All hail Leyton Orient!!!
I have been a Leyton Orient supporter ever since 1999 when my soccer team visited England for some "friendlies." Part of the trip involved watching a Leyton Orient home game (Div 3/League 2 then) and a Queens Park Rangers home game (Div 1 then). I was disappointed that we were unable to watch a Premiership game during
the trip. Who knows, had we gone to the pitiful dump they call White Hart Lane, I may be a Spurs fan and not a Gunners supporter. But anyway, I came from the trip a lifelong supporter of the Orient.
Orient do not have the glorious history that many other clubs in England have. Their tiny stadium (holding less than 10,000 people) is located in a rather shady part of North London, at least that's what my impression was. While they may not have many supporters, the ones who show up are diehards. This past season, the O's got off to a quick start and played brilliantly. They got promoted out of the 3rd division (now called Leauge 2) and will begin the new season in the 2nd division (League 1). This is big news because ever since I've been a fan of the O's they've been stuck in the third division, at times just barely avoiding relegation to the Nationwide conference, where we would surely never hear of them again.
In honor of their promotion, I decided to post a little history on the club I have come to love. Leyton Orient was formed in 1881 by members of the Glyn Cricket Club and Homerton Hospital as a means for its members to stay fit. In 1898 the club's name was changed to Clapton Orient in hopes of drawing more wealthy supporters and to represent the area of London in which they played. During World War I, 40 members of the Clapton Orient team and staff joined the army the highest of any football team in the country. At the final game of the season, 20,000 people came out to support the team. A farewell parade was also hosted. During the Battle of the Somme, three players lost their lives. Though they were the only Orient staff to have died during the First World War, it was the highest casualty figures of any football team in Britain. In 1937, the club moved to Leyton, but the name Leyton Orient wasn't taken until after World War II. In 1966 the name was shortened to just Orient, and stayed that way until 1987 when they reverted to Leyton Orient. [My God, these guys changed their names almost as much as Marquette....to all you Warrior fans, we still have hope...stupid Golden Eagles.]
Leyton Orient is the second-oldest Football League club in London (and the south-east of England), behind Fulham. In 1905 the O's joined the Football League and are the 24th oldest club currently playing in the Football League.
Leyton Orient was promoted this season in a dramatic fashion...they scored a last minute goal on the last day of the season against Oxford and locked up 3rd place in League 2. This ended an 11 year span in League 2, England's bottom division.
the trip. Who knows, had we gone to the pitiful dump they call White Hart Lane, I may be a Spurs fan and not a Gunners supporter. But anyway, I came from the trip a lifelong supporter of the Orient.Orient do not have the glorious history that many other clubs in England have. Their tiny stadium (holding less than 10,000 people) is located in a rather shady part of North London, at least that's what my impression was. While they may not have many supporters, the ones who show up are diehards. This past season, the O's got off to a quick start and played brilliantly. They got promoted out of the 3rd division (now called Leauge 2) and will begin the new season in the 2nd division (League 1). This is big news because ever since I've been a fan of the O's they've been stuck in the third division, at times just barely avoiding relegation to the Nationwide conference, where we would surely never hear of them again.
In honor of their promotion, I decided to post a little history on the club I have come to love. Leyton Orient was formed in 1881 by members of the Glyn Cricket Club and Homerton Hospital as a means for its members to stay fit. In 1898 the club's name was changed to Clapton Orient in hopes of drawing more wealthy supporters and to represent the area of London in which they played. During World War I, 40 members of the Clapton Orient team and staff joined the army the highest of any football team in the country. At the final game of the season, 20,000 people came out to support the team. A farewell parade was also hosted. During the Battle of the Somme, three players lost their lives. Though they were the only Orient staff to have died during the First World War, it was the highest casualty figures of any football team in Britain. In 1937, the club moved to Leyton, but the name Leyton Orient wasn't taken until after World War II. In 1966 the name was shortened to just Orient, and stayed that way until 1987 when they reverted to Leyton Orient. [My God, these guys changed their names almost as much as Marquette....to all you Warrior fans, we still have hope...stupid Golden Eagles.]
Leyton Orient is the second-oldest Football League club in London (and the south-east of England), behind Fulham. In 1905 the O's joined the Football League and are the 24th oldest club currently playing in the Football League.
Leyton Orient was promoted this season in a dramatic fashion...they scored a last minute goal on the last day of the season against Oxford and locked up 3rd place in League 2. This ended an 11 year span in League 2, England's bottom division.
posted by JuTaW at 11:09 PM
5 Comments:
The football season started in Scotland yesterday! Hardly any point in looking at the back of the newspapers if there's no football on! Hotboy
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hotboy, I definetely feel that. There's nothing more exciting than the beginning of a new season...every team has high hopes and only a few actually achieve them.
Jutaw: Well odd to see this footie stuff. Grear really! And very unexpected! Hotboy
hotboy,
surprised that its here because im an american or a girl or both? haha....looks like joe cole might be out for some time from chelsea courtesy of the mls!!!
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