Breyer Group Stadium – Leyton Orient

The ground, which many fans still refer to as its original name of Brisbane Road 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 overhangs 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.

Near to the ground in Coronation Gardens is a statue of former Orient, West Brom and Real Madrid player Laurie Cunningham (see below for photo).

In 2018 Brisbane Road was renamed the Breyer Group Stadium is two year corporate sponsorship deal.

Away supporters are housed in one side of the old Main (East) Stand, at one side of the pitch, towards the 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 basic, but 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 both normally both helpful and relaxed. The age of the stand is also given away by how tight a squeeze it can be for us larger chaps, to get through the turnstiles! The turnstiles open 90 minutes prior to kick off on Saturdays and at 6.30pm for midweek evening fixtures.

Normally Orient is a good place to visit. Generally, it is a welcoming club and with plenty of eating and drinking options near to the ground, along the High Road, plus good transport links, it is a trip that most away fans look forward to.

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 have been taking place though albeit on a much reduced scale to the previously mentioned plans. The latest revamp has seen a new roof on the club’s East Stand with some additional softer benefits to sound and the nearby concourses.

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 talks of note was the noises of an Olympic Stadium merger. As we know, that was a pipe dream.

There is a Supporters Club at the ground that does admit small numbers of visiting supporters at a cost of £1. The supporters club which is located in the new West Stand is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. As you would expect it is very popular with fans. However it is a relatively small club (around a 200 capacity), so if you don’t arrive there early, then you may find that it is already full. For some bigger fixtures, the Club puts together a small Fan Zone area across the road from the Supporters Club at the Score Leisure Centre which contains a licensed bar.

Otherwise, the nearest pub to the ground is the Coach & Horses on Leyton High Road, but this is now for home supporters only. Further along, the High Road towards Leyton Tube Station is the Leyton Technical pub. Housed in the old Leyton Town Hall, it is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has up to eight real ales on offer as well as real ciders. It also serves food. There are also plenty of fast food outlets dotted along the High Road.

John Baumber adds; ‘There is also the Northcote Arms on Grove Green Road. They have Sky television (unlike the Birbeck, see below) and it is only a ten-minute brisk walk from the ground. To find the pub turn right out of the tube station and then right again into Grove Green Road. The pub is at the bottom of the hill by the first main junction of traffic lights.’ The Northcote Arms is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

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, as it is 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. If ever you visit Orient, and you like a decent pint, look this place up. To find this pub, then from the Tube Station turn left and then go left down the stairs at the gap in the railings. At the bottom of the stairs turn left and follow this road to the end. Then turn right and then take the next left into Langthorne Road. The pub is further down on the left’. This pub offers a number of rotating guest beers alongside Rita’s Special. Apparently, this is a Courage Beer named by the pub after a former landlady.

Please note that alcohol is not on sale inside the ground to visiting supporters.

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

Street Parking, although beware of a Residents Only Zone in the streets around the ground, check signposts for any restriction information. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

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.

Thanks to Dean Herbert & Joe Spraggins for providing the directions.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

Home Fans*

West Stand Legends Lounge & Gallery: Adults £30, Over 65’s/Under 18’s £27
West Stand: Adults £20, Over 65’s/Under 18’s £18
The Green Inc East Stand: Adults £20, Over 65’s £18, Under 18’s £7
The Q2W Tommy Johnston Stand: Adults £18, Over 65’s/Under 18’s £16
North Family Stand: Adults £18, Over 65’s £16, Under 18’s £7, Under 11’s £3

Away Fans*

The Green Inc East Stand: Adults £20, Over 65’s £18, Under 18’s £7

* The ticket prices above are for those which are purchased prior to matchday. Tickets bought on the day of the game can cost up to £2 more per adult ticket and £1 extra per concession.

Official Programme: £3

Leyton Orient FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website)

Leyton Orient vs Southend rivalry: Leyton Orient could have bigger derby games than Southend. The reason they sit is because of their league position. As a result, their fiery games are when Southend come to visit the Leyton Orient stadium. It’s understandable too with the clubs just a short car journey apart.

The bigger rivalries we mentioned are with a trio of bigger London clubs namely West Ham, Millwall and Brentford. All three derby games are born out of geography but meetings have been few and far between with Orient much lower down the pyramid.

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the  Level Playing Field website.

Near to the Brisbane Road Ground in Coronation Gardens is a statue of footballer Laurie Cunningham, who was the first black player to play for England at senior level.

Laurie began his career at Leyton Orient in 1974, before moving onto West Bromwich Albion and then Real Madrid. He passed away at the age of 33 following a road accident in Spain in 1989. The plaque below the statue contains the quote ‘If I can get through this maybe it will lead to others getting a fair chance’.Thanks to Alan Price for providing the above photo.

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

2019-2020: 5,504 (League Two)
2017-2018: 4,344 (National League)
2016-2017: 4,663 (League Two)

Official Web Site: www.leytonorient.com

Unofficial Web Site: Fan’s Message Board

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Dave Hollands for providing the photo of the East at Brisbane Road, Leyton Orient.