Even the Ref could not ruin a good game

Tuesday 13 August 2019, Cockfosters 3 Ilford 3 - Chalk Lane, Essex Senior League

Some strange refereeing, that even his assistants did not understand but even that could not ruin a good game of football, six goals, plenty of other attempts and both teams willing to try and pass the ball, well worth the drive south.

Plus a very quaint ground, 5 minutes from a London Tube Station, sound of busy roads but the ground is tree lined, with a bowls club one side ( with a match being played) and on the other side a cricket ground (with a match being played ) and in the middle of the two a cracking football game, you just have to love early season, late Summer football.

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

Watching from the Long Jump end!

Saturday 26th March 2011 - Ilford FC 2 Brentwood 0, Ryman League Division One North - Cricklefield Stadium



Much talk recently about watching football from an Athletics stadium, well if West Ham fans want to get an idea how it will feel when they move to the Olympic Stadium they should get along to another club in East London - Ilford FC.

Ilford FC play at the Ilford Sports Club - Cricklefield Stadium, and Yes it is an athletics ground, but only 6 lanes, so not as far from the action as you are at places like Brighton.

With no Ipswich game this weekend, I went along to watch them play local rivals Brentwood, and they got a much needed win against a team far higher up the league.

I was met at the turnstile by a man in shorts 9it was nor warm) only to find out later that he was the bloke who did everything- not just the turnstile and the programmes. a crowd of about 50 watched from distance, not so bad from the side but from behind the long jump pit, it did seem like you were miles from the play. But for all that it was a god afternoon out, with both teams trying to pass the ball on a very poor pitch.

So you Hammers fans, get along to Ilford - they need your support, oh and the bloke in the shorts - the only bloke in the world with an Ilford FC tattoo on his leg?



The view from the long jump pit



A stand for one?



Would the player in Lane 6!