Next page 1967-68. Previous page 1966-1967.
Schoolteacher Alan Parkinson was in the Orient goal as Orient drew 1-1 with a Mansfield (22 April) side fielding former O Jimmy
McGeorge. Peter Allen cracked in a shot from the edge of the area eight minutes from time. Programme team: Willis (Parkinson
played), Jones, Howe, Wood, Went, Allen, Slater, Sneddon, Holton, Whitehouse (Sneddon played), Price. M&B Export was the beer of
the the programme. “It’s marvellous beer” we were told. Jobs were advertised for the East Midlands Mines.
For reasons best known to them they had the date as Saturday 25th. Doncaster, Reading, Mansfield and
Middlesbrough press reports here.
A 20 second goal from John O'Rourke and another in the second half from the
same player at Middlesbrough (Monday 24 April) helped beat Orient 3-1 at
Ayresome Park. Cliff Holton got the Orient goal. We were told
that ”Now that the borough of Leyton has disappeared within the administration
of the newly-formed Greater London Council, the club feels the “Leyton” in its
title has become anachronism and must be dropped”. I got a complimentary
ticket for the north stand. Programme team: Willis, Jones, Howe, Wood, Went,
Allen, Slater, Whitehouse, Holton, Werge, Price sub Bradbury. Newcastle Blue
Star Exhibition was on sale in the programme.
Orient signed 16 year old Barrie Fairbrother as apprentice professional and
schoolboy Graham Archell was tipped for an England Schools U-18 cap. 15 year
old Tommy Taylor played for England against West Germany. The only players to
carve a career for themselves in soccer in the England team were, Len
Cantello, Steve Whitworth, Tony Towers and Steve Perryman. Billy Carter and
Tommy Jenkins were told to find new clubs for the following season while Tony
Goodgame joined Hillingdon.
Two 1-1 draws followed. At home to Grimsby (29 April)(Whitehouse) Programme
team: Willis, Jones, Howe, Wood, Went, Allen, Slater, Whitehouse, Holton, Werge, Price.
From the Boys’ Page: Hello Lads,
Hope you all were as thrilled as I was at Mick Jones’ hat-trick against Doncaster. Twenty-two year old Mick started his career with a Slough Youth team called the “Pathfinders”. Fulham offered
him a trial and eventually signed him on pro. forms. At that time he played wing-half, inside-forward and full-back, but trying to dislodge England’s George Cohen at back was a bit too much and
Mick moved to Chelsea. After a season at Stamford Bridge, Orient signed him on in Februrary last year. Whatever position he has played for the O’s he has always been a great trier and his three
goals are a just reward to the lad who never knows when he is beaten. As a schoolboy, Mick, who lived in the Midlands, supported West Brom. and his idol was Ronnie Allen, one of football’s all
time “greats” and now manager of Wolves. Good luck Mick and may you go on netting them for the O’s for many seasons to come.
In the Office we had a letter from an O’s supporter, Mr. Kaufman. He suggests we ask young supporters how many O’s programmes they have (all different) also who has the oldest O’s pro-
gramme. I have a 1932 one, can anyone beat that? Anyway, let’s hear from you and see who is the champion Orient programme collector. We might borrow
some sometime when we want information and if we do, we will compensate you with a useful football gift, or a ticket for an away match. Let’s hear from
you. There was an article in the next home programme by N. Kaufman.
And away to Walsall (6 May) (1-1 Jones). Their programme carried the Football League Review where there
was an article on the financial plight of Southend. Programme team: Willis, Whitehouse, Howe, Allen,
Sneddon, Wood, Slater, Jones, Holton, Bradbury (Werge played), Price sub Ackerman (Carter was in his
place). I image Went was on schoolboy international duty. Advert was for Butlers Bitter.
At home Mansfield (12 May) were beaten 4-2. Cliff Holton scored a hat trick to bring his tally to 297.
He never made 300 and played his last game in November 1967. Terry Price scored the other goal. It was
to be his last for the club.
Programme team: Willis, Whitehouse, Howe, Allen, Sneddon, Wood, Slater, Jones, Holton, Werge (Keith
Smith played), Price sub Carter.
We lost 2-0 at home to Walsall (19 May). Programme team: Willis, Whitehouse, Howe, Allen, Sneddon, Wood,
Slater, Jones, Holton (Went played), Smith, Price (Werge
played). I still had Werge as sub! From the programme: In response to
many requests for information regarding our young players we would like to introduce to you
TERRY BRISLEY — Born Stepney and signed for the O’ at the beginning of this season.
Played for East London as a schoolboy.
STEPHEN BOWTELL — Born Mile End. Signed for Orient at the beginning of the season.
Played for England schoolboys during 1965/66.
DENIS ROFE — Born Epping. Now in his second season. Played for East London schoolboys. The same information ap-
peared in the next home programme. Eyesight test for the editor then?
22 May. Away at Romford for the Reg Sheward Trophy. Not a clue what the score was but the
were some familiar names in the programme: D. Gibbs, B. Taylor and D. Sorrell. They were
top of the Southern League having scored 80 goals with T. Barnet the top scorer with 22, 48
in all competitions. Programme team: Willis (Goddard played), Whitehouse, Howe, Wood, Went,
Allen, Slater, Jones, Holton (Ackerman played), Smith (Fry played), Price (Bradbury
played).
We won the final match of the season 2-0 against Workington (27
May). Allen and Went scored the goals.
Programme team: Willis (Goddard played), Whitehouse, Howe,
Allen, Sneddon, Wood, Slater (Went played), Jones, Holton
Smith, Price sub Werge. Press report here.
It was the final appearance of Keith Smith the former
Darlington striker, as O's decided against offering him a con-
tract. Street and Ackerman
were given free transfers but
Ackerman was in the team line
up for the 1967-8 season.
Orient finished a respectable
14th in the table despite
spending much of the season
in the bottom four - only
five points separated them
from Division Four. A massive
29 players were used during
the season. Appearances: Tony
Ackerman 3, Peter Allen 34,
Terry Bradbury 25(2), Billy
Carter 16(2), David Forsyth
15, Barry Fry 2(1), Ray
Goddard 1, Tony Goodgame
7(2), Cliff Holton 44, Bert
Howe 23, Mickey Jones 43,
Dick le Flem 2, Dave Metchick
23, George O'Brien 10, Alan
Parkinson 1, Vic Rouse 3,
Malcolm Slater 22, John Smith
8(1), Keith Smith 3, John
Sneddon 15, Dennis Sorrell 8,
Terry Street 1, Paul Went 39,
Eddie Werge 21, Brian Whitehouse
41, Ron Willis 41, Brian Wood
23, Ken Woodward 1. When was the
last time a we played 4 goalkeepers in a season?
Goalscorers: Holton 17, Jones 7 (not bad for a fullback), Price 7,
Metchick 5, Went 5, Carter 3, O'Brien 3, Whitehouse 3, Allen 2,
Sneddon 2, Slater 1, Smith J 1, Sorrell 1, Wood 1. Final table.
Elsewhere Romford were top of the Southern League Premier Division
(Wimbledon were 4th) and Dover and Margate were top of Division
One. QPR and Middlesbrough were promoted, Swansea, Darlington,
Doncaster and Workington were relegated to Division Four with
Stockport, Southport, Barrow and Tranmere going the other way.
Notts Co, York, Bradford PA and Lincoln sought re-election.
Whilst Chairman Arthur Page blamed the hospitalisation of Graham
for the first six games of the season and the ensuing poor form I
cannot think it was anything other than the continuing tinkering
of the team helped. At the end of the season there were fewer
changes and results improved.
Previous page. Next page.
My other football match of the season was
at
Southend v Stockport. Colin Flatt was in
the programme team. Winger John Price
played for Stockport and maybe we were
interested in him. At 5’3½” he wasn’t a
