The Search
Leyton Orient were heading down to Hertfordshire to take on League Two’s bottom side Stevenage FC in search of their first away win in five and pull themselves further away from the drop zone. I was heading down to Hertfordshire in search of The Lamex Stadium, to give my support to The O’s from the away end whilst avoiding getting lost along the way.
The Travel
The commute from East London to Hertfordshire is relatively straight forward for anyone interested in making a similar journey down to the Lamex in the future. A simple Jubilee to London Bridge followed by an overground to Stevenage completes the hour journey, costing around £15 for the round trip. Stevenage also offer a very nifty service for the match attending fans, running an Arriva shuttle bus from the station to the ground for just £1.50 return, saving a 30 minute walk.
The Lamex
The Lamex is one of the 24 wonders of the Sky Bet League Two, a very tidy ground that has undergone recent upgrading with the new south stand opening in December, taking the capacity to 6,800. A short walk around the ground takes you to the away stand turnstile, the key to enter this fortress. Overall the ground is a strong shout for one of the better grounds of League Two, you could defiantly do much worse than The Lamex.
The Food
A key aspect of any match for a fan is of course the food. From the burger people to the pie people. Now this is where that 30 minutes you saved on the bus to the ground comes in handy, as the food queue grows steadily around the corner thanks to just the one kiosk for the many hungry travelling fans. A strong menu on offer for literally covers all options going all the way to Spicy Chicken Wings which was a first for me. I sampled the classic cheeseburger at the price of £4.50 however, and whilst it was no Burger King despite the sponsorship, I would recommend to anyone who attends in the future.
The Match
In what was a mainly one-sided fixture, the hosts never looked like getting out the blocks as a clinical Orient team put three passed ‘The Boro’s’ with a standout performance from Orient youngster Ruel Sotiriou, scoring a brace from the right flank earning himself Man of the Match and a spot in the League Two Team of the Week. A goal in the middle of Sotiriou’s goals for Orient’s January loan signing Ouss Cisse completed the three-goal win for the visitors, a performance to match that of the travelling fans, who were vocal from the first to the last minute of the tie.
The Visit
This trip to Stevenage’s, The Lamex, brought with it a straightforward journey with the added bonus of the shuttle bus from the station, a good area for a visiting fan, all mixed together with a classy performance from The O’s. I would recommend a trip to The Lamex if you ever find yourself in the area, rating this trip a 4/5.
Stevenage Football Club
The Lamex Stadium
Broadhall Way
Stevenage
Herts
SG2 8RH
01438 223223
