Leytonstone, Leytonstone/Ilford, Redbridge Forest

This page covers the histories of Leytonstone FC and Leytonstone/Ilford FC and their mergers to eventually become Redbridge Forest along with Ilford FC who can be read about here and Walthamstow Avenue FC here.

Leytonstone

Leytonstone FC was formed in 1886 playing their games at Granleigh Road in the shadow of Leytonstone High Road railway station. Following a period of playing friendlies and in cup competition, the club became founder members of the Spartan League in 1907-08.

A year later the club joined the Isthmian League where they would remain for the remainder of their history. The team ended as league runners-up on four occasions; 1908-09, 1910-11, 1912-13 and again in 1932-33 prior to being crowned as champions in 1937-38.

The team attracted good crowds and before 1939 it was possible to watch the game for 2d and pay 2d for a packet of peanuts as a juvenile. Occasionally the Leyton Silver Band would play melodies in the interval and money would be collected in the interval by two men carrying a stretcher along the touchlines inviting people to throw coins into the cloth.

The title was retained in 1938-39, with War intervening before the golden era for Leytonstone would continue. The 1946-47 campaign saw a first appearance in the first round of the FA Cup while a third Isthmian League title was collected.

The greatest glory came in the FA Amateur Cup, of which the club had reached the semi-finals twice previously. On this occasion Hayes, Enfield and Barnet were defeated before Wimbledon were beaten 2-1 in the final at Highbury.

In 1947-48 another Amateur Cup run saw wins against Wealdstone, Hendon and Bishop Auckland before a 1-0 win in the final against Barnet at Stamford Bridge to retain the trophy as well as winning the league title.

Leytonstone went out in the semi-finals in 1948-49 as they chased treble glory but won the Isthmian League as consolation in 1949-50 for a fifth time. The team made it six the following season before completing three in a row in 1951-52 as well as reaching the second round of the FA Cup before losing in a second replay to Newport County.

 

The team reached the semi-final of the Amateur Cup in 1958-59, 1960-61 and 1962-63 as well as finishing as league runners-up in 1961-62 as Leytonstone also battled through to the first round of the FA Cup on three occasions throughout the decade.

Glory eventually returned in 1965-66 with an eighth Isthmian League title followed by a third Amateur Cup triumph in 1967-68. Southall, Bishop’s Stortford, Enfield and Sutton United were all seen off prior to a 1-0 against Chesham United in front of 52,000 fans at Wembley.

The fourth place league finish in the same season would be the highest the club would ever end up until they merged. Leytonstone reached the first round of the FA Cup for the final time in 1973-74 before former player John Still took over as manager in 1976.

Crowds were low and money was tight. Leytonstone remained in the top flight of the competition, now named the Premier Division, narrowly avoiding relegation in 1977-78 before they were relegated in 1978-79.

Leytonstone/Ilford

Local neighbours Ilford were in a similar state of affairs having moved into Granleigh Road as tenants after selling their Glynn Road ground in 1977 while hoping to build a new home in Fairlop. However, plans came to nothing as the club had insufficient funds, so a merger seemed the best scenario for both clubs.

Still was appointed manager of Leytonstone & Ilford as the new club was originally called, playing in red and blue to incorporate both previous club’s colours. The move paid instant rewards as the team won the Division One title in 1979-80 to climb back to the Premier Division as well as reaching the first round of the FA Cup.

The following season saw a run to the third round of the FA Trophy as well as fourth place in the league, which was superseded in 1981-82 when the club were crowned Isthmian League champions along with another FA Cup first round appearance.

Still was tempted away in 1983 after a league runners-up place before the team fell into decline. Relegation was narrowly avoided in 1983-84 but there would be no escape twelve months later as the side dropped back down to Division One.

Granleigh Road was sold in 1986, with Leytonstone/Ilford moving to the Green Pond Road home of Walthamstow Avenue. The money from the sale helped the team to the Division One title in 1986-87 which was backed up by fourth place in the Premier Division the next season.

After a fourth place, struggling relegated Walthamstow Avenue were absorbed into Leytonstone/Ilford without a name change to reflect their input.

In 1988-89 the extended club were crowned as Isthmian League champions. Promotion was denied as Green Pond Road did not meet the requirements for Conference football and had been sold to developers so was not worth upgrading so the club moved to Victoria Road to become tenants of Dagenham FC. However, that venue was also deemed not up to scratch for promotion. 

Redbridge Forest

Leytonstone/Ilford changed their name to Redbridge Forest FC in preparation of a move to a new ground on the border of Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

Plans for the new site collapsed so the club remained at Victoria Road playing in front of low crowds. Promotion to the Conference was finally won at the upgraded ground in 1990-91. After finishing seventh in their debut top tier campaign, the club merged with Dagenham FC to become Dagenham & Redbridge FC, who can be read about here.

My visit

February 1984

Sadly I never got to see a game at Granleigh Road. I nearly went to see Whitby Town's victory at Leytonstone/Ilford in the FA Trophy in 1984 while studying in London. However I only saw the place once, as part of one of my first ever groundhop days out after calling in at a later lost ground at Walthamstow Avenue.

Granleigh Road was a really weird but fascinating place. Its was near Leytonstone High Road, next to what was the Midland Railway's overhead line, so near in fact that it was possible to watch the game, looking down from the railway station platform. 

There was a large bank of open terracing down that side with a wooden seated grandstand perched on top of it. To the left was a low covered terrace while at the other end was another steep terracing that sloped away with a cover in the centre section. 

The fourth side was closed off to spectators with just a white wall and high wire fencing dividing the ground from the gardens of houses alongside. The pitch was later covered by housing in Trinity Close.

Once I'd had a wander round and taken just the one photo, I headed to Stratford on the tube before making my way to the Old Spotted Dog Ground, the home of Clapton.