Post by bbcgull on Jan 3, 2009 2:47:07 GMT
I have touched on this before in my 'What Stat Comin' Over The Hill' series. It certainly deserves a mention in the Lost League Grounds Thread...
Wembley Stadium : Clapton Orient (Now Leyton Orient)
When Clapton (Leyton) Orient moved to the large but rather bleak Lea Bridge Speedway Stadium. They managed to take with them a few fittings from Millsfield Road, but soon encountered problems. After beating Torquay United at Lea Bridge in one of their first gams there in 1930~31, complaints were made by Torquay that the perimeter fences were too close to the touchlines. The Leauge ordered Orient to lay extra turf within a fortnight, since the lines could not be moved inwards as the pitch was already at minimum width. The speedway company refused to sanction this alteration, so Orient had to make hurried arrangements to find another venue for their home games. Neighbours Leyton F.C. and Walthamstow Avenue were approached unsuccessfully, then incredibly, Wembley Stadium agreed to host Orient's next fixture vs. Brentford. Wembley's officials had already been considering leasing the stadium to a League club in order to increase its usage, and were therefore pleasantly surprised when a crowd of 10.300 watced orient's 3-0 win on 22. November 1930. (Although Wembley is a long way from Clapton, it is very near Brentford).
I knew this from a very strange source. When i used to read Roy Of The Rovers, after a landslide at Mel Park (!!!?) Melchester Rovers ended up playing their League games at Wembley Stadium... and it was mentioned that Torquay United were the cause last time!!...
...Of course the Play Off Finals were held there from the end of the 99/2000 season in essence you could argue that was also League games in a way.
...and just an additional piece regarding Leyton Orient and the 2012 Olympic Stadium pulled from wiki...It is unknown what effect London gaining the 2012 Olympics will have on Leyton Orient's long-term stadium development, given the amount of sports stadia construction that will take place in East London. Orient has lodged an interest in moving into the main Stratford Olympic Stadium, which would have a capacity of about 25,000 after the Games. Leyton Orient remains the most likely football club to move into the stadium now that other clubs - in particular West Ham - bidding to move in have dropped out of the running. Also, there are concerns among supporters about the presence of a running track around the pitch, not to mention the financial implication of moving in
Wembley Stadium : Clapton Orient (Now Leyton Orient)
When Clapton (Leyton) Orient moved to the large but rather bleak Lea Bridge Speedway Stadium. They managed to take with them a few fittings from Millsfield Road, but soon encountered problems. After beating Torquay United at Lea Bridge in one of their first gams there in 1930~31, complaints were made by Torquay that the perimeter fences were too close to the touchlines. The Leauge ordered Orient to lay extra turf within a fortnight, since the lines could not be moved inwards as the pitch was already at minimum width. The speedway company refused to sanction this alteration, so Orient had to make hurried arrangements to find another venue for their home games. Neighbours Leyton F.C. and Walthamstow Avenue were approached unsuccessfully, then incredibly, Wembley Stadium agreed to host Orient's next fixture vs. Brentford. Wembley's officials had already been considering leasing the stadium to a League club in order to increase its usage, and were therefore pleasantly surprised when a crowd of 10.300 watced orient's 3-0 win on 22. November 1930. (Although Wembley is a long way from Clapton, it is very near Brentford).
I knew this from a very strange source. When i used to read Roy Of The Rovers, after a landslide at Mel Park (!!!?) Melchester Rovers ended up playing their League games at Wembley Stadium... and it was mentioned that Torquay United were the cause last time!!...
...Of course the Play Off Finals were held there from the end of the 99/2000 season in essence you could argue that was also League games in a way.
...and just an additional piece regarding Leyton Orient and the 2012 Olympic Stadium pulled from wiki...It is unknown what effect London gaining the 2012 Olympics will have on Leyton Orient's long-term stadium development, given the amount of sports stadia construction that will take place in East London. Orient has lodged an interest in moving into the main Stratford Olympic Stadium, which would have a capacity of about 25,000 after the Games. Leyton Orient remains the most likely football club to move into the stadium now that other clubs - in particular West Ham - bidding to move in have dropped out of the running. Also, there are concerns among supporters about the presence of a running track around the pitch, not to mention the financial implication of moving in
