WHEN Ikram Patel rented his two-bedroom flat in East London, he was mainly attracted by its location in an upcoming area that would suit his young family.
But a year later the property manager has become such a big fan of Leyton Orient Football Club that he often finds himself jeering away fans on a Saturday afternoon.
His flat boasts an unrivalled view of the O’s Brisbane Road pitch, a vantage point so good it’s like having his own private box.
His living room balcony is close enough to rival supporters in the East Stand that he can respond to their taunts while his sons, aged three and one-and-a-half, look on from their tiny chairs.
When The Sun visited as part of our Life’s a Pitch series, Ikram, 30, told us: “I’m a cricket and tennis fan and I was never interested in football until I moved here.
“But this is an upcoming area – it’s beautiful around here – and when I saw the view it encouraged me to rent the flat. I thought it would give my sons something to look at.
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“Now my cousin is always messaging me asking if he can pop round to watch the games and the boys are fascinated by the crowd and the noise.
“They really look forward to the games and will sit out on the balcony in their little chairs, while we stand most of the time.
“It’s fantastic on match days especially when the stadium is full.
“My friends follow football and, being from the area, they tend to come round to watch the match because it’s like having our own private box.
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“We are very close to the away fans so we do hear a lot of colourful language.
“They have a go at us sometimes, especially when we are all cheering on Leyton on the balcony – and I do give it back occasionally.”
However, living in the corner of the historic, 9,271-capacity stadium which has been home to the O’s since 1937, does have its downsides for Ikram and his family.
He added: “It does get a bit much for the kids, especially when they are trying to have their afternoon nap.
“My wife sometimes complains. It can be annoying for her as she doesn’t follow sports.
It does get a bit much for the kids, especially when they are trying to have their afternoon nap. My wife sometimes complains
Ikram Patel
“There are often big crowds outside that can make it difficult to get around on match days and the traffic can get really bad.
“Also, the rent has shot up since Orient won promotion to League One last season.
“It’s a bit pricey and has gone up to about £1,300 to £1,500 per month now, which is about £50 to £100 more than it was last season.
“But there was a huge celebration when they got promoted and the atmosphere was lovely because we weren’t sure if they were going to make it.
“I have to admit that I find myself checking the scores online all the time now when I’m not at home.”
Supporters witnessed a sad tragedy last week when lifelong O’s fan Derek Reynolds, 74, collapsed and died while watching the match against Lincoln City.
Leyton Orient were winning 1-0 at the time and Ikram’s wife Nosheen watched the aftermath of paramedics giving him CPR on the side of the pitch.
Mum-of-two Nosheem, 30, said: “I was putting the kids to sleep when that guy died.
“One of the fans told my husband what happened and when I got to the living room I saw the police and the ambulance crew. It was really sad.
“My husband loves football so you can see why he likes living here because the view is amazing.
“He’s always posting videos of the games on TikTok, but for me it’s a lot of noise.
“All of our cousins and friends want to come round on match days. I think we had 10 people in here for one game.
“My husband’s first cousin comes here for every single game.
“Sometimes there are fights in the stands and on the pitch, although that doesn’t happen often.
“The away fans do swear a lot and they’re always putting their fingers up.
“It doesn’t bother me too much except when it keeps the kids awake.
“Also, when the game is on it’s really hard to get out of the house because there are so many people milling around – you have to plan ahead.”
Leyton, where the stadium is based, has been described as east London’s “hot new neighbourhood” by property experts.
Despite its crime-blighted past and the fact it still holds significant pockets of deprivation, locals are bracing themselves for young professionals flocking here in the near future.
Gentrification is expected to spill over from neighbouring Walthamstow, which the Sunday Times has described as one of London’s best places to live thanks to its “arty, crafty shops, street market and pretty houses”.
The average house price there has already shot up to £500,000, forcing traders at Walthamstow market to move out.
And a similar process seems to be taking place in Leyton, where the air around the O’s stadium vibrates with noise of trendy flats being built ready to welcome the new arrivals.
Ali Barker is another resident who has had to get used to facing thousands of screaming football fans – despite not giving a hoot about the game.
One year ago he moved into a one-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor of one of the modern block of flats built into the corners of the stadium by property developers.
Going for between £300,000 and £400,000 at the time, he considered this something of a deal given that the flats – which were constructed around 20 years ago – are within walking distance of Leyton Underground Station and the Central Line.
Some of the apartments, which include service charges of around £2,400 a year, come with fake grass on the balconies to encourage football fans to snap them up.
But unlike his downstairs neighbour, Ali has yet to be converted to become a fan of the O’s.
The software engineer, 30, who hails from Hampshire, said: “This is one of the few places in London I could afford to buy.
“It was good value given its size and location. I don’t know if it’s more affordable or less because it’s attached to a football stadium.
“I did spend a while thinking if I wanted a flat so close to a pitch before I bought it.
It was good value given its size and location. I don’t know if it’s more affordable or less because it’s attached to a football stadium
Ali Barker
“But eventually I decided I wasn’t too worried about a bit of noise.
“I do follow the team a little bit, but mainly out of curiosity. I’m not a huge fan.
“You can see three quarters of the pitch from my balcony and only one of the goals so it’s not ideal for watching the game.
“It can get really busy on match fans and some fans get really drunk. I’ve seen them urinating in the park.
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“Overall I would say moving here has worked out well for me. Once in a while, I have thousands of people outside my flat.
“But that’s OK and I imagine that the area is going to change a great deal when the new flats are built opposite the stadium.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
