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I take no pleasure from seeing the current plight of Leyton Orient indeed quite the opposite. My father was brought up in Leyton and though he was a Hammer through and through used to watch them on occasions (generally when West Ham were away) . Our old nemesis Barry Hearn bought the "O's" for £5 from Tom Wood in 1995 and indeed a documentary called "Orient, Club For a Fiver" was made shortly after.
A club that has gone through many name changes (and in the last 2 years many managers) since it's formation in 1881. Since Hearn took over the corners of The Matchroom Stadium were punted and now sit flats duly named after former O's favourites such as Barry Kitchen etc. Hearn sold the club to Francesco Becchetti an Italian business man just after the club failed to win the League 2 play off final in 2013/14! It has all gone down hill since then and a club that still has aspirations of moving to the (15,000 capacity) Riverbank Arena from the current 9,271 capacity ground on Brisbane Road but thus far has failed to materialise.
Hearn did his level best to prevent West Hams move the London Stadium, although he helped thwart our purchase he could not prevent The Hammers moving albeit in rented form. After he passed Orient on crowds increased yet the clubs debts have exceeded it's assets. I have been to Brisbane Road many a time in the past and most memorably when we drew 1-1 in the FA Cup 3rd Rd back in January 1987 along with around 18,000 others! Many on social media slate our owners for a lack of investment in playing staff and some even go as far as to state that they are in it for the money! But a little thought keeps popping into my mind ... had Messrs Sullivan and Gold not rescued our beloved club we ourselves could be in a similar plight!
We have bought and sold players from the "O's" some went to Leyton on free transfers the last of which was Kevin Nolan. In the end though Orient fast heading toward the Conference are heading there due to one man and that is the very man who tried in vain to blacken our good name.... Barry Hearn.
To the detractors who criticise our owners think before speak...please.
Surprised no one has
Surprised no one has commented?
I am sorry to see that the O
I am sorry to see that the O's are in real trouble. I remember going there in the 70's when West Ham were playing away and I also remember them collecting money on a blanket to keep the club going.They have always been our poor neighbours but nearly made it into the old Division One in the 70's missing out on goal difference to Carlisle.I hope that they can bounce back from the National League but its not easy.
Sympathy for Orient fans
I've never watched a match at Brisbane Road but I always used to look out for their results. However my feelings for the club changed during the time when Hearn was bad mouthing our club in the hope of making a fortune out of what was then called the Olympic Stadium. For a while I took some satisfaction in seeing their results fall away.
However I just feel sorry for their supporters today, who face the prospect of falling out of the Football League, saddled with foreign owners who don't seem to have a clue about how to run a football club and care little for the area, the fans or the club's traditions.
Jeff and Tungsten I no longer
Jeff and Tungsten I no longer feel alone lol! thanks for replying , been to Brisbane Road a few times saw Chedozie, Cunningham etc play for the O's , of course this was the days before all seaters came into being. One game I back in 1972 I met John Bond and Kenny Brown who were Manager and assistant at Bournemouth at the time O's beat Boro 2-0 and Micky Bullock scored, had a big soft spot for them until Mr Hearn took the reins.
I used to enjoy going to the
I used to enjoy going to the O's.There was always plenty of standing room, a lot of hammers fans and in the 70's they had a pretty good team. I remember they beat Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Cup after being 2-0 down. I saw them in the days of Tommy Taylor and Dennis Rofe and I remember Mickey Bullock and Gerry Queen who signed from Kilmarnock.
i saw geof pike
score at Brisbane road in a 0-4 win for us and he had no idea what happened he was running into the box cross came in and smacked him on the side of the face as he turned to see if a cross was coming and it went into the net...apart from being bloody cold it was either a boxing day or new years day fixture if memory serves me right...its the only time I ever went to the ground so at least it was a good memory for me