Stadium: The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road, Leyton, E10 5NF

Telephone: 0871 310 1881

Club Colours: Red White and Black

Nickname: The O’s

Andy Edwards has moved steadily through the ranks at Brisbane Road, filling the roles of Youth Team manager, Academy director, assistant manager, caretaker manager and, finally, taking the reins in October 2016. 

He spent his playing career as a centre half, notably with Southend United and Peterborough United.

The ground is situated off the Leyton High Road and the journey is very stop and start from whichever direction you travel. 

Yet from the North Circular Road (A406) by turning right at what is traditionally known as the Crooked Billet Roundabout it is pretty straight forward. 

From the A406, having passed under and over the Great Cambridge roundabout and Silver Street, turn south onto the A112 Chingford Road signposted Walthamstow and Leyton.  

Go straight over at the A503 junction where the road becomes Hoe Street. 

Pass Walthamstow Central Station and carry straight on into Leyton High Road passing Leyton Midland Road Station. 

After another mile (still A112) the ground is accessible from side roads on your right. 

Please note all these access roads are all very “British”, Balmoral, Windsor, Buckingham etc. Buses 58, 69, 97 and 158 run along Leyton High Road.

There is only street parking available in the immediate vicinity and even this is fairly restricted.

The nearest tube station is Leyton (about a 1/2 of a mile away) which is on the Central Line (Red). Out of the station and turn right down Leyton High Road. On the other side of the road you will eventually find Coronation Gardens on your left and the floodlights of the ground can be clearly seen behind them. 

Take the next left into Buckingham Road for the ground.

The social club allows visiting fans in reasonable numbers and a charge of £1.00 is made on entry. 

It can be found behind the new West Stand on Oliver Road. The club recommends the Coach & Horses on Leyton High Road or the Northcote on Grove Green Road. 

 

The ground has had a major facelift in the last decade and since our first visit in the League in September 1993 the only part still basically unaltered is the main East Stand. 

It was allegedly purchased from Mitcham Greyhound Stadium, was erected in 1956 and holds around 3,500. 

Notice the splendid centre roof gable which allegedly once held the dog track photo finish equipment. We will be allocated a section in this stand for the afternoon. 

To its left is the Tommy Johnson South Stand which seats around 1,400 and this replaced the original open away terrace. 

Opposite the main stand is the West Stand. It replaced the original stand which started life was a popular covered terrace which was made all-seated in the 1980s. 

The new structure was built in September 2006. It is as it appears, an office block flanked by residential apartments with a skirt of seating for 2,800. It offers fantastic corporate facilities but is a perfect example of us saying goodbye to “football ground character” as we welcome in efficiency with commerce.  

The North Stand, which resembles the Tommy Johnson Stand, completes the picture.

East Stand: Adults £24 Concessions £16

Our last visit was in August 2015 when Bees Legend Ian Hendon was managing Orient and engineered a 2-0 victory for the O’s. 

On the brighter side of life two Division Three away games stand out – firstly a fantastic 3-3 draw in 1996, the Bees goals coming from Sean Devine (2) and Lee Hodges, and secondly the following year when a very rare Linvoy Primus goal won it for Barnet in front of over 4,000 spectators. 

However, the best is left to last as is customary. A majestic two-goal Dougie Freedman performance and two quality finishes by Mark Cooper don’t even get close to telling the whole story of the 1994 first round 1st leg Coca Cola Cup tie at Underhill, it ranks as one of the greatest ever performances by a Barnet team in my opinion.

A lovely jubbly cockney cavalcade for your autograph books! Jonathan Ross, Graham Gooch, Fanny Craddock, Alfred Hitchcock, David Bailey and Angela Lansbury all are associated with the area. 

Comedian Bob Mills and musician Andrew Lloyd Webber are regular visitors to the ground as is one my best and nicest customers, Nick Sonenfeld and his family.