Brisbane Road: Leyton Orient
By Chris Eason from London (Brisbane Road) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Known to Orient fans as Brisbane Road, the stadium has been called a few different names over the years due to sponsorships. Currently, that sponsor is Gaughan Group, and will remain so until the end of 2026 at least.
The home of Leyton Orient opened in 1937 and has been their ground ever since. As well as hosting Leyton Orient’s games, Brisbane Road has also welcomed Tottenham Hotspur’s reserves side regularly, holding the final of the NextGen series during it’s inaugural season in 2012.
The stadium’s last sponsor before the Gaughan Group was the Breyer Group, the company started by lifelong O’s fan, Fred Breyer. Before that it was officially named the Leyton Stadium and at one point it was also known as Osborne Road, but to Leyton Orient supporters it will only ever be called Brisbane Road after the street it runs alongside of.
Stats
| Brisbane Road Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1937 |
| Capacity | 9271 |
| Average Attendance | 8116 |
| Record Attendance | 34345 (Leyton Orient v West Ham (1964)) |
| Pitch Size | 105 x 73 (7665) |
| Nickname | Brisbane Road |
| Former Name | Brisbane Road, Leyton Stadium |
| Owner | Waltham Forest Council |
| Sponsor | Gaughan Group |
| Clubs Hosted | Leyton Orient, Tottenham Hotspur Reserves |
| First Fixture | Leyton Orient v Cardiff City (28/08/1937) |
| Leyton Orient Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1881 |
| Nickname | The O's, Orient |
| Club Mascot | Theo the Wyvern |
| Rivals | Southend United, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Cambridge United |
| Previous Stadiums | Glyn Road, Whittle's Athletic Ground, Millfields Road, Lea Bridge Road |
| Kit | Red (Home) / White (Away) / Dark Blue (Third) |
| Training Ground | Chigwell Training Ground |
| Shirt Sponsor | Eastdil Secured |
| Team Owner | Nigel Travis |
| Record Goalscorer | Tom Johnston (121) |
| Record Appearances | Peter Allen (432) |
Brisbane Road Photos
From Leyton Orient FC
By Leyton59 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]
By Matt Churchill (Brisbane Road) [CC BY 2.0]
Brisbane Road Seating Plan and Where to Sit
Brisbane Road is built in a typical ‘English Style’ with stands on each side of the pitch. The Family Stand is is located behind the Northern goal, whilst The Tommy Johnston Stand is directly opposite it and is named after the club’s record goalscorer. The East Stand houses both home an away supporters and The Main Stand has a single tier of seating beneath a large office-type section, and was recently renamed the Justin Edinburgh stand after their manager who suddenly died in 2019.
Leyton Orient Ticket Prices
The ticket prices at Brisbane Road range depending on your age and where you want to sit, but games are also categorised. This makes things more complicated. You can get the cheapest tickets by booking in advance rather than leaving it to match day, when it will cost you £3 or £4 extra per ticket.
The cheapest and most expensive tickets booked in advance are as follows:
- Cat A – Adults: £27.00 – £45.00 / Concessions: £24.00 – £37.00
- Cat B – Adults: £22.00 – £40.00 / Concessions: £19.00 – £32.00
- Cat C – Adults: £10.00 – £20.00 / Concessions: £10.00 – £20.00
How To Get Leyton Orient Tickets
Tickets are available over the phone, online or by dropping into the O’s ticket office in person.
Where to Buy
Getting To Brisbane Road
Train – Leyton Tube Station is less than a mile away from the ground, with Leyton Midland Station the same sort of distance but available to overground trains.
Bus – Bus numbers 58, 69, 97 and 158 all run along Leyton High Road regularly.
Car – From the North you’ll exit the M25 at Junction 27 onto the M11 Southbound. Take the A406 and the A104 until getting onto Leyton High Road. From the South and South-East use the Blackwell Tunnel and the A102.
By Air – Stansted Airport is around 30 miles away, but London has plenty of airport options.
Taxi – From Leyton Station to the ground will take less than five minutes in a taxi and cost about £5.
Parking Near Brisbane Road
There is no car park & on-street restrictions are in place. There is a small free car park called Sideout not too far away, but parking is tricky to be honest.
Useful Resources
- Parking - Just Park
Brisbane Road Hotels
You aren’t going to struggle for options for somewhere to stay in London. Here are a few who will be more than happy to take your money:
The Stratford Hotel - £112+
Epsilon Hotel - £65+
Lion & Key Hotel - £100+
Pubs and Bars Near Brisbane Road
Once again, it’s London so you are spoiled for choice really. Lucky for you then we have picked out a few choice possibilities for a swift one before the game:
Coach & Horses
Leyton Technical Pub
King William IV Bar and Hotel
Facilities
Things are in pretty decent nick at Brisbane Road, and there is a good selection of food and drink on offer too.
Prices
- Programme: £3
- Pie: £2.8
- Cup of tea: £1.9
- Beer: £3.6
Hospitality
The O’s match day hospitality package offers a three-course meal before the game in the 1881 Suite, the opportunity to watch an interview with a player, gallery seating in The West Stand and refreshments at both half-time and full-time.
Alternatively, the E10 Lounge comes with prime seats in the gallery, plus 2 course bowl food and complimentary drinks pre and post match, as well as half time refreshments. ives you access to the club directors themselves, as well as all of the above plus inclusive drinks and the opportunity to see the Man of the Match presentation.
There is also a rather interesting ‘third dugout’ option, which is an immersive experience right next to the corner flag, from where up to 8 guests can watch the match. Half time pizzas are included. Loadsa fun!
Private Hire
With a brilliant view of the Docklands and the City of London, Brisbane Road Stadium is an excellent place to go for your conferencing and event hire needs. There are four pitch-facing suites and a large boardroom, meaning the home of the O’s is suitable for events for anywhere from five people to three hundred people. There is a dedicated events team who will tailor a package to suit your exact requirements.
Stadium Tours & Museum
Tours of Brisbane Road take roughly an hour and take in all the behind-the-scenes- sights such as the first-team changing room, the players’ tunnel, and pitch-side. It’s not a huge club so demand isn’t massive, which is why the tours only run once or twice a month, but for an O’s fan they are a must.
Adults will pay £20, concessions and juniors will pay £10.
About Leyton Orient
The Os were formed in 1881 by members of the Glyn Cricket Club, changing their name to Eagle Cricket Club in 1886 and then Orient Football Club in 1888. Leyton Orient boast the title of ‘second oldest league club in London’ behind Fulham.
It is believed that the ‘Orient’ part of the club’s name came about because one of the players requested it, having spent his life working for the Orient Shipping Company. They adopted the ‘Leyton’ section of their name when they moved to the Leyton area of London in 1937. They resorted back to Orient in 1966, becoming Leyton Orient permanently in 1987. In 2017 US based businessman and lifelong O’s fan Nigel Travis – who also runs Baskin Robbins who sponsored one of the stands for a time – bought the club when it had been relegated, had no manager and no money and only 9 players, the oldest of which was 19.
Brisbane Road History
Brisbane Road became the home of Leyton Orient when they moved to the Leyton district of Essex in 1937. Before that it had hosted the games of amateur team Leyton FC. It has undergone numerous cosmetic changes over the years. The West Stand was converted into all-seating in 1978, for example, with The South Stand getting demolished in 1996 and nothing built to replace it until 1999.
As well as hosting Leyton Orient’s matches and the games of Tottenham Hotspur’s Reserve team, Brisbane Road has had several other uses over the years. In 2008, for example, the final of the FA Women’s Premier League Cup was held at the ground. It has also hosted numerous England Under 16 games and matches of the England Women’s Team.
Future Developments
The North Stand, Tommy Johnson Stand and West Stand have all been refurbished in recent years, meaning any future development, should it happen, is likely to be done to The East Stand. They certainly won’t be moving any time soon, having signed a 20 year lease in 2023.