'O' not again...

Leyton Orient v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday February 25th 2006, 3pm

Orient are perhaps this season's surprise team in League Two, with a serious push for the play-offs.

DAFTS ON TOUR: At Brisbane Road in the recent past

We have such a dreadful record here, that most Darlo fans would settle for a point rather than make the trip in hope. Martin Ling's team also took the scalp of Premiership neighbours Fulham in the FA Cup. So, why do DAFTS keep turning out in their droves for this ultimately futile foray into East London? Yes it's the promise of decent beer close at hand.

Ling brought in Cambridge winger Shane Tudor, who should recover from injury, along with Jabo Ibehre. But midfielder Craig Easton is suspended. Other players to look out for include Lee Steele,2004-2005 player of the season, always with a decent goal return and a presence up front. Teenager Gabe Zakuani (pictured above) is also making an impression, since his introduction in the centre of defence and becoming a fixture.

Man to watch Gary Alexander Former Hull striker, who bagged nine goals last season and is already well into double figures. There, that's put the curse on him.

Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered website.

There's been a major ground redevelopment at the Matchroom Stadium in the West Stand and North Terrace, which will include flats to bring in much needed revenue. Capacity is restricted to 5,000 - not that this should be a worry. For the third season, the O's have pegged prices at £16 with concessions £10. There are 592 seats available for away supporters in the north wing of the East Stand. There are 13 disabled spaces for away fans, but check with the club due to redevelopment work.

Leyton Orient FC: Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Rd, Leyton, London E10 5NE Tel: 020 8926 1111 History: Formed in 1881 by college cricket club, the "Orient" taken from a player who worked for a shipping company of same name. For 50 years known as Clapton Orient and for a period just as Orient. Played in the old First Division in early 1960s. Record Attendance: 34,345 v West Ham Utd, FA Cup, 25 January 1964 Capacity: 7,872 Last season: 11th Honours: Div 3 champions 1969/70, Div 3S champions 1955/56 Record victory: 8-0 v Crystal Palace, Div 3S 12 Nov 1955 Defeat: 0-8 v Aston Villa, FA Cup, 30 January 1929 Nickname: The O's. Colours: Red Manager: Martin Ling Chairman: Barry Hearn Players in: Glynn Garner (Bury), Shane Tudor (Cambridge), Joey Keith (Colchester) Players out: Lee Harrison, Mark Peters, Tom Youngs (released) Famous fans/players/connections: Bob Mills (fan), Julian Lloyd Webber (fan). Click for Streetmap of ground

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From North: Exit M25 at junction 27 and follow signs to London (NE), M11 onto the M11 south. After 7m where the road divides, bear right (s/p A406 N. Circ. Rd West, London N and W) onto the North Circular Road. Keep in left hand lanes and take first exit after 0.6m (s/p Walthamstow and City A104, then Whipps Cross A104, West End (A503)). At roundabout turn left (s/p Whipps Cross, Bakers Arms, Walthamstow A503) into Woodford New Road A104. At next roundabout (Whipps Cross) after 1.2m, take 2nd exit (s/p A104 Bakers Arms, Leyton) and follow road round to left, towards BP station, into Lea Bridge Road. After 0.5m, just after Esso station, turn left at lights (s/p Leyton, Stratford, then Leyton Leisure Lagoon) into Leyton Green Road. Filter left after 0.3m and turn left at T-junction into Leyton High Rd. After 1.2m ground down sidestreets on right. Parking: NB: The South Stand car park is for club officials and invited guests only. There is no car parking facility for fans except local street parking.

Trains: Sugg trains: Darlington 09.02-arr King's Cross 11.37, then Tube (Northern Line) to Bank and Central Line to Leyton. Duration: c3hrs 50 mins. Return: Leyton Tube-King's Cross, then 18.35-arr Darlington 21.03, Duration: 3hr 15 mins. Tube: Nearest Tube: Leyton (Central Line, Zone 3) so best to get a three-zone travel card from King's Cross (zone 1), Metropolitan Line or Hammersmith & City Line (all use the same platform) towards Liverpool Street ( four stops) then take the Central Line and take any eastbound train ( trains normally marked as being for Epping, Hainault or Newbury Park). It's another four stops from Liverpool Street to Leyton and the total journey time is around 30 minutes. Once at Leyton tube, exit and turn right down the hill and follow the High Rd to Coronation Gardens on your left. Turn down Buckingham Rd after the park and the ground is in front of you, with away entrance on the right. NB: If staying or travelling from west London, beware of some Tube disruption on the District Line this weekend, west of Earl's Court due to engineering works.

Millennium Cars 020 8558 7171 Orient Car Service 020 8556 1010 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach 8am, £23.50. Contact: 01325 243911. See Supporters' Club website for more details.

Local overground trains from Liverpool Street stop at Stratford. Change here for the Central Line - one stop east to Leyton. From Leyton Midland Rd, turn left towards Leyton and continue down the High Road past Leyton County Cricket Ground until you reach Windsor Rd - turn down this road and the ground is in front of you. Bus: Nos. 58, 69, 97 and 158 run along Leyton High Road.

Name up in lights at Piccadilly Circus. Photo: Gerry Smith.

It's That London, there's all the capital's delights to the west of Leyton and its environs to explore.

As well as the delights of the capital in inner London to explore if you make a day of it, there are enough decent pubs near the ground to make this a fairly pleasurable trip.

Real ale/Near the stadium Birbeck Tavern Langthorne Rd A fairly ordinary-looking back street boozer (pictured left), but winner of East London Pub of the Year in previous years and still very away-fan friendly. A regular DAFTS favourite, which usually has three guest beers and basic rolls and sandwiches in the large lounge. Nice beer garden too, if not recommended in January. OK for kids. Turn left out of Leyton tube - first left at Calderon Road - walk to end of road and then left to Langthorne Road. Also the HQ of the Leyton Orient Supporters' Trust (LOFT). Less than 10 mins walk. DAFTS recommended Click for map .

Other local pubs William IV, 816 High Road. Recommended if you have a bit of time since it is a long-ish walk (better on the bus) to the end of the High Road (go right as you exit the tube) - also takes you away from the ground. Free house with it's own brewery. Busy, cosmopolitan. Hanging baskets on the outside, darts and pool plus Sky on a big screen indoors. Open Tuesday 11-3 (and Saturday's 11-11). Brews East London Mild, Sweet William, William the Conqueror and Ginger Beer. DAFTS recommended Click for map Hot House (formerly Lion and Key), 475 High Road A club but has a house bar for 'normal' drinking. Spacious plus room outside. No info on beers. Again, very close to the ground. There's also The Alma 50 Church Rd, but there's little information on the beers. For further details, see the following site that also covers other East London pubs. Ted Blair (DAFTS East London)

Near/at the stadium Coach & Horses, 391 High Road (pictured right). Basic boozer, very close to the ground (two mins walk). It's very busy on match days - children and away fans welcome. Beers average (little or no real ale). Orient Supporters Club, Brisbane Rd, at ground MEMBERS ONLY: Winner of East London Club of the Year on four occasions for the well-kept real ales. There is also a real ale festival on at the club this weekend with a choice of 40 beers. Part of the main stand on Brisbane Road. Oliver Twist, 90 Church Road Another basic boozer - some real ale but not used for quite a while. At the opposite side of the ground from the away end. Click for map

Leyton High Road is not overflowing with great eateries but there are a couple of greasy spoon cafes and the odd takeway, including a KFC in the High Road. In the ground, Ted Blair (DAFTS East London) recommends the chicken balti pies. The burgers had a bad reputation years ago - voted worst in the league - but have improved somewhat (not difficult). There's a kiosk at the back of the stand, although service was a bit slow last time.

If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map
Hotels/B&Bs E London Advtsr Tranport for London

Surfing there...

There's been an improvement in the official website compared to the old version, with lots of updated information. While there is the Brisbane Rd.com, which is better since getting rid of the annoying red squares, which did their best to deprive you of any peripheral vision. The best is the LOFC Online unofficial site.

Next away match:
Rochdale (Saturday March 4)

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.

© DAFTS 2005