Isthmian League
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is located in north east London and forms part of Outer London. It is a mainly built-up residential area located between part of Epping Forest in the east and the River Lee in the west. These form two green corridors, passing into London from the surrounding countryside, and more than a fifth of the borough is made up of forestland, reservoirs, open space, parks and playing fields. Many Stone Age remains are found in the area. Roman remains have also been found scattered around the borough proving it was a significant area of Roman occupation. After the Romans, Poddy was born and has remained in the area to this day. The borough was formed in 1965, by the London Government Act 1963, from the area of the former Municipal Borough of Chingford, Municipal Borough of Leyton and Municipal Borough of Walthamstow which was transferred to Greater London from Essex. The borough was named Waltham Forest after the forest the area used to reside in, now known as Epping Forest. The Epping Forest Act of 1878 not only assisted in preserving the forest but also help develop the towns around it; Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton. The boroughs location between the City of London and Epping Forest caused the large scale suburban development of much of the borough. 
Was this a new ground for the Pieman ? Strictly speaking no, but I have not seen Waltham Forest play there. I visited Wadham Lodge to see Walthamstow Pennant in 1991 for a Spartan League fixture against Croydon Athletic, with Nigel Maitland. I recall on that occasion we were given a lift back to the tube station by Officer Crabtree (Kevin Wilmot of Potters Bar Town FC fame). The following text details the 'history' of the club and as Harry Hotspur had not been to this venue, we opted for this relatively local jaunt.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pennant Football Club was formed as a junior side in 1964, initially joining the South West Essex League. The league's Premier Division title was won by Pennant in 1972-73. 2 seasons later the club joined the Metropolitan League, winning the league at the first attempt.
Pennant joined the London Spartan League in 1983, becoming a senior club. They finished 4th in the Senior in their first season, which was sufficient to gain promotion to the Premier Division. In 1988 neighbours Walthamstow Avenue were swallowed up by Redbridge Forest, so Pennant changed their name to Walthamstow Pennant in order to keep the footballing name of Walthamstow alive. The 1988-89 season saw the renamed club win the Spartan League Cup and the installation of floodlights installed at Wadham Lodge.
In 1995-96 neighbours Leyton F.C. saw no future at their ground and moved to Wadham Lodge, incorporating Walthamstow Pennant. The club was renamed Leyton Pennant, and assumed Leyton's place in the Isthmian League. In 2003 the new chairman and his board changed the club's name to Waltham Forest, reflecting the club's location in the borough of Waltham Forest.
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We travelled via Seven Sisters and the Victoria Line to Walthamstow central from where we caught a 34 bus to Brookscroft Road. Wadham Lodge is only a couple of minutes walk from here. The stadium is good for this level of football with covered terracing at each end and a decent seated stand along one side. The bar is above the dressing rooms which also serve an adjacent pitch outside the main arena. A rather scrappy first half was livened up when visitors Cray Wanderers took the lead. The home side did eventually level midway through the second period but were stunned by a magnificent volley, which took Cray through to the next round, late on in the match.
Although Guy Fawkes celebrations are always prominent at this time of year, I have to report that this was not the cause of the thick black smoke behind the goals. This was caused by the cigar puffing Jonny Ketchup - a Cray Wanderers regular attendee. It was good to see him again and it was his new car that sped us back to the tube station after the match. Good luck to him and Cray Wanderers for the next round.
Attendance: 100
Programme: £1.50 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Tea: 50p
Mars Bar: 40p
Fare: Covered by my All Zone Travel Card (Hotspur £1)
