Last Update:
August 16, 2024
The ground, which many fans still refer to as its original name of Brisbane Road, has seen a lot of re-development over the years, with the construction of three new stands since the turn of the century.
At one end is the single-tiered, Tommy Johnston (South) Stand (capacity 1,336 seats), that was opened in 1999. This stand replaced a former open terrace and is named after the club’s leading all-time goal scorer. An interesting feature of this covered area is that it is raised above pitch level, meaning that you have to climb a small set of steps at the front to reach the seating area.
The old Main (East) Stand, which was originally opened in 1956, has been reduced in length but is still a fair size. This partly covered stand is now all seated after having seating installed on the former front terrace. Unfortunately, it has several supporting pillars and the roof doesn’t quite cover all of the front seating. It does though have an interesting gable on its roof which has ‘Leyton Orient’ proudly emblazoned across it and gives a nice link to the Club’s history.
Opposite is the new West Stand, known as the Justin Edinburgh Stand, which was opened for the 2005/06 season. This all-seated stand, which has a capacity of 2,872, has an unusual look about it, as above the seating area is a tall vertical structure that houses the Club offices. The Justin Edinburgh Stand may look more like an office block to some but it is now the club’s main stand.
At the North End is the ground is the most recent addition to the stadium. The The Incite Consulting Community North Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2007/08 season and replaced a former open terrace. This simple-looking covered all seated stand, has space for 1,351 spectators and looks similar to the Tommy Johnston Stand.
In 2018 Brisbane Road was renamed the Breyer Group Stadium and in 2023, it was renamed the Gaughan Group Stadium.
Away supporters are housed in one side of the old Main (East) Stand, at one side of the pitch, towards the Tommy Johnston South End. This all-seated stand does have a couple of supporting pillars that may impede your view, from time to time whilst watching the match. Around 1,000 fans can be accommodated in this area.
Although there is a fair-sized concourse located beneath the stand it is a little grim and the facilities are basic. However, when you consider that the stand was opened in 1956, then maybe you can understand why.
If your team has a sizeable following then the atmosphere can be quite good within this area. The more vociferous Orient fans tend to congregate in the Tommy Johnston Stand to the left of the visitors section. Stewarding is normally both helpful and relaxed.
Pubs near the Gaughan Group Stadium for away fans:
- Coach and Horses – 391 High Rd. Leyton, London E10 5NA
- Lion and Key – 475 High Rd. Leyton, London E10 5EL
- The Leyton Star – 116 High Rd. Leyton, London E15 2BX
Food and drink at Leyton Orient are typically of reasonable quality, and has become somewhat known for providing excellent value traditional food, such as the pie, mash and liquor pictured below, which as priced at just £4.50.
Pie and mash at Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc)
💷 £4.50 pic.twitter.com/TpKuyhokGW
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) February 7, 2023
There are a total of nine different entrances at the Gaughan Group Stadium, two of which are used exclusively for away fans.
The East Stand boasts a whopping four of these entrances, with entrances A and B used for home fans, while C and D are used for away supporters.
Entrances E and F are then located at either end of the South Stand, while the same can be said for entrances G and H in the West Stand. The final two entrances, I and J, are situated at either end of the North Stand.
Always check your matchday ticket to see which entrance you should be heading to.
Leave the M25 at Junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end of the motorway keep in the right-hand lane and follow the signs for the North Circular A406 (W). At the bottom of the flyover where the roads merge, move into the left-hand lane for the A104. At the roundabout turn left onto the A104 towards Leytonstone.
After about 1 mile at the next roundabout take the second exit continuing on the A104 towards Walthamstow & Leyton. Half a mile further on, turn left at the traffic lights into Leyton Green Road (signposted to Leyton Leisure Lagoon & Lea Valley Sports). Continue along this road and as you reach a large elevated block of flats on your right turn left into a short slip road that runs past the bus garage and then left into Leyton High Road (you’ll see the Leyton Leisure Lagoon in front of you as you wait to make the turn). Continue along Leyton High Road passing the Leyton Midland Road overground station.
After passing a Jet Garage and as the High Road bears around to the left then the ground is beyond the High Road to the right. So take the most suitable right-hand turn (as some have vehicle restrictions) and they will take you down towards the stadium.
Car Parking
There is no public parking at the stadium and the ground is surrounded by residential areas which makes it far from ideal when it comes to car parking. Your best bet could be to rent a driveway for the day.
Post Code for SAT NAV: E10 5NF
The nearest tube station is Leyton (about a 1/4 of a mile away) which is on the Central Line. Come out of the station and turn right down Leyton High Road. Cross over the road to the other side and continue down it. You will come to Coronation Gardens on your left and the floodlights of the ground can be clearly seen behind them. Take the next left past the gardens into Buckingham Road for the ground.
Located in London, there are numerous hotels within close proximity to the Gaughan Group Stadium, but bear in mind, that they could be more pricey than in other parts of the country.
Some suggestions are as follows:
- Lion & Key Hotel, 475, 477 High Rd. Leyton, London E10 5EL
- Travelodge London Walthamstow, 2 Station Approach, London E17 9QF
- Premier Inn London Stratford hotel, 9, International Square, Westfield Stratford city, Montfichet Rd, London E20 1EE
Leyton Orient ticket prices vary on a game-by-game basis depending on what category the match is. Leyton Orient have three categories – A, B and C.
Category A ticket prices for the 2023/24 season:
- Adults: £27-45
- Concessions: £24-37
- Under 18s: £12-34
- Under 11s: £12-34
Leyton Orient have been through a few stadiums in their time. They started off at Whittle’s Athletic Ground spending two seasons there. From there it was to Millfields; that stay lasted 24 years in total despite slight disagreements over the rent. It was that exact fact that eventually ended the relationship; Leyton Orient moved their home games to Lea Bridge Road in 1930 but even that experiment was over in under a decade. At least the next move stuck though; they moved in to Brisbane Road in 1937 and it has pretty much been home ever since. Modernisations have been made to the stadium with the seating situation much improved from the early days but the last talk of note was the noises of an Olympic Stadium merger. As we know, that was a pipe dream.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Leyton orient fans after being promoted to the Football league yesterday after a 0-0 draw to Braintree Town #leytonorient #lofc #braintreetown #btfc pic.twitter.com/FYBlTAAsFQ
— English Home And Away Chants (@englishhaac) April 28, 2019
Record Attendance
34,345 v West Ham United
FA Cup 4th Round, 25th January 1964.
Modern All Seated Attendance Record
9,136 v Arsenal
FA Cup 5th Round, 20th February 2011.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 7,050 (League Two)
2021-2022: 4,844 (League Two)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 5,504 (League Two)
2017-2018: 4,344 (National League)
2016-2017: 4,663 (League Two)
There was a time when Leyton Orient toyed with the idea of sharing the Olympic Stadium. That didn’t happen and, in truth, was never that likely. The Leyton Orient fans would take up 10% of the ground if they were lucky.
Development of the existing Leyton Orient stadium isn’t currently on the agenda. The last mention of any kind of renovation came in 2018 when the owners floated the idea of re-working the East Stand but nothing has come to fruition as of yet.
In terms of a new stadium, Leyton Orient signed a new lease at their current ground for 20 years in 2023 so that won’t be happening anytime soon. However, the owners do consider it a long-term objective.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Leyton Orient v Mansfield Town
League 2
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Benji Castledine (Mansfield Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Breyer Group Stadium?
I have always had a soft spot for Orient after all the troubles they've had over recent years so this was one I didn't want to miss. Tuesday night games are always difficult for me because of work but I managed to get time off to come to this one. My first Tuesday night away game I've done and despite the result, I enjoyed my evening.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Mansfield on the coach at half past one and got to the ground at about half past five. Obviously, as it's London we hit a bit of traffic as soon as we got into the city but finding the ground was not hard at all. The coach parked right across from the away end so car parking was not an issue at all.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, we decided we didn't want to go far so we went to the supporters' bar connected to the Main Stand. £1 entry so that didn't bother us much. The home fans were very friendly and were up for a chat.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Breyer Group Stadium?
The stand we were in was very old school with wooden flooring but I like the ground very much. I also found it interesting that in 2 or 3 corners of the ground there were blocks of flats. All in all, I love the ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The Game itself was an average Mansfield performance (we lost 2-1) but the stewards were friendly and the home fans created a good atmosphere at times. The concourse was very old school but I liked it and was all good. The pie I had was very nice however the staff at the kiosk weren't very talkative and came across a bit abrupt at times.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy, walked straight across the road and hopped on the coach.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Pre-game was great having good conversations with the home fans obviously the game was another dreary garbage performance from the Stags but overall I enjoyed the day out.
Leyton Orient v Carlisle United
League 2
Saturday 26th October 2019, 3pm
Ryan (Carlisle United)
Leyton Orient v Cheltenham Town
League 2
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 3pm
Steve Smytheman (Redoing the 92)
Leyton Orient v Maidstone
National League
Saturday 26th January 2019, 3pm
Gary Morgan (Neutral)
Leyton Orient v Gateshead
National League
Saturday 1st December 2018, 3pm
Steve Ware (Gateshead)
Leyton Orient vs Barnet
National League
Saturday 15th September 2018, 3pm
Andy Wilkins (Neutral)
Leyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers
National League
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Ben Castle (Tranmere Rovers)
Leyton Orient v Halifax Town
National League
Tuesday 12th September 2017, 7.45pm
Robert Patten (Neutral fan)
Leyton Orient v Maidstone United
National League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Angus McIntyre (Neutral fan)
Leyton Orient v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 11th March 2017, 3pm
Ben Robinson (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Matchroom Stadium?
I was sat in the away end for this game joining my friend and his dad. I've had a soft spot for Grimsby since I first went to Blundell Park, so I was looking forward to it. Also I had never been to Brisbane Road.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Fairly easy, the drive taking us an hour and a half from where we live in Suffolk. Finding the ground was okay but if it wasn't for signposts you wouldn't know it was there as it seemed tucked away behind buildings. Parking was fine too. We parked on Huxley Road, the street across the road from the away end.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We stopped off at this kebab/Indian/fried chicken kind of place which was okay. You're not short of food options though with different places along the High Street and Westfield Shopping Centre not being to far away. Then we met some people in the Technical pub on the High Street which had a mix of home and away fans. Home fans were generally friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
Brisbane Road is a standard League Two ground. It is a bit of a mismatch of stands with three being fairly modern and the away stand being rather retro! Turnstiles were a tight squeeze for anyone which was a laugh but the away end concourse was fairly spacious so a nice ground. Strange having flats on all four corners of the ground though.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was poor in parts but okay overall with Grimsby winning 3-0. The atmosphere was fantastic in the away section and the home fans to our left tried to get it going. Didn't use any of the facilities but they looked bog standard. Stewards were good and friendly and coped well with a big away following.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A two minute walk back to our car and we were back on the motorway within ten minutes!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Cracking day out, if you haven't been to Leyton Orient I would recommend it highly.
Leyton Orient v Fulham
League Cup First Round
Tuesday 9th August 2016, 7.45pm
David Howells (Fulham fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Matchroom Stadium?
I've been before to watch a League Two game due to a friend supporting Orient, so was never going to resist watching my own team at Brisbane Road. It's a club that I have a s oft spot for, and being close to where I live it is easy to get to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The ground is 5/10 minute walk from the Leyton Tube, which is ideal. No idea about driving and parking, but from the outside it doesn't look like it'd be a stress-free and pleasurable experience unless you're an experienced Orient-er.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we went to the pub called Leyton Technical Pub, which is an old town hall. Is a real nice if not slightly upscale place, serves nice beer, quirky place and a good atmosphere. They didn't seem bothered at all that I was an away fan, and fans mingled and no trouble whatsoever. Last time I went, I went to Birkbeck Tavern, which is the other side of the tube. Much more of a boozer there, definitely more of a 'lads before the footy' kinda vibe, rather than the smooth sophistication of the Technical Pub. Both I would recommend though, and depending on your tastes and crowd, either is well worth a visit.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
The Matchroom is certainly a different stadium, with the presence of residential private flats in each of the corners of the ground. This may sound a bit rubbish but actually isn't that bad whatsoever. All stands are very good standard, including the away end. For a neutral or '92' fan, I would recommend going in the South Stand. Has a great atmosphere from the home fans, and where the more vocal fans seem to be. There's also a bar underneath this stand, which in no way influences my recommendation!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Been twice, watched 9 goals. Orient have lost them both mind, but on the most recent visit I didn't mind at all. Fulham played their youth team which was good to see, went 3-0 up and were cruising only for a late rally to bring it back to 3-2. Good game, and was more than happy to pay £18 for that!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We went to the pub after the match.on both times I've been, but Orient don't have the thousands upon thousands of fans, so it's never going to be gridlock getting away from the game.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Orient is a good day out. It's a bit of a different team, and overall a very nice club. You don't begrudge them any success, and I highly recommend getting down to Brisbane Road.
Leyton Orient v Northampton Town
Football League Two
Saturday 13th February 2016, 3pm
David Oliver (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Matchroom Stadium?
When I am in London my wife and I generally try to find a match to attend. I was pleased to see that Orient were at home as I had not been to their ground before. As Orient are in or around the play-off picture and Northampton currently top I was hoping for an entertaining game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Leyton is the nearest tube station and is about a five minute walk from Brisbane Road. From outside Leyton station you can see the Olympic Park in the distance with the superbly shaped velodrome clearly visible.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We walked through what seemed to be a popular residential area which had benefited from the general resurgence of various parts of East London. Large, well kept terraced housing and a very pleasant park just before you cross the road to the ground. There is plenty of opportunity for food/drink on the busy High Street which had a distinct international flavour to it. The usual food and drink is available at the ground and is very reasonably priced for London.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
We had seats in the South Stand which appears to be the main "home end" despite Orient occupying the stands behind both goals. The Northampton fans took up a section of the stand to our right. Brisbane Road is an interesting stadium, the stand with the section of away fans is quite old and has a nice retro appearance in the signage on the roof. The other Main Stand looks very functional with boxes and offices above the supporters. The South Stand is excellent with a proper bar contained inside it. You have to go up some stairs to gain access to the seats and this elevated position provides a great view even from the first few rows. Interestingly there are residential flats filling in each of the corners of the ground and it was good to see residents on their balconies watching the game.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
From a neutral's point of view it was a good game with quite an unexpected score line at the end. The first half was goalless with in my opinion Orient slightly the better team. However Northampton were superb in the second half and scored 4 times without reply. Quite a few Orient fans around us were having a go at player/manager Kevin Nolan. This seemed a bit unwarranted to me as I thought he still looked a very good player, I assume this was short term frustration at losing 4-0. Although Northampton more than deserved to win in the end it was a harsh score line due to a couple of wonder goals.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A lot of fans had started leaving at 3-0 so it was a quick exit at full time, a stroll up the High Street and back into central London.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was impressed by the ground, it is compact and generated a cracking atmosphere with around 6,500 fans in it. I recall that there was talk some time ago of Orient moving to the Olympic Stadium, I don't think this is still happening and really can't see why they would have wanted to. A good game, lots of talking points and another stadium visited.
Leyton Orient v Exeter City
Football League Two
Saturday 16th January 2016, 3pm
Joseph (Exeter City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Matchroom Stadium?
For me, this was the first time I was going to visit Leyton Orient, so I was looking forward to seeing another ground. Exeter had been on a poor run of form in the league, so it was an opportunity for us to turn things around and get back to winning ways.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to drive and the journey was relatively simple and quick, despite a bit of traffic on the M25 which was to be expected. All in all it probably took about four hours from Exeter, so can't really complain. The ground was easy to find and parking wasn't a problem.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went to the local pub around the corner from the ground called The Coach and Horses. It was a really good atmosphere inside, with plenty of City and Orient fans chatting away. There was also a good bit of banter between the two sets of supporters. It all seemed a very friendly affair and the staff did well considering the amount of fans packed inside the pub.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
The Matchroom Stadium is a nice lower league ground. It’s an all seater but it has still retained a bit of character. We were in a corner of the East Main Stand, which is definitely the oldest and adds to the overall impression of the ground, making it different from modern stadiums. It wasn't a sell-out but nonetheless a good attendance with over 500 fans making the journey from Exeter. The stand over opposite (the West Stand) is obviously their newest and despite being impressive and very functional, its general appearance leaves a lot to be desired. The North and South Stands are just two good seating stands at either end of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Despite conceding in the opening minute, the game was actually really good. We pulled ourselves together and scored three first half goals. In the second half, Orient certainly came back into it and missed two penalties in the last 10 minutes. Luckily though, Exeter ran out 3-1 winners. The stewards were a helpful bunch and seemed relatively relaxed which is always nice. There was a good atmosphere, we sang throughout and our fans made some noise. Orient were okay but obviously not too impressed with their team’s display, which later resulted in the dismissal of their manager. The food was good and seemed reasonably priced for what it was and the facilities were decent and clean.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground took a bit of time due to traffic, although it was certainly not the worst ground I've been too in that respect. As soon as we got out of London it was a straight run home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all a great day out. A good game of football and a good advert for League Two. Both teams at times, were knocking the ball around nicely. Orient are definitely a friendly lot and I would happily go back.
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe United
FA Cup Second Round
Saturday 5th December 2015, 3pm
Rob Dodd (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Brisbane Road football ground?
With only eleven of the current 92 grounds still left to visit, it was a case of when, not if I would be going to Leyton Orient. With a home draw for the O's on a Cup weekend, it was an ideal opportunity to go to the Matchroom Stadium as the first part of a double header in the Capital.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled down from Liverpool by train to Euston and an easy trip, by London Underground, to Leyton. The ground is about eight minutes walk down the road from the tube station; very convenient!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I spoke to a very friendly pair of "Customer Helpers". Once I explained the purpose of my visit, they advised me where I should sit and directed me to the Supporters Club, which was very welcoming for a £1 admission. The home fans were great and a nice touch for me was the photographs of the promotion winning side of 61/62; The Os went up to the old Division 1 with my lot (Liverpool) and that was the season I started going to Anfield.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
It certainly seemed strange to see a ground with blocks of flats in some corners, although no doubt the ground was modernised within a bigger plan! The stand opposite the West Stand was closed off. The Tommy Johnston stand looked a touch quirky and there's nothing wrong with that in these days of concrete edifices. I sat in the West Stand as a neutral, cracking seat for £15.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game suffered due to the conditions as it was very windy. Both teams tried their hearts out but there was little quality on show as they struggled with the wind. It's a long way to go for a goalless draw but neither side deserved to lose. Chances were few and far between but Orient had a gilt edged chance to take the lead towards the end. It was a pity Dean Cox was out injured; he's a class player at this level.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems getting away; back to the Tube and back into Central London in no time at all.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed it. It wasn't the best of games but the effort was there. The fans were friendly and I'd have no reservations about going again!
Personal note: This is my first review but I've gleaned lots of great information from this site in the past. Many thanks!
Leyton Orient v Accrington Stanley
Football League 2
Saturday 31st October 2015, 3pm
Adam Houlden (Accrington Stanley fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Matchroom Stadium?
Another new ground to visit to watch the Stanley. Having seen Orient's ground on television it looked like a nice traditional one with hopefully plenty of atmosphere.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We didn't want to drive into London because of the traffic and the Rugby World Cup Final so we chose to park at Watford Junction and use the overground/underground train. It went very well. One change at Euston and another at Bank Station. The overall journey time was about 1 hour for a reasonably priced off peak day ticket. The ground is about a 15 minute walk from Leyton tube station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a packed lunch before getting on the tube. On arriving at Leyton tube station we got talking to an Orient supporter who was very helpful and took us to the ground. we found some more Orient fans on the tube back and they were also friendly despite of being beaten.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Matchroom Stadium?
Nice traditional ground as hoped for but spoiled by Orients decision to cram 170 Stanley fans in an extremely small section at one side of the ground. No health and safety considerations!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Decent game deservedly won by Stanley.Facilities and stewards fine except for the previously mentioned point about the away section.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Soon away from ground and across London and back to Watford in under two hours.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Enjoyed the different way we travelled to the game .It went very well but perhaps on another visit we would travel to the ground in our car but made better by three more points for the Stanley!
Leyton Orient v Preston North End
League One
Saturday, November 16th 2013, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)
There is a certain added zip to any day when you go to cheer your team on against the league leaders, and this was just such an occasion; you know that there will be extra fans than normal, more atmosphere, and hopefully a cracking match to enjoy too.
The emotions are on the one hand tempered by the realistic notion that you will probably come away empty handed; the league leaders are there on merit of course. Yet you always go hoping for an upset to the form book, maybe a lucky smash-and-grab raid; its the reason why more fans will turn up and for me part of the eternal attraction of league football that no other professional sporting league system can boast, namely that on the day any team can raise its game and challenge the top sides.
From a personal standpoint too, being domiciled in the south-east, this is a "must-do" game and I have many happy, if ever so slightly hazy and inebriated memories of celebrating Preston NE's promotion from the basement division on the pitch at Brisbane Road in 1996.
The stadium itself has been rebuilt on three sides since that happy day and is almost unrecognisable from its earlier guise save for the old East Stand. On the plus side, by remaining at their established home, the ground remains an easily accessible one by public transport , surrounded by pubs/shops/cashpoints/cafes and the like that many of the more modern and somewhat soulless out-of-town stadia lack in abundance.
Hence I commenced my day on the London Overground at West Croydon, changing to the conventional tube at Whitechapel, changing again at Mile End for the last hop to Leyton. Given the unbeaten start in the league that the 'O's had enjoyed, I was somewhat taken aback by the downbeat assessment of the home team's chances by some of the natives before kick-off. Although once again it must be observed that it is so pleasant to be able to wear one's colours as an away fan and happily discuss the game in prospect with home fans before kick-off with total freedom; a far cry from the some of the unpleasantness of decades gone by. Quite what gave some of them though the impression that we were in for a "safe 3 points" seemed starkly at odds with the 'O's home form that stretched back to February since a defeat . . . . It caused me to comment to my companion that some of them should be declared honorary North Enders for their negativity!!!
Thus we wandered down to the ground and without delay entered the old East Stand to choose our seats amongst the wooden variety on offer in the upper tier of the away allocation. As is mentioned elsewhere in this guide, there are pillars to obscure the view, but the whole taste of watching football in a stand of such vintage with its old roof that amplifies the volume of the fans for me is one I'll happily take any day, pillars or not. As the minutes whiled away towards kick-off, that sense of excitement and anticipation slowly rose as the we watched the players performing their warm-up routines and the ground slowly filled up.
Before too long, the atmosphere was crackling as a healthy number of travelling supporters found their voice and started to raise the roof before the match kicked off, a noise that was to continue through half-time and long after the final whistle. Although I had no cause to really speak to any of the stewards on this particular visit; I feel it only fair to mention that on previous visits I have always found the stewarding at Leyton Orient very user-friendly and pro-active in dealing with scenarios such as finding alternative seats so that younger ones can see the action; which adds to the desire to keep returning to watch football at the ground whenever Preston are there. Not all grounds can boast such helpful sensible stewards, believe me
As the match kicked-off, I kept my fingers crossed that we did actually get to see a good contest; and that we tried to win rather than park the proverbial bus across the goal-line in the hope of snatching a hard-earned draw. Preston North End on this day did not disappoint and tried to play good attacking football, being rewarded with a cracking goal towards the climax of the first half which prompted one of the best eruptions of celebration amongst away support that I've experienced for quite a while.
As the contest continued, a real sense of belief seemed to spread through the team and supporters alike that we could actually push on and win this match with more goals, and given the quality of some of the passing moves in the second half, we were unlucky not to extend our advantage. The nerves and excitement of a 1-0 lead continued to the death, as it took a brilliant last ditch tackle from a defender , Bailey Wright, and then an unbelievable point blank save from the keeper to keep the league leaders from securing an equaliser.
And so the final whistle signalled jubilant celebrations amongst the Preston fans, courtesy of the single goal from Garner that secured a very memorable 3 points. I practically floated home; there are few perfect afternoons in football, but when they come, they are simply brilliant, and its why we keep coming back on as many saturdays as we can. I had no voice left, but quite frankly I was too happy and elated to care!!!
Leyton Orient v MK Dons
League One
Saturday, October 12th 2013, 3pm
Russell Bradford (MK Dons fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
The fact that I had a rare Saturday off work, so I went down with my fellow MK Dons fans Andy and his son Matthew as I wanted to see the Dons play.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was relatively straightforward. It took around two hours to get to East London from my home in Leamington Spa. Even though we did get off at Leytonstone Tube Station instead of Leyton Tube Station, but we soon realised our mistake and hopped back on the tube and got off at Leyton. The ground was only 10 minutes walk from the station!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We got a call from a couple of Dons fans who were in the Leyton Orient supporters bar. As you would expect this was mainly home fans but the gentleman on the door let us in for the fair sum of £1. The supports bar is really really impressive; nice decor, Sky Sports and Leyton Orient memorabillia hung on the walls. What set this apart was the fact that real ale and cider was sold. I'm used to drinking commercial larger and cider when I'm at football, so to see this was a welcome and pleasant surprise. As for the home fans in there, some were giving us confused looks as to why we were in the supporters bar, but most were welcoming and gave us some playful banter whilst we were there.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The stadium is a tight, traditional ground where you are close to the pitch. Furthermore, in the away end there was a small section of wooden seats. This is a far cry of the padded luxury I am used to at Stadium:MK and a couple of supporting pillars may have dampened the view, but we got seats on the front row where there was an excellent view of the pitch. It is interest to note the residential flats built in each corner of the ground, as it adds something different. And as I expected, some people where chilling with a beer on their balconies watching the match.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was rather tepid in all fairness. We took the lead through a great strike from Bamford. But it went with the form book in the end as Leyton Orient equalised and then took the lead to win 2-1, which I felt hard done by as there was not much in it. The atmosphere was good and the attendance was over 6,000, which I believe was their biggest attendance of the season. Maybe this was down to it being an international weekend or, just cause the home side are in such good form. Either way it was a noisy match. The stewards kept themselves quiet and didn't really get involved with anything, but the one steward that was by the pitch did look like Orlando Bloom, which made me chuckle and the other one manned his post admirably even though before the game the sprinkler soaked him!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy as getting there a bit of a packed tube from Oxford Circus due to the shops shutting but we got to Marylebone in good time and was back in Leamington by 8pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Really good, not bad at all, as I was led to believe by others before the game. Apart from the result it was worth going to and one place I would happily go back to.
Leyton Orient v Hull City
Capital One Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 7.45pm
Marcos Brown-Garcia (Hull City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to the game as I have not been to Orient before. Although visiting I have visited most league grounds with the Tigers, Brisbane Road/Matchroom Stadium had always evaded me.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was easy as it always is for teams in London. Most grounds are connected by a nearby tube station and Leyton Orient is no different. I parked on the outskirts of London and jumped on the tube. 5 stops later I was there. The nearest station is Leyton and the ground is roughly a 10 minute walk to the ground. You exit the station turn right and walk down the road until you can see a park on the left. Walk through the park and the ground is clearly visible. One the evening in question Hull City fans were in the North stand which was located immediately after leaving the park which was ideal. My understanding is usually away fans are in the East stand so considering I exited the park at the North East corner this route would be ideal regardless. Although I like to travel by tube when walking out of the station you walk over the motorway so the motorway appears to lead right to the ground. The appeared to be lots of street parking although I'm not sure if there is a permit scheme in place.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I ate in London at on Oxfords Street which was only 20 mins away from Leyton Station. As ever in London as long as you plan timings you can eat/drink anywhere as a trip on the tube is easy and carefree. On the high street leaving Leyton station there is a supermarket and numerous takeaways and a pub so if you wish to eat/drink closer you can. I walked to and from the ground surrounded by Leyton Orient fans wearing my colors and there were no problems or comments. The fans seemed friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Upon seeing the ground I was intrigued. The ground seemed to look bigger on the outside than it is on the inside. I only saw behind the East and North stand. Behind the North stand it looked tired and outdated, but I like that as it looks traditional. However when you get into the ground, other than the East stand the ground looks very modern. Both ends are small and the side stands are not particularly big. The ground has a lob sided look as non of the stands are identical. The south stand has flats behind it and people were sat on the balconies watching as they overlook the pitch. The away end in the North end was small but the view was excellent and you are really close to the action. The East stand is old looking and looks tired. The west stand is seating at the bottom then a tall roof which contains what looked like offices or executive boxes. At the top of this stand is the gantry for reporters and camera men. I read a few negative comments about this stand but I like it as it makes the ground seem bigger.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game is the worst I have seen in 23 years of going to watch Hull City home and away. Hull didn't register a shot in the first half but Orient were poor too. It really was awful. Hull City eventually scored and won the tie in extra time. The atmosphere was irritating as the Hull City fans were giving the Orient keeper (Jamie Jones) banter. It was funny at first but after 120 mins of grown men screaming what they thought were funny comments it became very annoying. The stewards were very fussy, they wouldn't let me take pictures with my camera and were nagging to keep my feet off the chair in front which I was resting on. However they did seem friendly. The facilities are basic but tidy and clean.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was easy and was the same walk back to the tube station. After the game the station was much busier and there was a 10 minute wait for the next train. The train was much busier but after each stop this became less and less so. All in all an easy trip back to the car.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The day out was pretty average fare, travel, food, match. The Leyton area itself isn't particularly great but I always enjoy away days in London. The trip was very easy with no holdups but the match was absolutely shocking. It took the shine off the day.
Leyton Orient v Carlisle United
League One
Saturday, March 16th 2013, 3pm
James Prentice (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had been meaning to ‘tick off’ Brisbane Road for a number of years and for some reason it had been evading me, so with a free Saturday in sight I decided to grasp the nettle (so to speak) and book some cheap rail tickets for a trip to the Orient. I have a tenuous link to Carlisle given that my dad was an occasional visitor to Brunton Park (and even went to the odd away game) when he left Scotland for the border city many moons ago, so I thought it might be a good idea to surreptitiously support the Cumbrians (even though I had a ticket for the home end!). Orient’s recent form had been good, and with both teams having an okay-ish League One season I thought I should be in for a good afternoon’s entertainment.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I know an Orient season ticket holder who lives in my home city of Lincoln so decided to travel down with him. Mercifully, East Coast now offer a few trains that go direct to King’s Cross so I was pleased I would be in the capital within two hours rather than having to change at Newark North Gate. Upon arrival in London we made a bee line for the Underground, changing at Liverpool Street and arriving at Leyton Station within around 30 minutes of leaving King’s Cross. As I am an occasional visitor to London I have recently invested in an Oyster card and I would recommend them as a real money saver, plus they help you to avoid the queues at ticket machines (see the Transport for London website for details).
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
After reading up on Brisbane Road on this website, we headed for the Birbeck Tavern, which is a little off the beaten track but no more than ten minutes’ walk from Leyton Station. The pub hasn’t seen a lick of paint in ages but has an attractive little garden and had a nice mix of home and away fans pre-match. It seems to be the main pre-match haunt for visiting supporters and I had an interesting chat with some of the members of the London Carlisle United Supporters’ Club who had all congregated therein. The pub had two real ales on tap (they did have a third but ran out before I got there) and I would recommend Rita’s Special, which is a proper old-fashioned pint – just like things used to be!
I didn’t eat before the game but there are a few outlets along Leyton High Road en route to the ground. Before the game I managed to purchase a copy of the Leyton Orientear, one of the few lower-league fanzines still being printed with so many now only existing online. The tube station is only ten minutes’ walk (maximum) from Brisbane Road and we made our way to the ground at around 2.20pm, cutting through the pretty Coronation Gardens and having a look around and a peek in the club shop before heading through the turnstiles.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I was in the South Stand, behind the goal, and the most noticeable thing is that the seats are raised well above pitch level, which offers an excellent view of the action and is a refreshing change from some of the poor views I’ve had in more recent games. The away fans, who numbered just over 400, were to our left and shared the East Stand with home supporters, by far the oldest structure at the ground. This stand, as many will know, has the club’s name emblazoned on a lovely old gable that apparently used to stretch across much of the stand a few years back before it was shortened for safety reasons.
The North Stand, behind the other goal, is newer than the South Stand and is not raised as high above the pitch. To my left was the West Stand, which isn’t as big as it looks from the outside. The seating area is fairly steep but there can’t be more than 15 rows and much of this very tall structure is taken up with executive areas. I did notice the flats that have been built into the corners of the ground and there were some families getting a free view of the action – I guess that is one of the perks of living next to Brisbane Road! Overall, a decent League 1 ground that has a good mix of tradition and modernity.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
Orient eventually won 4-1, although Carlisle looked the more enterprising side early on. The game turned when the visiting keeper was booked for handling outside of his area. Orient’s resulting free kick couldn’t breach the defensive wall, but they took the lead soon after and scored again on the stroke of half time. Carlisle’s keeper was again in trouble in the second half, seeing red for giving away a penalty, which was converted. Carlisle pulled one back but Orient added a fourth later on through Dean Cox, about whom the home fans sang one of the funniest chants I’ve heard this season but won’t repeat! I grabbed a balti pie before the game, which was fairly standard, and the stewards in the home and away sections seemed fairly anonymous which is always a good sign. Possibly my favourite part of Brisbane Road is the bar they have under the South Stand. Everyone seemed to head there at half time and it seemed far nicer and more comfortable than many I have been to and is far removed from having to sip a pint on a freezing breezeblock concourse as is the case at many grounds nowadays.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We headed out bang-on full time and nipped to a supermarket en route to the underground to grab a couple of cheeky cans for the way home. Whilst the station was busy, it seemed to cope very well with the sudden influx of fans and we got away on the first westbound train. From there, we again changed at Liverpool Street before getting to King’s Cross in good time of the train home.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really couldn’t grumble at my day out – a good ground, a decent game (after watching so many dull ones recently) and a few beers to wash it all down with. Orient might not be the most exciting day out in the capital – personally I preferred my visits to the likes of QPR and Brentford – but it is probably quite underrated so anyone thinking of making the trip should not hesitate, especially if you’re going to go to the Birbeck before and possibly even after the match. Brisbane Road has been tastefully redeveloped over the years and I would prefer to visit somewhere like this over an identikit stadium like Shrewsbury or Scunthorpe any day.
One final point is that I would recommend getting to Brisbane Road sooner rather than later in case they do end up sharing the Olympic Stadium with West Ham, which could soon be subject to a judicial review. I got the feeling that many Orient fans would rather stay at their current home rather than move in with the Hammers.
Leyton Orient v Brentford
League One
Thursday, September 13th 2012, 7.45pm
Toby Maxtone-Smith (Brentford fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Leyton Orient is Brentford’s nearest awayday and this was my first of the season. I had been to Brisbane Road before but a number of years ago as a 12 year-old in the home end, and was eager to get some second impressions of East London’s second club.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The game was on a Thursday night and, as I work near Holborn, the journey was a 15-minute breeze down the Central Line to Leyton station. The ground is about a five-minute walk from the underground station.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy… home fans friendly?
I arrived in the Leyton area at around 6.30pm – enough time for a swift kebab from a local eatery on the High Street. I had already had a drink near Holborn and so, fed and watered, I headed into the ground with about an hour to go until kick-off.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The away fans are given the southern end of the East Stand. The East Stand is the only old stand in the ground and I remember from my previous visit that the stand has ‘Leyton Orient’ and the club crest emblazoned on the middle of the stand, rather like at Fulham. It was a shame to be in this stand mainly because it is very nice to look at. Otherwise the ground is a tidy-looking one. The two ends are relatively small and similar single-tiered, seated stands, although one is slightly raised above ground level. The opposite stand is where the dugouts are located and has to be one of the ugliest in the country. It looks like seating has just been nailed on to the back of an office block. One point of interest is that the corners are filled in with blocks of flats, where local residents can watch the game for free. Whenever a woman comes out of one of the flats nearest the away section, she tends to be met with the predictable array of embarrassing chants.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
Having already eaten I did not purchase anything from the concourses but headed straight into the ground. The away attendance was around the 700 mark, and would have been much larger had the game not been live on Sky. The stewards were relaxed about many fans choosing to stand during the game. The stand is not the best and has four supporting pillars that can be of annoyance. The other problem with this stand are the wooden seats – not a huge issue as I stood for the whole game – but it seems like only the faintest touch is enough to dislodge them.
From a Brentford point of view, the game was infuriating. We dominated throughout but just could not score. Predictably, around 15 minutes from time, Orient took an undeserved lead, which, we learned later, was offside. The atmosphere created by the away fans was extremely good with many of the chants being directed towards Martin Rowlands. For those who do not know, Martin Rowlands is to Brentford as Ashley Cole is to Arsenal. The home fans were really quiet. This could be to do with the lack of a ‘home end’. Most people who sing at football are between the ages of 15 and 35, but from what I saw outside the ground, Orient seem to have very few supporters in this age category.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was no trouble, although a small queue does form at Leyton station after matches. I jumped back on the Central Line, changed at Holborn for the Piccadilly, then at Earl’s Court, from where I caught the District Line back to Fulham Broadway.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of day out:
Despite the frustrating match it was good away-day overall. Being somebody who goes to Scunthorpe and Carlisle, I would never miss an away London derby.