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*Leyton Orient FC – its history & historic landmarks

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Quirky Topics, Sporting People .

Last Saturday (8th Feb 2020) saw a ‘first’ for my ‘London Shoes’ – as it was the very first time I had ever undertaken a blog on a football club.

The subject matter was East London’s “Leyton Orient FC”.

Another ‘first’ fore this particular blog, was that I had 3 people accompanying me for the day – Les, James & James’s mate Adam.

Les, James & me worked together at Barclays Bank-Whitechapel branch back in the late 1980’s – and they are both avid followers of my ‘London Shoes’ work – in fact, Les has accompanied me several times on previous ‘Shoes’ exploits.

James & his mate Adam are both bonkers Orient fans, and it was actually James who suggested the idea of me doing a blog on the O’s – and so he acquired tickets for the O’s home game on 8th Feb 2020 v Macclesfield Town – but before the kick-off, the 4 of us spent a good few hours ‘on-the-road’ tracing the history and historic landmarks of this great football club – the 2nd oldest team in London.

The following is my ‘London Shoes’ account of our day out and tribute to the history of the magnificent “Leyton Orient Football Club”:-

The origins of “Leyton Orient Football Club” go right back to the 3rd March 1888, when the ‘Eagle Cricket Club’ (formerly known as the ‘Glyn Cricket Club’) held a meeting at no.36 Dunlace Road-then in Lower Clapton–London E5.

The purpose of this meeting was to pass a resolution to officially form a football club, so that the cricket team had something to do in the winter months, to keep themselves fit.

It was mutually agreed by committee members that this new football section of the cricket club, be called the “Orient Football Club”.

It is believed that the unusual name of ‘Orient’ (for a team based in London), came about as a result of a suggestion by committee member ‘Jack Dearing’, who at that time, worked for the ‘Orient Steam Navigation Company’ (which went on to become the ‘P&O Group’) – the company, 10 years previous, had launched their very first ship the “SS Orient”.

It is also thought that the Orient reference in the Club’s name provided the club with an identity to ‘East’ London where the club was based.

This newly formed football club played in a red coloured kit with an ‘O’ on the back of its shirts (hence the terrace cry “Come on You O’s”) – and initially played its matches on a small pitch close to Pond Lane Bridge near the River Lea.

In 1893 the Orient Football Club joined the ‘Clapton & District League’ – Season 1896/97 saw the Orient join the London League-Division 3 & in season 1897/98 they were promoted to London League Division 2.

In 1898 in an attempt to drum up more local support – Orient FC changed its name to ‘Clapton Orient’ to signify the actual area of east London that the club were from.

For the 1898/99 season the newly named Clapton Orient were playing their football in London League Division 1.

In 1900 Clapton Orient moved to a new home – the ‘Millfields Road’ ground, situated in the same area they were already playing – the Millfields stadium could hold up to 40,000 and was also used for greyhound racing.

 

The 1905/06 season saw Clapton Orient elected to ‘The Football League’ which had been formed a few years previously in 1888.

1910 saw the Clapton Orient football kit change from a red shirt to a white shirt with a large red ‘V’ chevron on it.

During the 1914-1918 WW1 years, the Football League was suspended.

41 members of the Clapton Orient players & club staff signed up to the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, and became the first football club to collectively join the Great War – the largest representation of servicemen of any other football club.

20,000 spectators filled their Millfields Road ground on the last game of the 1914/15 season, to bid their heroes farewell.

During the Battle of the Somme, 3 Clapton Orient players were tragically killed in action – and they were:- Richard McFadden, Willie Jonas and George Scott.

Today, a wonderful memorial exists in a graveyard in the French village of Flers, as a tribute to these 3 fine brave young men.

Following WW1 changes were made to the Football League Div 3 and a new 3rd Division South and a 3rd Division North were created – with Clapton Orient playing its games in the 3rd Division South League.

 

In 1930 Clapton Orient left its Millfields Road ground and moved to the ‘Lea Bridge Stadium’ just down the road. The Lea Bridge Stadium was already an established greyhound racing track, and had a capacity of 20,000.

Their old Millfields Road ground eventually became the Millfields Housing Estate – and today a plaque is on display at the estate commemorating the fact that the site was once the home of Clapton Orient, and also the fact that a match played there in 1921 against Notts County, was the first ever Football League match attended by a member of the Royal Family.

Clapton Orient played at its newly acquired Lea Bridge Stadium for 6 years. Today, the site of the old ground is now a large industrial estate – however, tucked away in a far corner of the estate there is a commemorative plaque displayed on a random wall, and you can still see the remains of one of its old stands.

 

In 1937 Clapton Orient moved grounds again – this time, just down the road, further south, to its current home at Brisbane Road in Leyton-London E10 – and they’ve been there ever since.

In 1946, whilst still in the Football League Division 3-South, the football club changed its name from Clapton Orient to ‘Leyton Orient’ to denote the area of London in which the Club now played.

At that time a new Club Badge was introduced which depicted 2 ‘Wyverns’ holding a football in their claws.

These Wyverns were mythical half-dragon, half sea serpent creatures – and it is said that the dragon part represents the historic City of London crest, and the seas-serpent part of these Wyverns relates to Leyton Orient’s tenuous link to its original P&O sea connections.

Amusingly, the Club’s current mascot, who runs around the pitch stirring up the crowd on match days – is a Wyvern by the name of ‘Theo’……( The O’s…..get it!!).

 

 

Season 1958/59 saw the O’s incorporated back into the newly aligned Football League Division 2 – and in the 1962/63 season they were promoted to the heady heights of Division 1.

1964 saw Leyton Orient record is biggest attendance at its Brisbane Road ground, when 34,345 packed into the stadium for an FA Cup tie against local rivals West Ham Utd.

In 1966 a decision was made to drop the ‘Leyton’ part from the club’s name, and they simply became ‘Orient FC’. However, in 1987 the club’s name reverted back to being ‘Leyton Orient’.

Between seasons 1966 to 1996 the O’s flitted between Division 2 & Division 4 – and in seasons 2004 to 2006 they were in the newly named Football League-Div 1 (which was in fact the old Division 3 – in old money).

Season 2006/07 to season 2014/15 Leyton Orient played their football in League 2 (the old 4th Division).

On 22 April 2017, following years of serious financial and internal upheaval and turmoil, Leyton Orient  very sadly dropped out of the Football League – ending an association that went back some 112 years – and were relegated to the National League.

In November 2017 the acclaimed ex Spurs defender ‘Justin Edinburgh’ was appointed as their manager and very soon, their fortunes on the pitch improved, to the extent that by the end of season 2018/19 Leyton Orient were crowned Champions of the National League – and after an absence of only 2 years, the Club returned back to the Football League.

However, on 3rd June 2019, just weeks after leading them back into the Football League, their manager Justin Edinburgh suffered a cardiac arrest, and tragically died on the 8th June 2019 – aged just 49 years old.

In January 2020, before a game against Newport County, the club renamed its main stand the ‘Justin Edinburgh Stand’ in commemoration and recognition of Edinburgh’s marvellous achievement in getting the O’s back into the Football League.

Throughout the years, Leyton Orient FC have had some legendary players turning out for them, many of whom have been honoured in one way or another by the Club.

One such club legend is record goal scorer ‘Tommy Johnston’ who played for the Club between 1956/58 & 1957/58 and clocked-up a remarkable 123 goals in 190 league & cup appearances for the O’s. In 2008, Leyton Orient renamed its South Stand the ‘Tommy Johnston Stand’ in recognition of his fantastic achievements.

Another O’s legend who went on to become a bit of a global super-star on the football front, was the late great ‘Laurie Cunningham’ – who I had the pleasure of watching play when he was with the O’s during the early period of his career.

Laurie Cunningham was born in 1956 in Archway north London and joined the O’s as a youngster in 1974.

Laurie Cunningham made a total of 75 appearances for Orient scoring 15 goals – before he was transferred to West Bromwich Albion in 1977 – where he formed part of the trio of players – Cunningham / Cyril Regis & Brendon Batson – who were famously nicknamed ‘The Three Degrees’.

In 1979 Laurie Cunningham became the first Englishman to join Spanish footballing giants ‘Real Madrid’ and by the end of the 1979/80 season with them, he had helped them to a Spanish League & Cup double.

Also in 1979, Cunningham made his full England debut, and goes down in history as being the first black footballer to represent an England international team organised by the current national governing body – the Football Association.

In Coronation Gardens right next to Orient’s Brisbane Road ground, there stands a marvellous statue of Laurie Cunningham that was unveiled in 2017, to commemorate this great player’s footballing achievements, and his connections to the O’s.

Sadly, Laurie Cunningham was killed in a car crash in Madrid in 1989 – aged just 33.

There also stands a statue of the ‘Three Degrees’ (Laurie Cunningham / Cyril Regis / Brendan Batson) not far from West Brom’s Hawthorns ground, up in the Midlands – 3 players I am also pleased to say, I had the privilege of also watching them play in person.

So – back to London Shoes blogging day out and the match in question.

Having spent the best part of 4 hours pounding the pavements of the E10 & E5 post codes of East London, searching for the elusive historic landmarks and sites relating to Leyton Orient FC – we ended up at their Brisbane Road stadium in Leyton, where we downed a few ‘cheeky’ beers in the Supporters Club Bar, where even some of the players pop in to mingle with supporters – before taking our seats in in the Tommy Johnston Stand which ‘young’ James had very kindly acquired tickets for – and settled down to watch the day’s match against the opponents, who were Macclesfield Town.

There was a comfortable family friendly & welcoming vibe amongst supporters throughout the game and ‘Theo’ the club mascot kept everyone amused with his lively antics on the touch-lines.

It was an entertaining game with both sides trying their best to get a result – and for someone like me who suffers the pain and torture of having to watch my beloved Hammers struggle week in and week out, it was a pleasant change to be a ‘neutral’ and just watch a decent & honest game of football.

Midway through the 2nd-half, the O’s went 1-0 up and looked as though they were going to bag all 3 points – until deep into injury time when Macclesfield grabbed a very late equaliser.

All in all, it was a really enjoyable day out – which was made all the better by having 3 accomplices on-board to share the day’s experiences with me, 2 of whom (young James & his mate Adam) were fanatical Orient supporters, so it clearly meant a great deal to them too.

I have to say, with this being London Shoes first ever ‘football’ related blog, I thoroughly enjoyed doing all the research and all the post-match composing & publication stuff – and, even though I am a life-long ‘Hammer’, I’m actually so pleased that the topic was all about the O’s

.

Well done Leyton Orient FC – great club – brilliant history – ‘real’ fans.

_______________________________

See below for the full range of ALL of the photographs relating to this Leyton Orient FC blog

Welcome to ‘Leyton’ – London-E10

 

 

The Leyton Orient Football Club – Crest – Displayed on the exterior of their Brisbane Road ground

 

The origins of ‘Leyton Orient Football Club” go right back to the 3rd March 1888, when the ‘Eagle Cricket Club’ (formerly known as the ‘Glyn Cricket Club’) held a meeting at no.36 Dunlace Road-then in Lower Clapton-London E5.

 

Me – outside 36 Dunlace Road – The origins of ‘Leyton Orient Football Club”

 

In 1900 Clapton Orient moved to a new home ground at ‘Millfields Road’

 

In 1900 Clapton Orient moved to a new home – the ‘Millfields Road’ ground, situated in the same area. The Millfields stadium could hold up to 40,000.

 

The site of Clapton Orient’s old Millfields Road ground is now the Millfields Housing Estate

 

The Millfields Housing Estate

At the Millfields Housing Estate today, there is a plaque is on display commemorating the fact that the site was once the home of Clapton Orient, and also the fact that a match played there in 1921 against Notts County, was the first ever Football League match attended by a member of the Royal Family.

 

Les – James & Me (Geoff) – at the Millfields Housing Estate – once the site of the ‘Clapton Orient FC’ home ground

 

In 1930 Clapton Orient left its Millfields Road ground and moved to the ‘Lea Bridge Stadium’ just down the road. The Lea Bridge Stadium was already an established greyhound racing track, and had a capacity of 20,000.

 

Today ‘Rigg Approach’ is the entrance road to an industrial estate that was once the site of the ‘Lea Bridge Stadium’ – Clapton Orient’s home ground from 1930 to 1936

 

Tucked away within the Rigg Approach industrial estate just off the Lea Bridge Road-London E10, there is a plaque displayed that commemorates the fact that the site was once the home ground of Clapton Orient FC. In this photo you can see the plaque in question, just below (left) the Hare Wines sign

 

A close-up of the plaque on display on a wall within the industrial estate – that commemorates the fact that the land was once the site of Lea Bridge Stadium – the home grounds of Clapton Orient FC in the 1930’s.

 

In a far corner of the industrial estate you can clearly still see the remains of one of the stands of the old Lea Bridge Stadium.

 

In a far corner of the industrial estate you can clearly still see the remains of one of the stands of the old Lea Bridge Stadium.

 

Les-James & Me – taking a breather down ‘Orient Way’ 🙂

 

In 1937 Clapton Orient moved grounds again – this time, just down the road, to its current home at Brisbane Road in Leyton-London E10 – and they’ve been there ever since.

 

 

An aerial view of Brisbane Road – Leyton Orient FC home ground since 1937

 

The exterior of Leyton Orient FC’s Brisbane Road ground

 

The exterior of Leyton Orient FC’s Brisbane Road ground

 

The exterior of Leyton Orient FC’s Brisbane Road ground – prior to their home game against Macclesfield Town (8th Feb 2020)

 

An exterior view of Leyton Orient FC’s Brisbane Road ground

 

Me – at the main entrance of the O’s Brisbane Road ground – prior to their league match against Macclesfield Town (8th Feb 2020)

 

In Coronation Gardens right next to Orient’s Brisbane Road ground, there stands a marvellous statue of Laurie Cunningham that was unveiled in 2017, to commemorate this great player’s footballing achievements, and his connections to the O’s

 

The inscription on the statue of the late great ‘Laurie Cunningham’. Laurie Cunningham (b1956) in Archway-North London – joined the O’s as a youngster in 1974. Cunningham made a total of 75 appearances for Orient scoring 15 goals

 

A commemorative plaque displayed on an exterior wall of the O’s Brisbane Road ground, that is dedicated ex-player – the late ‘Laurie Cunningham’

 

In Coronation Gardens right next to Orient’s Brisbane Road ground, there stands a marvellous statue of Laurie Cunningham that was unveiled in 2017,

 

Up in the Midlands, not far from West Bromwich Albion’s ‘Hawthorns’ ground, there stands a statue of the ‘Three Degrees’ (Laurie Cunningham / Cyril Regis / Brendan Batson) – all 3 of which I am pleased to say I had the privilege of watching play.

 

During the Battle of the Somme, 3 Clapton Orient players were tragically killed in action – and they were:- Richard McFadden, Willie Jonas and George Scott. Today, a wonderful memorial exists in a graveyard in the French village of Flers, as a commemorative tribute to these 3 fine brave young men.

 

A commemorative plaque on display above the ticket-office of the O’s Brisbane Rd ground

 

The match-day ticket for the game v Macclesfield Town (08/02/20)

 

The match-day programme for the O’s v Macclesfield match

 

The front cover of the current edition of the club’s popular ‘OrientEar’ fanzine

 

The ‘Leyton Orient Supporters Club’ bar – (our pre-match location for a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones)

 

Our pre-match liquid sustenance in the Leyton Orient Supporters Club Bar

 

A blurry photo of Me-James & Les in the Leyton Orient Supporters Club bar – pre-match

 

Even some of the O’s players take time to come and join supports pre-match, in the Supporters Club bar

 

The stadium – pre-match

 

The stadium – pre-match

 

The stadium – pre-match

 

The stadium – pre-match

 

An amusing public notice in the stadium :-))

 

In January 2020, before a game against Newport County, the club renamed its main stand the ‘Justin Edinburgh Stand’ in commemoration and recognition of ex-manager, the late Justin Edinburgh’s marvellous achievement in getting the O’s back into the Football League at the end of the 2018/19 season.

 

The stadium starting to fill up – pre the Macclesfield match

 

The O’s club mascot “Theo”- amusingly stirring up the crowds enthusiasm – prior to the Macclesfield match (08/02/20)

 

The teams take to the pitch for the Macclesfield game (08/02/20)

 

The teams take to the pitch for the Macclesfield game (08/02/20)

 

Action from the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield match – 08/02/2020)

 

Action from the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield match – 08/02/2020)

 

James, Les & Me – taking in the Macclesfield game from our seats in the Tommy Johnston Stand

 

Action from the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield match – 08/02/2020)

Action from the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield match – 08/02/2020)

 

 

Action from the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield match – 08/02/2020)

 

Adam-James-Les & Me – at the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield game (08/02/20)

 

Club mascot ‘Theo’ – entertaining the crowd at the Leyton Orient v Macclesfield Town game (08/02/2020)

 

Me- James & Les at the O’s – 3 old work colleagues together again after an absence of some 30+ years –

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14 Comments
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14 Responses

  1. Ashley says
    February 14, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    Great article. Glad you managed to include the ‘Three Degrees’ statue in it. Well done mate

    Reply
  2. Dave says
    February 14, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    Excellent – an old mate of mine worked on the ground staff at Brisbane Road during the 1970’s. Another had his wedding reception there.

    Reply
  3. Les says
    February 14, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    Comprehensive research (as usual) plus historic photos and your unique style equals another interesting and entertaining blog. Great stuff!

    Reply
  4. Margaret Winter says
    February 14, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    Great article. My Dad was a supporter – he worked in a greengrocers in Leyton High Road close to Brisbane Road which was very convenient. He took me to home matches, and I am told he even took me as a baby in my carrycot back in the 1940’s. I still follow the O’s progress

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      February 14, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      Hello Margaret – thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact me – and I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed my article. Also thank you for sharing your personal memories of watching the O’s – sounds like you had some happy times down there at Brisbane Road 🙂
      kind regards…..GEOFF (London Shoes)

      Reply
  5. Stephen Jenkins says
    February 14, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you for the detailed blog. Just to add that the three Clapton Orient lads killed on the Somme were not buried together; Private William Jonas was killed in Delville Wood, 26 July 1916. Unfortunately, his body could not be retrieved, hence he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Private George Scott died of his wounds in a German Military Hospital 16 August 1916 and is buried in St Souplet British Cemetery, whilst Company Serjeant Major Richard McFadden MM, died of his wounds 23 October 1916, after being hit by the blast of a shell whilst leading troops along a trench near the village of Serre. Richard McFadden is buried in Couin British Cemetery. He was awarded the Military Medal for ‘bravery in the field’, he would often go out into No Man’s Land to rescue wounded comrades. Prior to the war he saved the lives of two small boys who were floundering in the River Lea, followed two weeks later by him going into a burning building in Clapton Park to rescue a little tot.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      February 14, 2020 at 8:44 pm

      Hi Stephen – thank you for taking an interest in my article and for your feedback highlighting the inaccuracy in my text – very kind of you and I really do appreciate it.
      I have made a slight amendment to my original text so as to avoid any further confusion or inaccuracy.
      Once again – many thanks and I’m pleased that you enjoyed my blog.
      Regards…..Geoff (London Shoes)

      Reply
  6. Stephen Jenkins says
    February 15, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    Following-on from my previous post, the O’s Memorial in Flers is in the grounds of the church of St Martin – there is no grave yard. Leyton Orient was actually formed in 1881 and not 1888, this is confirmed on the O’s Club badge. As regards the Orient’s most successful team, it must be the side that won promotion to Division 1 in the 1961/62 season. The O’s also has a successful decade in the 70s, starting by winning the Div 3 Championship in 1969/70, followed by great FA Cup wins against Leicester City away and then Chelsea at home in 1971. The Club also came so close to a return to the top division, narrowly missing out on promotion by 1 point at the end of the 1973/74 season. Further FA Cup glory was achieved in the 1977/78 season, when Orient reached the semi-finals for the first time in its history, beating Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea and Middlesbrough before losing to Arsenal. It was an heroic cup run for a side that played for each other and their manager who was seriously ill at the time, players such as; Peter Allen, John Jackson, Nigel Gray, Phil Hoadley, Joe Mayo, Peter Kitchen, Bobby Fisher, Tony Grealish, Peter Bennett, Glen Roeder, Kevin Godfrey, David Payne, Derek Clarke and Tunji Banjo. The manager was Jimmy Bloomfield and his sterling service to the O’s is commemorated by one of the four blocks of apartments that were built as part of the stadium redevelopment at Brisbane Road (or the Breyer Group Stadium – as the ground is now called), being named after him. The other three blocks are named after Laurie Cunningham, Tommy Johnston and Peter Kitchen.

    Reply
  7. Adam says
    February 15, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Just a quick message Geoff – but just wanted to say how incredible that blog post on the Orient is. Am going to get some massive coverage for you this weekend , it’s fantastic. beautifully written, you did a brilliant job and should be incredibly proud, plus it was a great day out!!

    Reply
  8. Geoffrey Dawe says
    March 10, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    Many thanks for article and information. Maybe worth mentioning that there is a memorial panel to George Scott in the George pub, Wanstead

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      March 14, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      Many thanks for sharing that info Geoffrey – I will most definitely add that fact to the blog narrative. Interestingly, I used to sometimes drink in The George-Wanstead, in my youth.

      Reply
  9. Arthur Godfrey says
    September 7, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Lea Bridge stadium, which was the club’s ground between 1930 and 1937, had a speedway stadium and not greyhound stadium. The wyvern badge was introduced in 1977, because the previous badge had a single dragon, which was very much like the one on the Welsh flag

    Reply
  10. Tom Smith says
    February 14, 2021 at 6:10 pm

    What a wonderful blog. Although a lifetime fan of the claret and blue persuasion it’s such an interesting journey of about a famous London Club.
    God Bless⚒

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      February 15, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      Hello Tom – I just wanted to thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes website – thank you for your kind comments, and I’m glad you enjoyed reading my “O’s” blog – as a staunch Irons fan myself, I have to say that I really enjoyed doing this one of our ‘neighbours’ – it was good fun👍

      Reply

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