Nigel West writes about his campaign to return the Hare and Hounds football ground in Lea Bridge to local football teams
If you decide to go for a walk from Clapton along Lea Bridge Road towards Leyton, you will eventually come across a pub called the Hare and Hounds and a small alleyway that leads into an abandoned football ground, once the homes of a non-league club called Leyton FC that folded in 2011.
Alongside being used by Leyton FC, Arsenal’s women’s team once played there before moving to Boreham Wood FC in Hertfordshire. Now the football pitch is used as a car park for a neighbouring restaurant.
I have decided to set up a campaign to bring local football back to the former Leyton FC ground for the local community. My online petition called ‘Save the Hare and Hounds football ground’ on Change.org has so far received over 3,000 signatures, with a target of 5,000.
The Hare and Hounds football ground campaign has been featured on national newspaper websites, YouTube and on social media platforms. It is also supported by the ward councillors for Lea Bridge and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy.
There are a number of local grassroots football clubs that are showing an interest in using the abandoned Leyton FC football ground, which has a covenant that states the land has to be kept as a sports ground.
There had however been plans by the private owners of the football ground to build flats and a health centre on the site, but Waltham Forest Council slapped the proposals down because of the risk of flooding from the River Lea.
My personal ambition is to get Leyton Orient FC, Waltham Forest schools and David Beckham, who has a passion for grassroots football, to help and support the campaign to return the ground to its original use.
If you want to help and support the local cause, please sign my petition and share it with others.
Sign the petition here
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