Is This Why the Essex Senior League Are Supporting Vince McBean?

I have read, with some amusement and disbelief, the twitter exchanges between the Essex Senior League account @essexsenior and various others (mainly, but not exclusively, supporters of Clapton) concerning Vincent McBean’s club and I was particularly interested in the exchanges relating to it's actual constitution.

What is apparent that many supporters and indeed, even the Essex Senior League, have very little understanding of what the actual position is.

This is hardly surprising in the case of the former, as Mr McBean has run and collapsed a number of limited companies that purported to have been Clapton FC, since he arrived.

Some years ago, supporters wrote to the Essex Senior League asking for clarification on the legal entity that was playing in their competition as Clapton Football Club.  It was a league rule that clubs should disclose this either on their website or in the match day programme.  Needless to say, at the time, McBean’s club did neither.

The response from the ESL was less than helpful and, in essence, they refused to enforce their rule.   One wonders why this was such a guarded secret.

In the twitter thread, a supporter talks of fans not being able to influence the club because they were not shareholders.  This would be correct if McBean’s club was a Limited Company and, given the on-going confusion on who or what is Clapton FC, this error is perfectly understandable.

It should be said that McBean’s website now describes his entity as an unincorporated association.

But the response from the ESL was quite interesting. "This is one of the main issues - being a fan, paying an entrance fee - does not entitle you to a share in any decision making and/or profits unless you’re a shareholder.”

With respect to whoever is running the ESL twitter account, (said to be ‘the Committee’) ‘shares and shareholders’ are not an issue in the Clapton case.  An unincorporated association would normally have members but, as we know, Vince McBean closed the membership six years ago for “restructuring”.  One may speculate that his was clearly to protect his position within the entity as its been the same old same old, ever since.  (Note : he has posted a written on-line denial that he was the owner of Clapton FC)

But I can fully understand why the Essex Senior League Committee are so confused in thinking that shareholders are an issue as far as Clapton Football Club are concerned..

This is because not so long ago the Essex Senior League were accepting and banking cheques from the Santander bank account of Clapton Football Club Limited. At the time they should have been fully aware that this was not the legal entity of the ‘member club’.

Nonetheless, the Essex Senior League continued to bank cheques from the company after it had been struck off, dissolved and no longer legally existed.

The assets of any struck off/dissolved company immediately becomes ‘bona vacantia’ (property of the Crown) and therefore this money was not theirs to accept.

This use of shell companies, and fraudulent transactions such as this, clearly smacks of money laundering, and is most certainly, false accounting and tax evasion.  A casual inspection of the bank statements of McBean’s Clapton FC Limited, reveals that the company traded quite actively before and after dissolution, although it never actually filed accounts at any time.

Nonetheless the Santander bank account in the name of Clapton Football Club Limited remained active until 2014.

Given the amount of unbridled support for Mr McBean in the Essex Senior League twitter feed, is it just a co-incidence that their determination to keep him afloat, not enforce their own rules, and consistently bat away any criticism of him, is founded more on the concern that their financial transactions with Clapton Football Club Limited, if revealed, may implicate them in future investigations regarding Mr McBean?

One thing is for sure, such behaviour, whether it be naivety, or by assisting or failing to disclose/report such financial misconduct, is not that which should be expected, at the very least, of a Senior League.  (described at page of this season's ESL Handbook as a 'Senior Attitude'.)

One wonders what sanctions and financial penalties the Essex Senior League would have meted out to other member clubs if those clubs had been involved in such financial skullduggery?

The Clapton Petition. Why Would I Sign?

I think most of us with an interest in non league football in London and Essex are aware of the recent developments at the Spotted Dog ground. Simply put, the landlords, Heineken UK, have repossessed the ground because the rent has not been paid. For me, that's totally understandable and straight forward enough.

In response, an on-line petition has been launched, addressed to Heineken UK, asking people to sign in support of Keeping Clapton Football Club at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

At the time of writing just over 400 people have signed the petition.  However, I wonder how many of those signatories are actually mis-informed or have signed due to sentiment.

The first fear to allay is that Heineken have clearly stated that they have no intention of the ground being used for any other purpose than leisure and sporting activities which benefit the local community.  So we can forget yuppie housing being built on the site. It should also be remembered that the football ground has been designated as an Asset Of Community Value, and as such, is safe from developers.

Therefore the question is, who will occupy the ground as tenants/lessees?  The petition asks you to sign to show support for Vincent McBean's Clapton FC.  However, his club are entwined with the recently evicted company, Newham Community Leisure Limited who Mr McBean also mismanaged and took into liquidation.

The script of the petition page is interesting for a number of reasons.  

• There is no mention of Vincent McBean the CEO of Clapton FC  who was a director of Newham Community Leisure Limited before he placed it into liquidation.  In addition, Clapton club secretary Shirley Doyle and team manager Wilfred Thomas signed documents as members of NCL to support this action.
• The Charity Commission launched a statutory inquiry into Newham Community Leisure Limited in 2013 and I cannot imagine this is undertaken lightly and it could only have been done in the face of serious allegations of misconduct by trustees/directors/ members, who include Mrs Doyle, Mr Thomas and Mr McBean.
• The petition blames the Charity Commission for not allowing the terms of the lease to be met (payment of rent).  This is also misconceived, as Vince McBean, Shirley Doyle and Wilf Thomas will know that the assets of the company are under the control of the liquidator who was appointed by Mr McBean to administer the liquidation.

As for terms of the lease, Mr McBean will need no reminding that he, and other trustees, have been fined by Newham Council for causing, and the continuance of, public nuisance to neighbours and local residents through loud music being played in the early hours of the morning.  This, of itself, is a breach of the terms of the lease and could result in forfeiture. 

Licensing is not a strong suit for the Vincent McBean's Clapton as, older supporters will know, there was no liquor licence at the ground until 2009.  So that's at least four years of Essex Senior League officials, players and supporters enjoying hospitality at Mr McBean's 'illegal drinker'.  This is a breach of the terms of the lease and could result in forfeiture.

Putting this aside, were McBean's club good tenants?  Judging by what I have seen of the clear up at the ground since the repossession, I don't think so.  Rubbish skips are bursting to the seams with refuse, some looking like it had been previously fly tipped.  I also recall the old urinals piled behind the scaffold stand and imagine that they have also found their way into the skip. Keeping the ground is such a lamentable state is breach of the tenant's covenants in the lease and could result in forfeiture.

I am also aware that Newham Council visited the ground in August 2017 and served notices on Mr McBean due to the dangerous state of the ground due to building spoil littering the public areas.  Once again, this is a breach of the lease and could result in forfeiture.

So, had the landlords been aware of the above, they could have reasonably removed the lease from Newham Community Leisure at any time.

But, fellow non league supporters, let's be honest, were it not for the location, (an oasis of old school football in the middle of a residential area) and the history connected with the name of Clapton Football Club, would we be as unforgiving of a ground in such a poor and potentially dangerous state of repair.  For example, imagine if there was a pile of old urinals stacked at the side of the stand at Cricklefields or Wadham Lodge or a pile of hardcore and glass in the spectator areas of Oakside or Catons Lane?  Would the ground grading gods sit back and ignore it as they clearly have for some time at the Spotted Dog..

I have purposely not referred to Vince McBean's personal antecedents in running charities and companies  That is all over the internet and on public record.

As for the demise of the 140 year old club, this is total folly as Vincent McBean suspended Clapton Football Club in 2000.  He formed a new entity, Clapton Members Club whose constitution is that which is lodged with the Football Association. The interest in Clapton FC, a members' club, has remained with the life members of that organsiation.

So, I hope those who propose to sign the petition understand why I will not do so.  I appreciate the sentiment behind wishng to sign the petition, but be assured, the ground is safe and is not longer being used for personal gain as opposed to being a community asset.  Its a case of the landlords finding a responsible, democratic, local community based entity to run it, for the good of Newham.

To reinstall Mr McBean and his friends as tenants would be like inviting guests to your home who, when they previously stayed with you, defecated and then wiped it up the walls.

I'm not sure that is what any responsible landlord would want to happen.  One can only imagine what the cost of the clear up and making secure has cost them on this occasion and I am sure they would not want to repeat the process.

Reality Check

Over the past eleven days I have seen Clapton lose four matches in succession and, speaking to few people at yesterday's game, there appears to be some mild despondency and frustration as to the way things are going on the pitch.  That is in stark contrast to the near euphoria in the early weeks of the season, the amusing internet talk of promotion and getting the Dog ready for Isthmian League football.  That all seems a long time ago now. But, in my view, our recent results are not surprising, and our position in the League table accurately reflects our level.

We made a good start to the season, beating teams home and away which took us to second in the table at one stage.  However, if one looks at the teams we had beaten, not one of them are above us in the table this morning.  We are ninth.  Of the eight clubs above us, we have played them all, with the exception of Bowers and Pitsea.  We have not won any of those games, but drew 3 and lost four.  Also, when we were put up against decent standard opposition in the cup competitions, Ipswich Wanderers and Stanway Rovers, we came a predictable second best.

I have already discussed the recent losses to the playing squad and the apparent 'tinkering' of the line ups and substitutions.  The fact that we have now used at least five goalkeepers so far this season is also indicative of an unsteady ship. In my day, you could usually predict the team line up for the following week because the majority of players would be working nine til five, Monday to Friday.  In 2015, the weekend is now seen as part of the normal working week and, I am sure, this can frequently result in players being unavailable to play due to such commitments.  I believe stability is the key and the chopping and changing of recent weeks, in my view, has not helped.

Nonetheless, despite yesterday's result, I was delighted to see that the Scaffold was 'rocking' and most of a good sized crowd seemed to enjoy the match.  This, ladies and gents, is what it is all about.  During my time as a Tons follower, I have seen Clapton teams hammered, home and away,  but I have  always looked forward to the next game, as I am, for Saturday's trip to Stansted. Well done to you all, and up the Tons!

Another concern is the recent absence of the 'one sheet programme' that was being sold outside the ground up until a couple of games ago.  I used to find that a decent read and much superior to Vince's effort, (when he bothers to produce one).  However, on my walk around the ground, I was told that the reason might be that there are 'legal machinations' going on behind the scenes as regards Vince McBean's apparent ownership of the club.  If that's the case, then good on them, and lets get that issue resolved as soon as possible so we can enjoy the rest of the season with realistic expectations.

Finally, I have seen Vince's advert for a Club Match Secretary on his website. Anyone seriously thinking of applying for this needs to seek help.  The fact that they will be working with one of the most dubious characters in non league football and, with legal stuff apparently on its way, you might end up liable for any debts that he/the club has.

N.B.    Vince is not known to hang around once the legal stuff starts to bite.

Why Some Clapton Fans Should Get Off The Fence

There's still life in this old dog, I can assure you.  My computer is now back up and running and, whilst I apologise for my absence, I hope to make more regular contributions to this blog.

My absence has allowed me to reflect on one of the best starts to the season that I have seen from a Clapton team for many years.  Our team appears more organised, and the attacking players give the impression that they might score every time they go forward. There could be a number of reasons for this.  The new coaching staff attracting new and better players, players wanting to play for Clapton because we have unique support at the level of football or, perhaps we have the best white swipe board in non league football..

Nonetheless, I continue to be impressed with the consistent level of support over in the scaffold pole stand. Many people would have written off the initial interest as a fad, however, regular attendances in excess of 250 tells me that our Ultra friends are here to stay and inevidentably they will want the club to move forward.

As a retiree, I spend a lot of time on the internet during the day (between Bargain Hunt and Loose Women) and I have been interested by some of the comments on various websites/forums over what would happen, or rather, what has to happen, if we were to get promoted to the Ryman League.

Without wishing to pour cold water on such aspirations, I think that those considering this possibility are probably putting the cart before the horse.  I remember, all too well, the rigours of the Isthmian/Ryman League ground grading system and the trials and tribulations undergone by Clapton over the years.

The difference between our present level, and that of the Ryman League, is vast and was no more clearly demonstrated last week at the Dog when, following the burglary and damage caused in the dressing rooms, the participating teams (London Bari and FC Romania) agreed to go ahead with their match on Tuesday night despite the conditions. This was, apparently, agreed to by the Essex Senior League.  In the Ryman League this would not happen.  The game would not have gone ahead, and the ground and the facilities would be closed for league games until they were back to the standard required.

I recall Clapton having to play a afternoon home match in August, away at Barton Rovers, because the lux value of the floodlights at the Dog were found to be lower than the requisite level.  Ridiculous as it was then, those were the rules, and, from what I read of the Ryman League, they have become no more concessionary to clubs whose faciltities do not meet their standard.

It was not only Clapton who fell foul of this rigorous, and arguably, unreasonable application of the rules. I also recall Chesham United having to play their home League game against the Tons at the Old Spotted Dog in the early 1980s. There were many others over the years.

To bring the Old Spotted Dog Ground back up to Isthmian standard would take a lot of investment of both time and money.  Notwithstanding the situation as to 'who is the real club?', those supporters who dream of promotion might wish to consider how, and with whom, this is more likely to be achieved.

Vince McBean has always talked the talk.  But, in the years whilst he has been 'at the helm' (as he says), Clapton, on and off the field, has lumbered along between poor and farcical.  It has only been the emergence of the Friends of Clapton group, the Ultras and the growing supporter base that has given our club a new lease of life.  Even then, Vince has tried to claim credit for it, through his 'Tons Members Club'. (of which I have never been aware in all the time I have followed Clapton).

Vince's record in football also does not inspire confidence in that he will achieve what Clapton supporters wish for their club.  He oversaw the demise of Woodford Town FC and I would imagine he would have considerable difficulty in persuading the Isthmian League to take back any club under his control. One issue relates to a debt he owed to Kenneth Harris, the former chairman. I know that the Isthmian League were asked to arbitrate and despite their best efforts, Vince McBean failed to honour his commitment  I understand the debt remains unpaid and is now subject of an outstanding county court judgment.  The debt, the subsequent course of dealings with the League, along with all the other stuff, might have a bearing on his fit and proper person requirement, which will undoubtedly enforced by the Ryman League.

Some people have questioned where the gate money actually goes.  No one can be sure, because there is no openess or transparency from Vince.  Also, I don't think there has been a 'club treasurer' for a number of years. Having said that, there has been evidence of some improvements at the ground.  The portable toilet block for instance. There was also some work done by a charitable sponsor until they pulled out having done some subsequent research into who they were dealing with, viz a vis Vince McBean.  Wherever the gate money is going, it is not being ploughed back into faciltiies. The pitch? Well that speaks for itself.

On the other hand, there are the Friends of Clapton / Real Clapton FC group and I immediately declare an interest in that I know to two of the Life Members from years back and a number of the other members of the club.  The question is, what is their antecedents and what can they offer that Vince cannot?

Mike Fogg and Martin McShea were at Clapton in the late 70s when Harry Manning and Austin Williams were Chairmen and it was difficult times.  The lease on the ground had run out and a multi national corporation were looking to develop the site for housing.  This group rallied around and got received unified support from the unlikeliest of sources that ranged from Tony Benn MP to a member of the House of Lords. This campaign ended in 1992 with landlords Grand Metropolitain plc agreeing to grant a 99 year lease to a Trust. Messrs Fogg and McShea were the signatories on that lease on behalf of the Clapton Trust, which secured the ground, and, as they thought at the time, the future of the club..

I have read that the real Clapton has a committee and a membership of over 150 people. For all intents and purposes they are a proper club (subs, meetings Agms etc) which is in contrast to the supposed 'club' that Vince is presiding over. I also have no doubt that, among the membership of real Clapton is a vast array of talents in very many areas, all of which will be of benefit.

That aside, in order to bring Clapton forward into a position whereby it can regain its Isthmian status, money will have to come from somewhere and the figure required is unlikely to come from the membership.  An alternative would be to attract a financial benefactor, but such people will always want control of their investment and thus, the ideal of a supporters run club, as put forward by the real Clapton FC would be compromised.  It would be like swapping one Vince for another, except I have seen no evidence of any personal investment by Vince.

For a dynamic club, which real Clapton could be, there are vast opportunities for sponsorship and grants from the various bodies that oversee sport and community development.  There is no reason why real Clapton should not be a beneficiary of such help. In Messrs McShea and Fogg, they also have experience in this field.  The tyre warehouse, just by the Upton Lane entrance to the ground actually does not belong to Vince McBean, as previous believed by his tenants, but to the Trust, as the freehold was purchased with a grant from the Sports Aid Foundation a couple of years before his arrival on the scene.  Some of the club members who, are also among the Ultras, have taken action and instigated projects which have a social and community connotations and, I hope, is indicative of the direction in which real Clapton will want to go. 

In comparison, you may have read, as I have, on the www.clapton.info website of what Vince did with a £2million grant from the Millennium Commission that was intended to help a homeless project of which he was Chief Executive.  A reasonable conclusion might be that the chances of him getting any funding from such sources again, or help from any 'reputable source' that does research into the beneficiary, are practically nil.

For Clapton to return to being run a members organaisation once again and not by one chap, would be a great achievement for all the supporters and it is achievable.  But its up to the supporters.

If you are still undecided about what is best for the club your support, do your research. If we are serious, as Clapton supporters, about taking the club forward, there is no other choice than to back the real club. Sitting on the fence whilst buying Vince's beer, burgers and programme etc is not neutrality. That is obliquely supporting him and makes the task of securing the club for the fans even harder.

Go on the website at www.claptonfc.info and sign up.  Alternatively, I know you can join on matchdays in the scaffold.  You will have the opportunity to have a say in how your club is going to be run, something that many football fans can only dream of.

Its time to get off the fence.

As the bard of Barking, Billy Bragg, would say "Which Side Are You On?    (Those under 30 years of age should Google that)