubs saw The Old Spotted Dog host a number of high-profile matches, including contests with, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax of Amsterdam.{{cite web|url=http://www.afc-ajax.info/match.php?matchnameid=1927-4-26-Clapton-FC-Ajax&languageid=English#tab=basic|title=Clapton FC - Ajax 0 - 2 (26-4-1927)|website=AFC-Ajax.info|date=26 April 1927 }} Neighbours, West Ham, also used the ground as home to their youth and 'A' teams during the 1960s and brought their World Cup winning stars to feature in The Dog's first match under floodlights in 1966.
During World War II the ground was used as an anti-aircraft station.
=Tenancy dispute=
At the start of the 2019–20 season, Clapton FC lost the lease for the ground, due to non-payment of rent. This marked the end of their 140-year playing history at the site.{{cite web|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charity-under-commission-investigation-has-its-lease-for-a-football-ground-terminated-by-heineken.html|title=Heineken terminates football ground lease for charity under Commission investigation|website=civilsociety.co.uk|date=15 August 2019|access-date=18 September 2019}}
On 17 September 2019, it was announced that Clapton Community FC, a fan-owned club built by former fans of Clapton FC in 2018, had been awarded the lease to the ground, allowing the new fan operated club to play there.{{cite web|url=https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/clapton-cfc-old-spotted-dog-lease-1-6274559|title='It's coming home': Clapton CFC wins lease bid for Forest Gate's Old Spotted Dog ground|website=newhamrecorder.co.uk|date=17 September 2019|access-date=18 September 2019}}
On 24 July 2020, Clapton Community FC announced that they had purchased the freehold for the Old Spotted Dog and become the new owners.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=A truly historic day: Clapton Community FC are now the proud owners of the Old Spotted Dog!|url=https://twitter.com/osdgrounde7/status/1286588356369973248|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 September 2020|website=Twitter|language=en}}
See also
References
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{{coord |51|32|32|N|0|1|17|E|type:landmark_region:GB-NWM|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Old Old Spotted Dog Ground}}
Category:Football venues in England
Category:Football venues in London
Category:Sport in the London Borough of Newham
Category:Defunct cricket grounds in England
Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Newham