• Home
  • Latest posts
  • About
Menu

Charlie Gilbert

  • Home
  • Latest posts
  • About
The abandoned 'Leyton Football Club' sign at Leyton FC's abandoned ground

Leyton FC: The story of an extinct club that strangely still exists… for now

June 5, 2022

For well over a century, there were two teams in Leyton. One of them may have technically disappeared, but their ground – the pitch, the terraces, pretty much everything – still stands. The players are around too, if you know where to look.

Read More
In Football culture, London secrets Tags Leyton FC, football, non-league, stadium, Hare & Hounds
4 Comments
Granleigh Road, home of Leytonstone FC, in the early 1980s

Credit: Bob Lilliman (with permission from Vince Taylor)

Leytonstone FC at Granleigh Road: Triumphs, tragedies and international friendlies

June 25, 2021

Once upon a time, a couple of minutes’ walk from my house, stood a grand old football ground that, during its 92-year existence, hosted the Nigerian national side, Tottenham Hotspur, and some semi-famous people from the telly. What happened to it?

Read More
In Football culture Tags Leytonstone, Leytonstone FC, football, Granleigh Road, Nigeria, non-league, stadium
3 Comments
Barcelona versus Real Betis, 2015

Falling in love with Real Betis Balompié in Barcelona

April 19, 2021

By sharing a moment with Pepe Mel, Rafael van der Vaart and Ricky van Wolfswinkel in a hotel lobby – which was every bit as exciting as it sounds – I became a proud Betico. The lads may have ended up letting me down, but I still love them.

Read More
In Football culture Tags Real Betis, Barcelona, football, Pepe Mel
Comment
Cheltenham-Town-Wembley.jpg

League Two Play-Off Final 2012: It’s the hope that kills you

June 17, 2012

On 6 August 2011, my beloved Cheltenham Town began an epic 295-day campaign to win promotion from the murky depths of League Two. Which they very nearly did, until it all went a bit wrong. At Wembley. On a glorious day. In front of thousands of people. And yes, I cried.

Read More
In Football culture Tags Cheltenham Town, Crewe Alexandra, Wembley, football, Coldplay, League Two, EFL
Comment

Latest posts

Featured
Mar 1, 2023
Why it makes perfect sense to extend the DLR from Stratford to Leyton and Leytonstone
Mar 1, 2023
Mar 1, 2023
Aug 23, 2022
Maidencombe is the best beach in Devon you’ve never been to
Aug 23, 2022
Aug 23, 2022
Jun 5, 2022
Leyton FC: The story of an extinct club that strangely still exists… for now
Jun 5, 2022
Jun 5, 2022
Apr 29, 2022
WWII’s forgotten army: The East and West African soldiers who fought in Burma
Apr 29, 2022
Apr 29, 2022
Jul 19, 2021
Trying to find the closest sandy beach to London at the glow-in-the-dark Bradwell-on-Sea
Jul 19, 2021
Jul 19, 2021
Jun 25, 2021
Leytonstone FC at Granleigh Road: Triumphs, tragedies and international friendlies
Jun 25, 2021
Jun 25, 2021
May 14, 2021
In 2001, I had a close encounter with a puma on my morning paper round
May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
Apr 19, 2021
Falling in love with Real Betis Balompié in Barcelona
Apr 19, 2021
Apr 19, 2021
Mar 30, 2021
I added a pond to my garden and now I want to tell you all about it
Mar 30, 2021
Mar 30, 2021
Feb 28, 2021
In my small London courtyard garden, the party’s already started
Feb 28, 2021
Feb 28, 2021

© 2023 Charlie Gilbert. All rights reserved.