I only say ‘little brother’ because not a few minutes down the road is the bigger sibling of the East End in West Ham United.
West Ham seemingly have everything that the O’s don’t have in terms of a top notch stadium (well, soon), money to invest, a star-studded squad, silverware of significance, a steady set of chairmen and a spot in the Premier League – and all that goes with that.
However, that shouldn’t detract from a club that has had a yo-yo life in the lower leagues. I recall Orient, as they were then, in the old second division and I remember the 1978 FA Cup semi-final, when Orient lost out to Arsenal in their iconic ‘braces style kit’. Bring that back, I say.
Leyton Orient started this season off with Ian Hendon in charge and stormed to the top of League Two after relegation last season. They went on an unbeaten league run from the first five games, but have been inconsistent since the beginning of October. That inconsistency and only four wins in 21 games, lost Hendon his job earlier this month after his appointment in May last year. Hendon was succeeded by his assistant Andy Hessenthaler up until last week’s appointment of player/manager Kevin Nolan. But where did this club begin and what’s gone on in between?
Founded in 1881, as a cricket club, the team became known as Orient Football club in 1888 and joined the football league in 1905. Orient is a strange name for a club from the East End, as most teams take their town, city or borough name. The name of the club was at the behest of a player (Jack R. Dearing) who was working for the Orient Shipping Company that later became part of P&O. In 1898, the club became Clapton Orient, as the team played within the area.
In 1937, the team moved to Leyton and became Leyton Orient after the second World War. Further name changes took place, as in 1966, the club became known as just Orient and then it changed again in 1987, when the fans’ campaign to add Leyton to the name succeeded. Not many teams have had as many name changes as the O’s. The club badge has also changed a few times from the borough coat of arms to a single dragon and then to it’s current incarnation – the two Wyverns facing – in 1976.
The O’s had just the one season in the top flight and the golden years were the 1960s and the 1970s. In 1961/62, Orient were promoted to England’s top tier – the old Division One – but struggled and were relegated after one season. One notable scalp was the defeat of near neighbours West Ham at the Brisbane Road Ground, but sadly Orient found themselves back amongst the third tier soon enough before becoming champions in the 1969/70 season. In the ’70s, Orient enjoyed time in the second tier, they were Anglo-Scottish Cup Runners-Up in 1976/77 and there was the 1978 FA Cup semi-final that I mentioned earlier. Aside from that, older Orient fans will remember being 2-0 down to Chelsea in the FA Cup Fifth Round, only to win 3-2, but there’s not been much to shout about since.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the club see-sawed between the third and fourth divisions under a succession of managers, but financial crisis was just around the corner for the then owner, Tony Wood, which led to another relegation. Play-off finalists twice, but defeated twice left the club in the lower reaches until promotion in 2005/06 under Martin Ling. In April 2010, Russell Slade was appointed as manager after Geraint Williams was sacked, as Orient looked doomed for relegation again, but Slade did enough to save them and was awarded an extended contract. A decent FA Cup run saw them reach the 5th round with wins over Norwich City away, Swansea City away and a creditable draw at home to Arsenal. The replay was a 5-0 drubbing, but they had a decent cup run and went on a 14 game unbeaten run which wasn’t quite enough for the play-offs and possible promotion. In 2013-14, Orient finished third in the league and went to Wembley as they took on Rotherham in the play-off’s, only to lose once again. Relegated last year, Leyton Orient are battling their way back and under Nolan and it’s been 100% so far. They are currently in the play-off area in sixth with 43 points – eight points off an automatic place – but with some tough matches to come. Teams around them have games in hand on Orient, so they will need every point they can win to remain in the play-off places. Time will tell.
In 2014/15, Italian business man Francesco Bechetti took over Leyton Orient and it all appeared to go wrong. Under Barry Hearn, the club appeared solid and even requested the rights to become tenants of the Olympic Stadium. Again the claret and blue shadow followed them and Orient lost out. Russell Slade left, to be replaced Mauro Milanese and then by Fabio Liverani and all before Christmas 2014. The takeover and the comings and goings of managers clearly upset the club and things seemed to stabilise this year with Hendon’s appointment and the great start to the season.
Famous O’s have been Peter Shilton, Stan Bowles, Ralph Coates, Laurie Cunningham, Justin Fashanu, Glenn Roeder, Andros Townsend and Ray Wilkins. There are obviously a number of former players that the fans hold dear, but maybe not so dear to their hearts are those players that came from Upton Park. In the 60s and 70s a number of players transferred to the O’s – Tommy Taylor, Mervyn Day, Alvin Martin, Pat Holland and Geoff Pike to name but a few.
And strangely enough, the West Ham connection continues at the Matchroom Stadium. Ian Hendon, a former O’s player, left West Ham for the managers job and now Kevin Nolan keeps the circle turning.
The O’s are just one of those teams that to anyone outside of the area appear to be completely invisible. Within their area they are a well known and a well-liked club with tremendous community links. It’s generally considered with Nolan’s background, that he will do well and Orient fans have their fingers firmly crossed.
Let’s hope they find stability and and promotion before long.
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