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2003-04
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Rough guide to... Leyton Orient
Sam Metcalf
15 June 2004
In a nutshell
They were called Clapton Orient. Then they were called Leyton Orient, then they were called Orient. Then they were called Leyton Orient again. The tricky buggers.
Their finest hour
Made it to the big time in 1962 with promotion to the big boys' league that was Division One. Indeed, the 60s swung like a North Lincolnshire dogging site for Leyton Orient, who packed serious bum on seat during this time, culminating in their record home attendance against West Ham in 1964. More recently, the Os have tasted the salty spunk of play-off defeat twice in recent years, somehow losing to Scunny at Wembley a year after Town's double success there, and also losing to Blackpool in the final at the Millennium Stadium in 2001. Unlucky.
Antipathies
Southend United seem to raise the temperature down Brisbane Road way. I dunno why... after all, Southend haven't got anything to shout about.
Last season
Absolutely rotten. The Os finished in 19th position, and it was only through the general crapness of Carlisle and York that they managed to end up eight points clear of relegation. Only one win in the last 15 had the ringpiece of the average fan nipping right down to the last couple of weeks, mind.
Who's the Dadi?
Lee Thorpe wasn't too bad when he played for Town last season, was he? There were so many, and my memory isn't what it was. However, it is in the colours of Bristol Rovers that Thorpe will undoubtedly score a three-minute double hat-trick against Town at some point during next season. So who'll do the Mariners at Brisbane Road? Well, manager Martin Ling has been a right busy bugger already, adding Alan White from Colchester and Wayne Carlisle from Bristol Rovers this close season. Oh yeah... and Lee Steele from Oxford. Come on Slade, catch up!
Prospects
Martin Ling is clearing out all that dusty stuff called 'dead wood' and seems intent on bringing in 'his own men'. Many of whom will undoubtedly be able to 'do a job'. If you'd said that last sentence to me when I was 13 I'd have pissed myself at the back of a physics lesson. In fact, it's still quite funny, innit? Erm... yeah, anyway, who knows how anyone's gonna do next year. I'm done with predictions after last season.
Trivial pursuits
Always innovators, Leyton Orient were probably years ahead of their time in being deep in financial trouble - just after the Second World War! Not for them the trials and tribulations of three-figure crowds in the mid-80s. Oh no. Leyton O got there first. They may have struggled as a club, but at least they had the brand spanking new National Health Service. Bet that cheered them up no end.
When Town were last down at this level they used to have one of the best home records in the world and were absolutely crap on their travels. I once saw Leyton Orient beat Town 5-0 at Brisbane Road. It was, without doubt, one of the most distressing days of my life... mainly because my girlfriend at the time dumped me on the same day. I didn't give a shite about the score, but I couldn't find any blue label Thunderbird to help me through this particular end-of-the-world moment for love nor money. Sorry, I'm rambling now.
Links
Apart from the usuals, there's this site set up by some nutter who lives in Scandinavia. Welcome to the wacky world of Division Three! Cor, I never once mentioned Barry Hearn.
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