Independent Leyton Orient Forum

As I stood having a tinkle in the Wigan khazi yesterday I noticed that if I wanted to I could have outstretched my arms into crucifix position and my fingertips would feel nothing but air. A glance over my shoulder revealed a row of cubicles, of which at least two were unoccupied. It was half time. There were blokes milling around. There were trickles, and splashes, and hand dryers blowing. But this toilet block was huge. Spacious. And further down the concourse there was another one of equal size.

And why does this matter? Because around five years ago many of us were being forced to piddle up a wall on the outside of the away stand because Havant & Waterlooville only had two toilets which, according to one female fan who didn’t have the option of pissing in public like a disorderly drunk, had been destroyed by a faecal blitzkrieg.

There would be no tardis of turds for us at the DW stadium. This was a decent away end. Only one concession point was open for the relatively modest contingent from East London today but the many other hatches hidden away behind metal shutters demonstrated that this place could cater for an unruly crowd of thousands if it needed to. In the past, it has.

Arsenal fans would have been in here marvelling over Thierry Henry’s legendary free kick, punctuated with a casual “is that good enough?” nod. As recently as 2012 Man United fans would have trudged down these concrete stairs wondering how they’d just lost to a single goal scored by the man in the dugout for the home side today. The Bolton Wanderers stickers plastered around the walls provide evidence that this space can still get rowdy when it needs to. Mobs from Kazan (Russia), Maribor (Slovenia) and Zulte Waregem (Belgium) have all been here. Not in friendlies, but in an official UEFA competition.

We may have lost, but my earlier reflection at the urinal had put me in a positive mood. We’re in league 1. We’re going nowhere for the time being. And that’s fine. For the next season at the very least we get to do our number ones and twos in proper toilet blocks, in proper stadiums. For that we should be grateful.

You really should read it all. It’s a great story. The gist is: “I had a wee. It was nice”

I do like a nice wee.

I remember having a pee at half time in that famous Sutton game and the block was the worst thing I’ve ever stepped inside

Going into that Sutton toilet block, the one near the entrance, was a rude awakening to our arrival into non league back in August 2017.

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:21 am Going into that Sutton toilet block, the one near the entrance, was a rude awakening to our arrival into non league back in August 2017.

That afternoon in Havant & Waterlooville was the moment when I really thought to myself “we HAVE to get out of this tinpot league”. The novelty of it all had well and truly run out by that point.

Agreed with all of that although I quite like an awful away end (in the Football League).

Somewhere that has ‘rustic charm’ is welcomed in a sanitised world.

Favourite awful bogs would probably be Swindon (behind the goal). A real throwback.

Currywurst and Chips demonstrating what a chump he is, by his staggering arrogance. Currywurst and Chips loss. It was a good accurate posting.
I don't know whether he was around in the 1960's, but then, even Chelsea's facilities were horrifying. The operators of Professional Football, obviously have a dim view of the punters. Then Currywurst and Chips ; maybe they have a point!

Crewe away in the 90’s, evening match.
Away end loos, not a light to be had, place crammed with folk wanting a pee, or worse. That was messy. Black hole of Calcutta would have been 5 star luxury by comparison.
(Might have been late 80’s, it all gets a bit fuzzy)

Our very own West Side bogs back in the day were truly disgusting. Trudging down those steps to that hell hole was less than pleasant.
I remember another nasty urinal at Exeter, stood there peeing looking straight into a neighbouring house kitchen window as a lady did her washing up.

Quality loos at Spotland back in the day.
A brick wall, handily facing the pitch and low enough to see what’s happening on the pitch.
A visit during playing time met by a chorus of ‘we know what you’re doing’.
Now that was a proper football ground.

'fond' memories of the palatial facilities in 60's at the South Terrace at Brisbane Rd.

one o in huntingdon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:41 pm Our very own West Side bogs back in the day were truly disgusting. Trudging down those steps to that hell hole was less than pleasant.

This

The ‘facilities’ behind the open terrace at Oxford’s old Manor Ground were pretty feral too.

Readings Elm Park also gave them a run for their money, as did the Goldstone ground.

The bogs at the back of our old North Terrace were nothing to write home about

The Reverend wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:51 am

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:21 am Going into that Sutton toilet block, the one near the entrance, was a rude awakening to our arrival into non league back in August 2017.

That afternoon in Havant & Waterlooville was the moment when I really thought to myself “we HAVE to get out of this tinpot league”. The novelty of it all had well and truly run out by that point.

TBH Rev this is a bit of a sh-t post and all your getting is bog standard reply’s