Matchday 91 was our penultimate game in League One and one that required an early start to the day, which meant we were to board the only direct train from Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone, departing at 08:19. This service is operated by Chiltern Railways, and past experience suggested it would be a busy train, which proved to be the case. I gave up my seat to an elderly lady traveling with her daughter and disabled granddaughter who boarded at Warwick Parkway. The Train Manager, Robin, did an amazing job with constant announcements asking passengers to move through the train and informing them of a relief train at Banbury to help with passenger loadings. This particular family decided to transfer, allowing me to sit down from Banbury, which was a huge relief given my current hernia situation and a recently bad back. Despite the train still being relatively busy, we arrived in London three minutes early.
We then took a short stroll to Baker Street, where we boarded a tube towards Leytonstone via Oxford Circus, having pre-planned to visit another Wetherspoon pub. In Leytonstone, we reached The Walnut Tree, my 61st Wetherspoon visit. Unlike some of the larger Wetherspoons pubs we’ve been to, this one was relatively small, which made it feel much busier. With most of the decent tables already taken, we had to settle for a high table with stools. While not the most comfortable seating, it did give us a good vantage point to take in the lively atmosphere. Despite the crowd, service was quick, and the pub had a cozy charm to it. We enjoyed a couple of drinks before setting off at 12:50 for our 30-minute walk towards the stadium.
I had prearranged to meet a member of Leyton Orient’s staff between 13:00 and 13:30. I contacted them beforehand to see if anything could be done to make our visit memorable, and George, the Head of Media and Communications, kindly arranged for us to go pitchside for photos before kick-off.
We headed straight to the club shop, purchasing our matchday scarf at a reasonable £12.99 and a programme for £3.50, before contacting George to confirm our arrival. He met us and took us straight into the ground and onto the pitch, where we met the club’s official photographer before having some photos taken. Liam was in absolute awe of being on the pitch—such a fantastic gesture from the club.
As we were collecting our belongings near the dugout, a lady named Rachel, the mascot coordinator, began speaking to Liam. To our amazement, she offered us the opportunity to go into the team’s dressing room, where Liam could get photos and signatures with the players—WOW! This was an incredible gesture and something we had never experienced before. Being in the dressing room while the players were getting ready was surreal—music playing, stretching, and the strong scent of deep heat filling the air. Liam managed to get 16 signatures while I, despite feeling slightly awkward, took some photos of him with a couple of players. Every player was friendly and accommodating, making Liam feel truly special.
Both Rachel and George made us feel incredibly welcome. Alongside our experiences at Sutton and Charlton, this visit will go down as one of the most memorable of our challenge. Leyton Orient has certainly earned a special place in our hearts. Thank you to everyone who made it so special.
Not only did George and Rachel enhance our visit, but we also had a fantastic time chatting with two stewards at our turnstiles—one a Liverpool fan and the other an Arsenal fan. The friendly banter made it clear that Leyton Orient employs some truly fantastic staff—well done to the O’s!
Once inside, we used the facilities before heading to our seats. The stadium was impressive, featuring four similar stands, and in each corner were apartments with balconies, where several supporters enjoyed the match from a unique vantage point.
We had great seats near the halfway line, providing an excellent view. The atmosphere was vibrant, and possession was evenly split between both teams. However, Leyton Orient created more goal-scoring opportunities and found the net in both halves, securing a well-earned 2-0 victory over Reading.
One of the stadium’s standout features was the unique small stand known as the “Papa Johns Third Dugout,” positioned next to a corner flag and accommodating up to eight people. Fans in this section were served pizza at halftime—a fantastic idea! I would highly recommend checking it out; more details can be found by searching “Leyton Orient – Papa Johns Third Dugout.”
We left in the 85th minute, used the toilets, and made our way to Leyton Tube Station for our return journey to London Marylebone via Oxford Circus. The first tube arrived already packed, so we opted to wait for the next one, which arrived two minutes later. Though still busy, we managed to board comfortably and arrived at Marylebone with 20 minutes to spare before our train home. We grabbed some hot drinks from Greggs to take onboard the 18:02 train. Fortunately, we found seats without issue. The Train Manager, Matt, did a great job, and we arrived back in Stourbridge on time before heading home.
This marked the end of Matchday 91—another unforgettable experience. A huge thank you to George, Rachel, and everyone at Leyton Orient for making it so special.
Five Facts About Leyton Orient FC:
- Oldest Football League Club in London – Founded in 1881, Leyton Orient is the oldest professional football club in London still playing in the English Football League.
- Brisbane Road Unique Apartments – The club’s stadium, Brisbane Road, has residential apartments built into each corner, offering some fans the ability to watch matches from their balconies.
- Connections to World War I – Leyton Orient was the first English club to volunteer en masse for military service during World War I, with many players and staff joining the Football Battalion.
- Formerly Known as Clapton Orient – Before becoming Leyton Orient in 1946, the club was originally called Clapton Orient and moved to Leyton in 1937.
- Famous Alumni – Former England international Laurie Cunningham, one of the first black players to represent England at the senior level, started his career at Leyton Orient.