Low crowds - why?

Tuesday 17 September 2013, Ipswich Town 2 Yeovil Town 1, Championship - Portman Road

Another win, struggled at times but the crowd seem to enjoy the way we are playing- 3 wins out of 4 at home and the crowds are still low, why?

Match day prices are far too high in my opinion - club need to look at the whole of their ticketing policy.

Also a concern that fans getting on the back of Luke Hyam - leave the kid alone, put another great shift in again last night.

Children of the Revolution

Saturday 14 September 2013, Ipswich Town 3 Middlesbrough 1 - Championship, Portman Road

A great win, rain kept off - McGoldrick scoring and Hyam - (child of the revolution) man of the match, roll on Tuesday

Better than England?

Tuesday 10 September 2013, Heybridge Swifts 2 Harlow Town 1, Ryman League North Division, Scraley Road

Not many at Scraley Road, is that because of the England game or because Heybridge can't attract the locals? The England game was on in the club bar but as the Heybridge-Harlow game was more attractive the bar remained empty.

Brilliant ground for such a small crowd - helps to have a scaffolding firm as your main sponsor! The Texco Stadium!

Cup over for one Norfolk team

Saturday 31 August 2013 Swaffham Town 0 Huntingdon Town 2, FA Cup Preliminary Round - Shoemakers Lane

Still August and second FA Cup game already, a large crowd as Swaffham are to of the Thurlow Nunn Division One plus add the fact that BBC Radio 5 are following Swaffham and will continue to follow the winners of this game.

Well the fairy tale did not last as Huntingdon Town were on top from the start of the game and other than for part of the second half stayed on top for most of the game, so it will be Huntingdon that now have to chat to Robbie Savage.

Any sadder sight in football?

Last night I went to see Orient play Hull in the League Cup but as I was arriving early, I thought if I could visit a few other local sporting grounds whilst in East London.

This was a last minute plan but a quick check of the map and I could see the home of Leyton Wingate FC and Leyton Cricket Club. I did not have tome to research much else other than finding out that Leyton Cricket Club had used to be the home of Essex Cricket club and they continued to still visit the ground and play a game a season till the early 70's. But I knew little about Layton Wingate FC - I was in for a shock!!

The Club no longer exists and I found a deserted football ground that is now home to a large marquee, owned by the neighbouring Indian restaurant. the pitch is also a car park but the stands, lights and one gaol plus nets, still survives - how did it happen?

A picture on twitter and a quick chat with the landlady of the 'Hare and Hounds' the former name of Leyton Stadium = told a tale of owners in jail for Fraud, VAT evasion and club mergers, moves and court cases over the name of the club.

It seems the last game was played in the 2009 and the club was thrown out of the league in January 2010 - Leyton FC - the second oldest football club in London.

It is hard for non league clubs in London, in particular north of the river and it is surprising that Ilford FC survive, at least Clapton FC are putting a fight up! More on the sad end of Leyton FC can be found here

It seems the Indian restaurant seem to have the ground on a year by year lease but are not allowed to play sport on the pitch! Only a long goal kick from here is the Olympic Park - but come to Lea Bridge Road and you will see no Olympic legacy.

If you get a chance take a look before it decays further - the future? would guess that some developer has his eyes on the site.

Further down the road at Leyton Cricket Ground, no longer a home fit for Essex CC but a brilliant pavilion, listed and so the residents of Leyton can still use this facility- a far different story to what is happening up the Lea Bridge Road.

Leyton Cricket Ground

Hull - not very good

Tuesday 27 August 2013, Leyton Orient 0 Hull City 1 (after extra time), League Cup Round 2 - Brisbane Road

A great little stadium, top atmosphere and they have a decent team to cheer- whilst on the other side Hull City had their '2nd XI' out- and were lucky not to be out of the cup by the end of the match. They were outplayed and out classed for most of the match - Orient are worth a flutter for promotion and coming up as champions.

A long season?

Saturday 24 August 2013, Ipswich Town 1 Leeds United 2, Championship - Portman Road

Hope I am wrong - but could be a long season!