League One Match

[HeliGunner]

I'm going to be in London for the weekend of 10-11 October, and as this appears to be a non-EPL, non-Championship weekend, I'm thinking of taking in a League One match. These are my choices, from the BBC fixture listing:
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Bristol Rovers (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/default.stm) v Leyton Orient (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/default.stm), 15:00
Cheltenham (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/default.stm) v Colchester (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/colchester_united/default.stm), 15:00
Leeds (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/default.stm) v Brighton (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/default.stm), 15:00
Leicester (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/default.stm) v Yeovil (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/default.stm), 15:00
Milton Keynes Dons (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/default.stm) v Carlisle (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/default.stm), 15:00
Scunthorpe (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/default.stm) v Crewe (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/default.stm), 15:00
Southend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/default.stm) v Stockport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/default.stm), 15:00
Swindon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/default.stm) v Huddersfield (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/default.stm), 15:00
Tranmere (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tranmere_rovers/default.stm) v Millwall (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/default.stm), 15:00
Walsall (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/default.stm) v Peterborough (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/default.stm), 15:00
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Oldham (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/default.stm) v Hereford (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hereford_united/default.stm), 14:00

I thought I would consult the Gunner faithful and get your thoughts on which would be the best day trip from London (preferably within an hour's train ride each direction), combined with a reasonable chance of getting a ticket.
Thanks-
Charles

[HighburyGoon]

I'm going to be in London for the weekend of 10-11 October, and as this appears to be a non-EPL, non-Championship weekend, I'm thinking of taking in a League One match. These are my choices, from the BBC fixture listing:
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Bristol Rovers (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/default.stm) v Leyton Orient (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/default.stm), 15:00
Cheltenham (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/default.stm) v Colchester (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/colchester_united/default.stm), 15:00
Leeds (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/default.stm) v Brighton (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/default.stm), 15:00
Leicester (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/default.stm) v Yeovil (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/default.stm), 15:00
Milton Keynes Dons (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/default.stm) v Carlisle (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/default.stm), 15:00
Scunthorpe (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/default.stm) v Crewe (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/default.stm), 15:00
Southend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/default.stm) v Stockport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/default.stm), 15:00
Swindon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/default.stm) v Huddersfield (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/default.stm), 15:00
Tranmere (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tranmere_rovers/default.stm) v Millwall (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/default.stm), 15:00
Walsall (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/default.stm) v Peterborough (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/default.stm), 15:00
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Oldham (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/default.stm) v Hereford (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hereford_united/default.stm), 14:00

I thought I would consult the Gunner faithful and get your thoughts on which would be the best day trip from London (preferably within an hour's train ride each direction), combined with a reasonable chance of getting a ticket.
Thanks-
Charles

Go to the Orient. Lanesra can tell you all you need to know.

[Lanesra]

Go to the Orient. Lanesra can tell you all you need to know.

It's away, I'd go for southend,30-40 minute train ride and a day out by the coast,the English sea side at it's finest:D

[Bluto11]

It's away, I'd go for southend,30-40 minute train ride and a day out by the coast,the English sea side at it's finest:D
iirc from looking at going to a Southend match, Roots Hall is pretty close to the train station.

[HighburyGoon]

It's away, I'd go for southend,30-40 minute train ride and a day out by the coast,the English sea side at it's finest:D

What's wrong with a trip to Bristol? :p Honestly, I didn't even think about whether it was home or away. I just saw Orient on the list and made the choice.


"I don't even like Orient..."

[Frankgarrison]

iirc from looking at going to a Southend match, Roots Hall is pretty close to the train station.

I'd echo this suggestion. I went to a Southend match in 06 and enjoyed it. Old ground (in fact, Southend might be in the process of building a new ground somewhere), nice people and an easy, cheap r/t train ride and easy walk to the ground.

Edit: Dagenham and Redbridge (League 2) play at home on the 10th, as well. I think that team is in East London somewhere. Luton Town and Gillingham (also of LEague 2) also play at home on the 11th and might be easy trips, as well.

If you're looking for info on the various grounds, this (http://www.footballgroundguide.com/) is a good resource.

[Shibby13]

Best league one team to go see is Millwall at the New Den but looks like they are away that day.

Other than that it might be cool to go see MK Dons it is a short trip from London, even though they are hated throughout England for stealing the team from Wimbledon.

[Frankgarrison]

Other than that it might be cool to go see MK Dons it is a short trip from London, even though they are hated throughout England for stealing the team from Wimbledon.

I got the disctinct impression that Milton Keynes was a sort of soulless suburb, the ground was boring and new and the support tepid. And, yes, they are hated because they left Wimbledon.

[antifan]

If i was there i would try to get a ticket to a WC qualifier. England is playing Kazahkstan at Wembley, and Wales hosts Liechtenstein at the Millenium. League 1 games aren't that cheap and neither are train tickets, and i'm guessing it can't be that tough to get a ticket to Wembley, not for Kazahkstan anyway. I mean, if you're just desperate to see some football, and don't care about the quality of it, why go all the way to the south coast when you can just go to Wembley. ;) :D

[HomeatHighbury]

And, yes, they are hated because they left Wimbledon.

At least they returned all the old silverware to the new Wimbledon side.

[HeliGunner]

Thanks to all for the comments. How do the tickets for WC qualifiers work?

[antifan]

Thanks to all for the comments. How do the tickets for WC qualifiers work?
I don't know. I looked on their website (thefa.com), but the only thing on sale was a friendly against the Czechs. But i think maybe you can buy one from ticketmaster when they go on sale. At worst, i bet you could find one for face value the day of. The English always feel sorry for us dumb Yanks and want to help us out. Bless 'Em. ;) :D

[Detlef]

Leyton Orient would be a good choice. Boycott MK Dons.

[The Grim Returner]

I'd recommend Milton Keynes just to see the cows!!


and from div 2

Friday, 10 October 2008
Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet, 19:45

you get to see three teams!

[Frankgarrison]

At least they returned all the old silverware to the new Wimbledon side.

I don't really have an opinion 1 way or the other re: MK Dons though in a few conversations with lower league team supporters it was clear that they felt strongly that the MK Dons club was reprehensible. Their stadium looks like a box in the middle of nowhere, and they've only existed for a few years, so attending one of their matches holds no appeal for me. Might as well go to an MLS game.

[Jeff L]

Go to the Orient. Lanesra can tell you all you need to know.

Except that the Orient are AWAY ! If you Americans are going to follow "football" understand that the home team is shown first and not second!! :rolleyes: I would echo "Lanesra's" comments and go to Southend United. From Liverpool Street, (or Stratford), you are there in about half an hour.
Plus if the sun is shining :rolleyes: make a whole day of it and spend it at the coast and enjoy the wonderful beach! ;)

[Jeff L]

The English always feel sorry for us dumb Yanks and want to help us out. Bless 'Em. ;) :D

"Ain't that the truth! " ;)

[pookspur]

without being arsed to check the fixture list, if brentford are home that day, don't discount taking in a league 2 match at griffin park in west london. proper english football ground, that is.


(agreed that southend is the best option amongst the league 1 matches listed)

[HighburyGoon]

Except that the Orient are AWAY ! If you Americans are going to follow "football" understand that the home team is shown first and not second!! :rolleyes:

Yes, yes. I've been "following football" long enough to know who gets listed first. Like I said earlier, I wasn't paying attention. I just know that Tel loves taking people to the O, so when I saw them on there, I didn't even pause the moment to register that they were in fact listed second.

[DoctorK]

Didn't we used to own/run Leyton Orient under Chapman? I think I'd go for that away fixture.

I wouldn't go to Milton Keynes unless your choice of match beverage is milk.