DO CLAPTON HAVE THE BEST LOOKING TEAM IN NON-LEAGUE?

Since the mid 1990s, when Jamie Redknapp, David James and the infamous Liverpool ‘Spice Boys’ blazed a trail, footballers have increasingly found a tidy side line modelling stuff. While glossies and billboards are, these days, full up with names from Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga, non-league has so far struggled to shake off its less than glam pies and pints image.

Not so at Clapton FC, whose team of big handsome lads can strut it with the best of them. The Tons currently have four professional models in the team and that’s not counting departed heroes, Luke Kanjor and Dave Armstrong, (the latter a former pro-David Beckham lookalike) who both got work by being really really ridiculously goodlooking.

Kristian doing his Athena poster pose.

Google searching ‘Kristian Haighton’ probably isn’t advisable on your work computer as you’ll likely bring up a full portfolio of eye bulging images. Kristian arrived at Clapton the beginning of last season from the Swedish 3rd division and quickly formed a reputation with the Tons as a solid but classy fullback. Haighton has also made a TV appearance as ‘handsome man eating scotch egg’ in a furniture ad.

New in the Clapton goal, Richie Robins is a catwalk model, which apparently has nothing to do with his goalkeeping reflexes. The former Wivenhoe stopper has been seen treading the long boards at fashion shows in Mayfair since being headhunted by a top modelling agency. Robins has caught the eye since arriving at The Dog with a few head turning performances and two clean sheets in five.

It’s unclear whether Tayo Awoderu actually kicked a ball before he perfected his signature look, as the former Baby GAP model started in the business so young. Signed from Enfield Town u21s, Tayo’s just 18, but the left midfielder has already wowed Clapton fans with an impressive start to life in East London including a stand out performance in the win over Wadham Lodge.

Tayo has continued as an actor & model

Being the last link in the chain to one of the sleekest goals Clapton have scored in years, Steven Sardinha was the hot topic following last week’s win in E17. The former Bishops Stortford midfielder is an aspiring TV presenter as well as model, but is now probably most talked about as the scorer of that goal.