LEA BRIDGE
Lea Bridge was a League ground for 8 seasons
from 1 July 1930 to 30 June 1937
The 146th ground to be used for a League game
Opened: 1930 • Closed: 1937
GROUND HISTORY
adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"
This venue was already well established as a speedway stadium and when Clapton Orient FC moved in from Millfields Road in 1930 there was a covered stand on the west side and shallow embankments around the remainder of the oval shaped arena.
Within a few weeks of moving in the Football League pointed out that the clearance between the edge of the pitch, which was already narrow, and the perimeter fence to the speedway track was too small and that remedial work needed to be carried out before any more matches could be sanctioned. Whilst this was being carried out Clapton Orient FC played a couple of games at Wembley Stadium.
Within a few weeks of moving in the Football League pointed out that the clearance between the edge of the pitch, which was already narrow, and the perimeter fence to the speedway track was too small and that remedial work needed to be carried out before any more matches could be sanctioned. Whilst this was being carried out Clapton Orient FC played a couple of games at Wembley Stadium.
Subsequent improvements including the provision of a covered enclosure on the east side and concrete terracing around all the sides other than the south which remained as a flat standing area provided an overall capacity of about 20,000. The club moved to Osborne Road (later Brisbane Road) in 1937 and Lea Bridge continued in use for speedway into the post war era until it was closed and redeveloped as an industrial estate.