Off we go again - Brisbane Road on Saturday

Leyton Orient v Hereford United
Saturday 9th August 2008 Kick off 3.00 pm.
Football League 1
Matchroom Stadium
Brisbane Road
Leyton
E10 5NE
Phone 0871 310 1881

The O's started life back in 1881 as Glyn Cricket and Football Club, later changing to Eagle FC and then to Orient FC (apparently after the shipping company of the same name). They have also performed as Clapton Orient, Leyton Orient, Orient and back to Leyton Orient. Apart from a brief (one season) excursion into the old Division 1 in the early sixties, they have spent most of their life in the lower leagues. Financial difficulties in the nineties resulted in the PFA having to step in to pay the players' wages and there was a real possibility of them going "in off the black" before sports entrepreneur Barry Hearn stepped in to steady the ship.

Their Brisbane Road ground (now The Matchroom Stadium) has seen the construction of three new stands in recent years. Visiting fans are normally house in the south wing of The East Stand with space for 1459 supporters.

Admission: Adults £20, Concessions £13 (Over 65, Under 16's, and students with valid ID).

Coaches: HUISA departs Legends at 9.00 am (Ledbury 9.20) £15. Coach Full. HUMADS departs Malvern (Coach depot) 8.45, Ledbury Market Hall 9.00, Legends 9.30. Adults £15, OAP and 14-16 £10, U14 free with full paying adult. 01684 572945
FUNBUS Departs Legends 9.00 am £15 Contact Young Ben 07812 144831.

Directions: The recommended route is to take the M11 from M25 (junction 27) following the southbound carriageway (sign London NE). After about 6 miles, take the right fork onto the north circular (A406 West). At the bottom of the flyover where the roads merge, move into the left-hand lane and turn left at the roundabout on to the A104. After about 1 mile at the next roundabout take the right exit - still the A104 (a landmark here is the quaintly-decorated Lamb's Cafe). Half a mile further on, turn left into Leyton Green Road (signposted to Leyton and Stratford), and left again into a short slip-road past the bus garage entrance and left into Leyton High Road - you'll see the Leyton Leisure Lagoon opposite as you wait to make the turn. Continue until you see the floodlights and then find a side turning to park in the back-streets. Postcode E10 5NE. Street Parking. The trip involves a journey of between 160 and 170 miles depending on route and you should allow 4 hours.

Train: The nearest tube station is Leyton (about a 1/4 of a mile away), which is on the Central Line. From Paddington, take the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus then the Central line to Leyton. 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.

Alehouses: The Birkbeck Tavern is in Langthorne Road behind the Tube Station and serves a decent choice of real ales along with the usual fizzy alternatives. The Coach and Horses in Leyton High Road is often used by visiting fans and has a couple of Sky big screens, not posh from the outside but a "proper" boozer. Turning off The High Road, you will find The Northcote at the end of Warren Road. Once again, this is a more than decent smaller pub with big screens and good beer. For Wetherspoons fans (you know who you are), The Drum on Lea Bridge Road is the nearest with The Walnut Tree in Leytonstone about a mile and a half away. Finally, it's not often I’m able to say that a Supporters Club is well worth a visit, but this is an exception. The Leyton Club is located in The West Stand and boasts as many as SIX real ales. Prices are generally cheaper than the surrounding Pubs.

Be there to cheer The Bulls on in their opening game of the season.

---