Football Ground Guide: Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road, Leyton Orient FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments Rear Of The West Stand (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? The West & North Stands (photo) Where To Drink? South Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Tube East Stand (photo) Admission Prices Programme Price Local Rivals Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return to the Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
The ground has seen a lot of re-development in recent years, with the construction of three new stands. Finance for this has chiefly come from the proceeds of selling part of the Brisbane Road site to a property developer. In this ground breaking development, the corners of the ground have been filled with blocks of residential apartments, which certainly gives the stadium a unique look. Some other clubs are looking at the scheme with interest and I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar take place at another league ground at some point in the future. 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 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. In fact to be honest it looks more like an office block that has some seats installed on a large viewing gallery, rather than a football stand. It also has some corporate hospitality areas, which look a little precarious, as the outside seating area of these overhang the lower tier. If you carry on with the office theme, then you can almost imagine these being used by the window cleaners to clean the office windows. At the very top of the stand is a fair sized viewing gallery for television cameras and press and the roof of the stand contains a lot of perspex panels to allow more light to reach the pitch. At the North End is the ground is the most recent addition to the stadium. The 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. The ground also has a set of four modern looking floodlight pylons. Top Of Page
Future Developments
The Club have expressed an interest to move to the proposed Olympic Stadium, which will be built for London to host the Olympics in 2012. The stadium which will be built in Stratford in East London, will after the games have finished, have its capacity reduced from 80,000 to 25,000. Whether this possible move for Orient will materialise, remains to be seen. Top Of Page
Rear Of West Stand
Thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the photos for this page. Top Of Page
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Currently away supporters are housed in one side (towards the South End) of the Main Stand, where there are a couple of supporting pillars that may impede your view. Around 1,000 fans can be accommodated in this area. I have been to Orient a number of times and have always been impressed by the state of the pitch. Even in January it is immaculate and at the start of the season you could almost play snooker on it! The Shire Foods Chicken Balti Pie (Ł2) is available inside. Mick Hubbard adds; 'Brisbane Road (aka the Matchroom Stadium) is a fairly good ground these days. However the newish West Stand, must be one of the ugliest in the league. It looks attractive from outside the ground, but the inside is a bit of a carbuncle. The lower tier is normal seating but these sit beneath a bland set of offices and hospitality boxes. Overall, I found Orient to be a friendly place, and a good place to watch a game. With the tube station being nearby, and only a few stops from the City, it is easy to access. We got on a tube after the game in no time at all. A small queue does form from the direction of the ground, but we walked past this and simply walked into the station from the other side'. Top Of Page
The West & North Stands
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Where To Drink?
There is a supporters club at the ground that does admit visiting supporters at a cost of Ł1. The supporters club which is located in the West Stand is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. However, it can get uncomfortably full of people. Otherwise the nearest pub to the ground is the Coach & Horses. To get there take a right out of Leyton station and walk down for about half-a-mile. It is on your left, within sight of the floodlights. The Three Blackbirds has been recommended to me and that is a bit further up Leyton High Road, on the right. Stephen Harris informs me; 'the best pub near to the ground is the Birkbeck Tavern in Langthorne Road, behind the tube station'. Mick Hubbard adds; 'Arriving at Leyton underground station, we headed for the Birkbeck Tavern, a place you would not chance upon, it being in a residential area around the back of the station. This place was a throwback, a real old-fashioned boozer. It hadn’t seen a lick on paint for about 30 years I reckon. Decor and soft furnishings were, shall we say, functional. Four real ales were on offer, a fact I only found out after squeezing my way to the bar and ordering the only one in view to me which was called Rita’s Special. I’ve since researched this ale and found that it’s a beer made specially for the pub by Courage, is the only regular beer on offer (the other three are rotating guest beers) and is named after one of the barmaids. If ever you visit Orient, and you like a decent pint, look this place up. From the Tube Station, turn right, and then right over an overpass that leads into the residential area behind the tube station'. See a map of its location on the Streetmap website'. Top Of Page
South Stand
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Thanks to O-Net for the following directions: Approaching London you will at some point hit the M25. Use this to get to the M11 (unless you're coming from Cambridge, in which case you'll already be on it) take the southbound carriageway for about 6 miles and take the right fork signposted for the North Circular. 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. Street Parking. For a map showing the location of the ground and the surrounding area click here to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Tube
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. Thanks to Dean Herbert & Joe Spraggins for providing the directions. Top Of Page
East Stand
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Admission; Prices
Home Fans: West Stand: Adults Ł22 Concessions Ł14 Tommy Johnston Stand: Adults Ł20 Concessions Ł13 East Stand: Adults Ł20 Concessions Ł13 North Family Stand: Adults Ł20, Concessions Ł13, Under 16's Ł5, Under 11's (when accompanied by an adult) Free. Away Fans: East Stand: Adults Ł20 Concessions Ł13 Concessions apply to Over 65's, Under 16's, students and unemployed (proof of status must be produced). Top Of Page
Programme Price
Official Programme: Ł3 Top Of Page
Local Rivals
West Ham United and from further a field, Brighton, Boston & Southend. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the Leyton Orient fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
34,345 v West Ham United, FA Cup 4th Round, January 25th, 1964. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 9,100 v Tottenham Hotspur, Friendly, August 1st 2007. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 4,692 (League One) 2007-2008: 5,210 (League One) 2006-2007: 4,828 (League One) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of The Matchroom Stadium
Visited the Matchroom Stadium recently as an away fan or general football supporter? Then submit your own review of the ground and general day out click here. Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Leyton Orient & general London page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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