MILLFIELDS ROAD
Millfields Road was a League ground for 26 seasons
from 1 July 1905 to 30 June 1930
The 78th ground to be used for a League game
Opened: 1905 • Closed: 1930
GROUND HISTORY
adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"
Originally known as the Whittles Athletic Ground and principally used for whippet racing, Clapton Orient FC moved here from Pond Lane Bridge in 1896. Slag, waste from the adjacent power station, was used to create large embankments around the ground and for a number of years there were no facilities and even by the time that they gained Football League membership in 1905 a rudimentary press box was the only covered accommodation on the ground!
A 2,000 seat grandstand, was finally built on the south side in 1906 and some concrete terracing later constructed around the ground. The grandstand was sold to Wimbledon FC, in 1923 for re-erection at Plough Lane, and replaced with a 3,000 seat stand, but it was not until the Clapton Stadium Syndicate became joint tenants and introduced greyhound racing in 1927 that major alterations took place. The stadium was rebuilt with an oval track, substantial concrete terracing installed around the three sides opposite to the main stand and new covering provided around the ground. Despite all these improvements, the poor financial state of Clapton Orient forced them to hand the ground over to their joint tenants and move out to Lea Bridge Stadium in 1930. It continued in use for greyhound racing, as Clapton Stadium, until the 1970s when it was replaced by housing.
A 2,000 seat grandstand, was finally built on the south side in 1906 and some concrete terracing later constructed around the ground. The grandstand was sold to Wimbledon FC, in 1923 for re-erection at Plough Lane, and replaced with a 3,000 seat stand, but it was not until the Clapton Stadium Syndicate became joint tenants and introduced greyhound racing in 1927 that major alterations took place. The stadium was rebuilt with an oval track, substantial concrete terracing installed around the three sides opposite to the main stand and new covering provided around the ground. Despite all these improvements, the poor financial state of Clapton Orient forced them to hand the ground over to their joint tenants and move out to Lea Bridge Stadium in 1930. It continued in use for greyhound racing, as Clapton Stadium, until the 1970s when it was replaced by housing.