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 Progress of Old Friends.

Whilst we Clapton supporters were celebrating a fine victory over old rivals (and friends) Barking at the Dog, some of our other former adversaries were taking place in some high profile matches elsewhere. 

Old Isthmian League rivals Sutton United were adding to their giant-killing pedigree by knocking Leeds United out of the FA Cup.  It was a marvellous achievement for the ‘U’s and I I am delighted for them to have drawn Arsenal in the next round.

I remember watching the Tons at their Gander Green Lane ground for many years.  Invariably we were on the end of a hammering, not least an 11-1 defeat in the sixties but this was not surprising as Sutton were always one of the top teams in the League with quality players such as Larry Pritchard, Steve Bangs and, of course, Dario Gradi.  Our last ‘contact’ with them that I can recall was in the 80s when, their Manager, Barrie Williams agreed to loan us classy midfielder Glenn Swain for a few weeks whilst we're in the midst of an injury crisis.  They were always a decent club and its marvellous to see them doing so well and, as importantly, at their traditional ground.

Up the road in north London, Tottenham Hotspur were hosts to other old friends from our Isthmian days, Wycombe Wanderers, who gave a fantastic performance, only to be pipped at the post, courtesy of a last minute goal.  The last time we played Wycombe, their home ground was Loakes Park, a traditional old stadium in High Wycombe town centre.  Loakes Park was most famous for its sloping pitch and, although Imight like to venture this as being a factor for some of the hidings we took at the hands of the Chairboys, it's not the case.  They team was always populated with some of the best amateur players of the day.  From perennial goalkeeper John Maskell, to ace goalscorer Keith Searle, they were a marvellous outfit and their progress to the Football League is a testament to their excellent administration over the years. 

Last Sunday another match took place with which Clapton have connections.  The FA Vase tie between Southall and Exmouth Town may not have grabbed as many headlines as the matches above but was eagerly contested with the winners being just three matches from Wembley.  Southall were Clapton’s opponents in the 1925 FA Amateur Cup final and boasted a fine tradition.  They became an Isthmian League club in the expansion of 1973.

In 1986, Southall also enjoyed a great run in the Vase and, having beaten Stevenage Borough at their own ground in Western Road with les Ferdinand playing at centre forward, actually reached the twin towers, only to lose in the final to Halesowen Town.  Exmouth Town also enjoyed similar success.  They were regularly Champions of the Western League and reached the semi finals of the Vase in 1985 when beaten on aggregate by Fleetwood Town.

Exmouth Town was Clapton's destination for a pre season friendly in 1988.  A good time was had by all, very much in the traditions of the Easter Tours upon which Clapton parties often embarked in years gone by.  Yes, beer was involved.

However, both these clubs have undergone some hard times since these heady days.

Southall ‘lost’ their home ground and started ground sharing.  They were relegated to the Combined Counties League and, in 2006 suffered the ignominy of being expelled from the League and their record expunged due to ‘financial irregularities’.  However, despite having to re-group and play two levels lower in the Middlesex County Football League, the club cleared its debts and have re-emerged as a fine club to which their Vase run is testament.  They presently play in the South Midlands League in Division One and continue to ground share at Hanwell Town.

As well as the Championship winning seasons and the FA vase run, Exmouth Town also reached the 4^th qualifying round of the FA Cup, only to fall at the hands of the excellent Woking team of that era.  Their team was punctuated with some of the best ex-pros and non league players from the region.

Unfortunately, whilst such players give a lot of enjoyment to supporters and raise the profile of the club, this comes at a price and, unfortunately the club’s ability to continue to pay the cost of such an operation, heralded the departure of most of the players.  This left the club with problems and they were soon relegated form the top tier of Western League and rattled around in the lower division for ten years before eventually gaining promotion.  However, the success was short lived and they subsequently resigned from the League in 2006 due to financial problems.  The club was then re-formed as Exmouth Town (2006) AFC and the first team took over the old reserve teams place in the Exeter and East Devon League.  The next season the club became founder members of the South West Peninsula League.

Last Saturday’s match at Southall is, once again, marks a fine achievement by those at Exmouth Town who stood by their club and those who have come in to help sort out the problems left by their predecessors.

Last Sunday’s match was won 4-2 by Southall who’s reward is a home match against Cleethorpes Town.  We wish them the best of luck.

There are lessons to be learned here for supporters of many non league clubs, not least Clapton FC.  Losing your home ground, financial irregularities, the cost of ‘professional’ players and the legacy of short term success has a cost and it can take years to bring the club back.

As a Clapton supporter, I am far from convinced that the Old Spotted Dog is in safe hands.  As there is no transparency, I also have no confidence in the administration of the club, particularly as far as financial issues are concerned and the obscure use of Limited Companies that don’t file records with Companies House and are regularly struck off.

As for the expenditure on players, in my experience, money doesn't buy loyalty from players, whether that is a Premier League or Essex Senior League level.  We must hope that the excellent squad we have will be content to play for, what should be, one of the most prestigious amateur/nonleague clubs in the country with unrivalled support rather than to move on (frequently sideways) for money.

Despite the excellent result at the Dog last Saturday, it would take a brave man to back against Barking to be promoted in April and whilst it would be a shame to lose that fixture, should it happen, I will be pleased for them in their achievement in returning the 'Blues' to the Isthmian League.

So then, why shouldn't Clapton look to return to their traditional home in the Isthmian League.

What we must hope is, like Sutton United, Wycombe Wanderers we can progress, but on a realistic level and before than can happen, like Southall and Exmouth Town, we have to get our club back on an even keel.

Unfortunately, before this can be achieved we need to rid ourselves of the Vincent Mcbean's current regime whose secrecy and dishonesty is slowly being exposed and unravelled.  This current debacle will undoubtedly cost Clapton FC dearly in the future.  It will be then that we will need the loyalty of players and supporters to stand to shoulder to shoulder with those who may be left to carry the can.

Time will tell.