Previous page 1967/68. Next page end of 1969/70.     1968-1969 BLOOMFIELD'S FIRST FULL SEASON Nothing changed in the Orient programme except dates and oppon- ents appeared on the cover. Finally adverts appeared in last years blank spaces.  Neville Ovenden was now Vice-Chairman re- placing Frank Harris. Four files on the season start 1, 2, 3. 4. Peter Brabrook joined Orient on the 22nd July and became the 10th player to be signed by the club in the past 18 months. He was signed from West Ham for £10,000. The only other changes in the playing side were Eddie Werge, who played in 14 games the previous seasons scoring 2 goals. He joined Bexley, and Owen Simpson who left for Colchester for £3000. Dick Graham was the the new manager there.   Newly relegated Rotherham (10 August) with their new manager Tommy Docherty were the visitors to Brisbane Road in the opening match of the season. Team: Bowtell replaced Goddard, Jones, Howe re- placed Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook, sub Rofe re- placed Allen. Vic Halom put Orient on level terms in the 21st minute and Mickey Jones blasted number two from a Bloomfield free kick to put Orient ahead. Brabrook made it three kicking into an open net after Halom had beaten the keeper. Leggatt converted a penalty after Howe held him and then scored from a curving corner to draw Rotherham level at 3-3. Report.     In the League Cup at Gillingham Vic Halom's two goals helped us to a replay. The programme was some 22” x 8½ fol- ded four times to make it a more manageable 8½ x 5½ for 6d. Gordon Riddick was their centre forward captain and had played 48 games the previous season scoring nine goals. The team in the programme was the same as the opening game how- ever those in brackets played rather than those printed: Bowtell(Goddard), Jones, Howe, Taylor(Harper), Mancini, Harper(Taylor), Slater, Bloomfield(Massey), Massey(Bloomfield), Halom, Brabrook, sub Rofe. Three days later we were back (17 August) at Preistfield Stadium in a League match with the same 2-2 result, this time Brabrook and Bloomfield were the scorers. Riddick was not in the line-up due to forehead injuries. Team in the programme: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook, sub Rofe.   With the only changes in the last two matches being Goddard for Bowtell the team in the League Cup replay at Brisbane Road (20 August) showed two further changes, Allen for Bloomfield and Key replacing Rofe as the substitute. A further two goals from Halom and an own goal saw Orient through to the next round at home to Fulham. Rotherham, Gillingham, Fulham reports.   The same team beat Mansfield 1-0 at home (24 August) thanks to an own goal credited to Vic Halom - his 6th of the season making him the League's top scorer. The Colts continued their goal scoring feats by beating Reading 10-1 with goals from Manning 4, Fairbrother 3 and Coventry 3.         The next scheduled match at was to have been at home to Tranmere but the Football League postponed the match to enable Rovers to play their League Cup first round replay. Yet another 2-2 was re- corded, this time at Southport (30 August). Taylor and Halom were the scorers.   3 September. Orient duly dumped Fulham out of the League Cup thanks to Roy Massey. Orient and Arsenal were London's only un- beaten clubs. Fulham, managed by Bobby Robson were in the Second Division after 11 seasons in the First. Brian Wood joined Dick Graham at Colchester on a months loan. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Bloomfield (Allen played), Halom, Brabrook, sub Allan(?) Key was the sub.   Two goalless home matches against Luton at home (7 September) (Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Allen, Halom, Brabrook, sub Key but Bloomfied was the sub). On the Pools Page we were informed that the new Club Room Development Bond Scheme was going extremely well. Information on how to get to the club with the opening of the new Victoria Line was given. A full length dive by Bobby Moss kept our unbeaten record for the Colts against Spurs. We were top of the South East Counties League Division after scoring 13 goals in three games. The juniors lost at Chelsea 1-4. Sad to say none of the team made it into the first team. There was a Focus On art- icle on Ray Goddard. Tranmere (0-0) at home (9 September). Bloomfield played at the expense of Massey and Key for Brabrook against Tranmere. Article on Malcolm Slater appeared in this programme.   Two two draws seemed to be the order of the day so another was recorded at Barnsley (14 September) with goals from Allen and Halom. Reading, Luton Tranmere, Oldham, Brighton reports.          Monday 16 September. The home match against Brighton was aban- doned at half time with the scores at 1-1 due to the rain.  Mal Slater had scored for Orient after 10 minutes and Nobby Lawton had equalised six minutes before the break. The same had happened to the Colts on Saturday with them leading 3-0 against Fulham.   The team was now looking remarkably settled and for the home match against Oldham (21 September) the only changes were Allen, who moved to Harper's No.4 shirt and Massey donning Allen's No.8. Harper was the substitute. It worked as bottom of the table Oldham lost 3-0 in a match de- scribed by Sam Bartram as 'dreary'. Brabrook jarred a muscle in his right leg and went off after 59 minutes. Halom, attracting First Division scouts, scored the first from a low cross from Massey. Slater, Orient's best forward got the second through the keepers legs and Allen the third - a lucky goal that dipped in the wind. In the programme WANTED £15,000 THAT’S THE SUM WE NEED TO BUILD OUR NEW CLUBROOM. The Focus article was on Roy Massey. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper(Allen played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey(Allen played), Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook, sub Harper was the sub. At home Crystal Palace beat Orient 0-1 in the League Cup. It was Orient's first defeat of the season but four more followed in quick succession. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper(Allen played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Allen (Massey played), Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook(Rofe played), sub Rofe but Harper was the sub. Bert Howe was the Focus player. Palace played with three players that were to have Orient connections in the future in Jackson, Sewell and Payne. Peter Brabrook was still sidelined through injury as Orient lost 3-1 (Taylor) at Barrow (28 September), programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook but Rofe played. Beer of the pro- gramme was At home or away… Case’s Beer scores every time. The programme team was the same at Swindon 0-1 (5 October) except the 12th man was named as Ross?, a change in the per- sonnel at Tranmere (7 October) didn’t help as we lost 3-0, programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen (Harper played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey (Allen played), Bloomfield, Halom, Brabrook (Rofe played) sub Brabrook but Archell was named. And 5-2 (Mancini and Jones) at Stockport (18 October), the home match against Northampton being post- poned. All was not doom and disaster at the club as the Colts continued their winning ways by beating Watford 4-2 (Fairbrother 2, Archell and Moss) and Crystal Palace 3-1 (Fairbrother 3, Moss). Physio Charlie Simpson joined Orient but Cliff Jones at Spurs decided not to and joined Fulham instead. Without Brabrook and Key and with Harper off with the flu and Howe with a head cold Orient's only other professional apart from goalkeeper Bowtell was Terry Brisley as they faced Brighton at home (21 October). Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Archell sub Howe. Rofe played in place of Howe, Allen for Haroer, Bloomfield for Allen, Massey for Bloomfield Archell for Brabrook with Howe at Sub replacing Rofe, clear? Bloomfield scored a third minute goal and Mancini headed O's back into the lead and then converted a penalty to give Orient a 3-2 win. Brighton's Nobby Lawton was sent off after an incident with Peter Allen and he was the subject of a two page article. Reports from Stockport, Tranmere, Swindon, Brighton.   Orient had reportedly turned down a £25,000 offer plus Dave Simmonds from Arsenal for Vic Halom and Bloomfield had contacted Oxford regarding 22 year-old centre forward Mike Bullock. They wanted £10,000. Twenty-two year old Bullock was duly signed. Bloomfield knew Bullock from his days at Birmingham and he was top scorer at Oxford with 13 goals the previous season. Bullock and Roger Cross (on loan from West Ham) made their débuts in the home match against Hartlepool (26 October). It didn't help as Orient went down 0-1. The programme had an article on Rofe and the line up read: Goddard (Bowtell played), Jones, Rofe, Allen, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bloomfield, Bullock, Halom, Cross sub Archell. The Colts beat Crystal Place 3-1 with goals from Fairbrother 2 and Moss. The same scoreline 0-1 at Shrewsbury (2 November). Programme team: Goodard , Jones, Rofe (printed as Rose), Allen but Harper played, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bloomfield replaced by Allen, Bullock, Halom but Massey played, Cross but Bloomfield played sub Archell but Cross was named. The enclosed Football League Review had an article on Colchester manger Dick Graham. Report.   An 18 year old named Malcolm MacDonald ended Fulham's 11 hour goal famine on their return to the Second Division. Vic Halom joined him there for £35,000 to pay for Bullock’s signing (amongst others it was to turn out).   Reading (6 November) fans were chanting for the head of their manager Roy Bentley as another Roy, Massey, slid home from six yards for Orient's first away win of the season. Report.   Roger Cross come on for Roy Massey at half time and it took him only three minutes to score in the 1-1 draw at home to Watford (9 November). Mal Slater was in devastating form on the wing. Watford had signed Barry Dyson from Crystal Palace in January and despite playing only 20 games he finished top scorer with 15 goals. Programme sported two pages on Mancini. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Allen Bullock, Bloomfield sub Howe but Cross was named. Report on this and the Bristol Rovers game.   For the fourth time this season we played Gillingham (November 16), this time in the FA Cup. A 1-1 draw at home with a goal from Bloomfield. The two page article was on Mick Jones. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey (Allen played), Allen (Bullock played), Bloomfield(Archell played) sub Archell but Howe was named. The opposition fielded “A courageous play-any-Where footballer who was made club captain” They had paid £7000 to Luton for Gordon Riddick. November 20. This was followed by a 2-1 (Slater) defeat in the replay.  Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper (Allen played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Allen (Massey played), Bullock (Bloomfield played), Bloomfield (Bullock played), Archell, sub Howe. Reports from this, Swindon and the Bristol Rovers matches.           Bloomfield denied rumours that he was to quit playing to concen- trate on managing, just as well as he scored the winning goal against Bristol Rovers at home (23 November) as O's ran out 2- 1 winners. Mancini had headed the first goal. Brabrook’s leg was put in plaster to cure his achilles tendon. Key was to have the same done to his leg. Two page article was on Barrie Fairbrother. There was no indication in my programmes of any team changes so it read: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey, Allen, Bullock, Bloomfield, sub Archell. Before this result we were 7th from bottom.   News in the Rovers programme that Mickey Bullock was to move house (from Oxford) to end his goal famine proved prophetic as he scored in the very next match at Plymouth (30 November) but it wasn't enough to stop a 2-1 defeat. 7 December, a goalless draw in a friendly match at home to Peterborough. Again no programme notes so the team read: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Cross, Massey, Bullock, Allen, Slater, sub Fairbrother. The December 1968 edition of the Football Monthly had a two- page spread on Tommy Johnston. Visit PDF. There was no score in the Northampton at home (9 December) match (Peter Allen was taken off with torn ligaments). The programme team was much changed: Goddard, Jones (Howe played), Harper (Rofe played), Allen (Harper played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bloomfield (Bullock played), Bullock (Allen played), Rofe (Massey played), Cross (Bloomfield played, Sub Howe but Jones was named. But five days later (14 December) they beat us 4-1 at the County Ground. Roger Cross scored his last goal for the club. The programme team again was much changed: Goddard, Howe (Jones played), Rofe (Howe played), Harper (Rofe played), Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock (Harper played), Allen (Bullock played), Massey (Cross played), Bloomfield (Archell played), Sub Jones but Massey was named. Peter Brabrook's leg was put into plaster. He had not played since September 2, nor had John Key so Barry Dyson was bought from Watford for £10,000 and played on Boxing Day. At home to Swindon (26 December) cur- rently fourth in the table were field- ing ex O John Smith. An on-the-turn drive bounced off a defender to give Peter Allen a goal and Orient the points. The programme team again was much changed: Goddard, Jones, Howe (Rofe played), Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Massey (Bullock played), Bullock (Allen played), Allen (Dyson played), Bloomfield, Sub Rofe but Massey was named. Bloomfield Christmas message above right. Reports on Bristol Rover, Swindon, Northampton.   The Hartlepool match was postponed, Orient lost 2-0 at Crewe (4 January). There were no changes in the team in the programme, or at least if there were any I did not make note of them so: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Bloomfield, Sub Massey. The home match against Shrewsbury was postponed. Away at top of the table Watford (18 January 0-0) maybe had their minds on their FA Cup match at Manchester United the following week as Orient held them to a goalless draw thanks to some stout defensive work from Dyson! An un- changed team was named. A Double Diamond works wonders! according to their back page. Tom Walley was in the Watford line up. Watford and Swindon reports.   The first double of the season was at home over Reading (25 January 4-2) with 2 goals from Barry Dyson and one apiece from Bullock and Jones. Barrie Fairbrother, scorer of over 100 goals for the club was offered and signed professional terms. Doug Allder helped Millwall to a 1-0 win in the Mid-Week League Cup against Orient and Orient asked the council for finan- cial help after spending £150,000 on the ground. The money was needed for the playing surface, three games had been postponed thus far. Peter Brabrook was advised to have an operation on his Achilles tendon so Orient bought Terry Parmenter from Fulham for £5,000. There was a two page art- icle on Harper. Again the team was unchanged. The Colts beat West Ham 4-2 with goals from Manning 2, Fairbrother and Moss.  Reports on Reading, Crewe. Another Reading report.             February 1 home to Walsall 0-0. The two page article was on Brabrook whilst the programme team was unchanged at Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Bloomfield, Sub Massey. The only changes to the team were Parmenter replacing Bloomfield named as sub for the visit of sixth place Plymouth (15 Febuary) beat Orient 1-2 at home as Dyson scored his third goal in six matches and followed it up with four from seven when Orient beat Bristol Rovers away (24 Febuary) 0-1.   At Rotherham (1 March) beat O's 3-1 (Rofe) at Millmoor where the side showed only one change in the pro- gramme, that of Massey replacing Bloomfield as sub. The next match home against Crewe (3 March) bought a barrage of shots on goal which were finally rewarded with goals from Bullock and Dyson. We needed £7,500 to fix the pitch. Programme team:Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Parmenter, Sub Massey but Jones was named. Arthur Page complained of the lack of support saying 'Unless the fans turn up (only 3690 against Crewe) we shall have to sell players'. Goal magazine commented 'if the stayaways don't rate the best players worth seeing while they are at Brisbane Road, they are even ¤ less likely to rally round after the stars have gone'. Read it here.   At home we drew (again) 1-1 with Gillingham (8 March) when Terry Parmenter blasted Slater's cross into the net to give O's the lead. Programme team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Parmenter, Sub Jones. They were three from bottom and had converted Riddick into a striker. We were nine from bottom.   Away at Walsall (11 March) we lost 2-1, Dyson got a consolation goal six minutes from time.         15 March away at Mansfield 0-2. Mancini converted a penalty after Parmenter had been fouled.   A second was added by Dyson in the 53rd minute. Team in the programme: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Parmenter, Sub Jones but Massey was named. Reports on Gillingham, Walsall and Bournemouth.   Despite his transfer five months earlier Vic Halom was still Orient's top goal scorer with nine goals. Mancini notched up his sixth goal of the season in the home win against Bournemouth (17 March). Club secretary George Hicks responded to criticism which he believed could go back to the 1920’s when Pape was transferred to Manchester City. With gate receipts at £1000 and wages at £800 we were not doing well. Club directors were owed £41,000. We needed 1000 gates to survive but only 4000 turned up for the next match. Team in the programme: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen Dyson, Parmenter, Sub Jones.   Three wins in five matches took Orient to 14th in the table but they still lost to Southport (22 March), four places below them, 0-2. The WF Guardian said 'Southport did not win this match. It was presented to them.' Team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Jones. Bournemouth, Stockport, Southport reports.   Bloomfield turned down an offer to be the Reading manager and picked himself in Allen's place and Massey in Parmenter's for the match home to Stockport (26 March). Bullock hit form and in the 71st minute, spinning onto a Bert Howe pass he lobbed the ball over the keepers head. Ten minutes later his 25 yard drive found the net again.   A disastrous run of five defeats followed and plunged Orient to five places from bot- tom. Luton (29 March) away 2-1 (Rofe), pro- gramme team: Team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Jones.   Brighton (4 April) away 2-0, programme team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Massey but Jones was named. Their programme beer: Taste the sun go down Brickwoods Beers. The enclosed Football League Review had an article on Dick Graham. Barrow home (5 April) 2-1 (Harper), a two page spread on Brabrook. Programme changes: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper (Allen played), Mancini, Taylor (Harper played), Slater (Massey played), Bullock, Allen (Bloomfield played, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Massey but Jones was named. Torquay (9 April) home 0-1, The programme appeared to be nearly identical with the same Brabrook pages. Programme team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Massey. Oldham (12 April) away 3-1 (Harper). The Colts however were having no trouble winning matches. Gillingham 3-0, Brighton 3-1, Gillingham 5-1, Luton 4-0 and were placed below Millwall and Ipswich in the table scoring 82 goals in 26 matches, Millwall 123 in 30! Programme team: Goddard, Howe, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Taylor, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Parmenter but Massey played, sub Massey but Bloomfield was named.   A point was picked up in the goalless draw at Torquay (16 April) and Barry Dyson's lucky goal earned another point against Barnsley at home (19 April). Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe (Rofe played), Harper, Mancini, Taylor (Allen played), Slater, Bullock, Allen (Bloomfield played), Dyson, Parmenter, sub Taylor.   The match at Hartlepool (21 April) was also goalless. Bullock and Goddard were playing well and they more than anyone else were re- sponsible for the mini revival. +.   The East London Advertiser's headline for Friday April 25th read 'With two games to go the position looks hopeless'. With Shrewsbury, Hartlepool, Mansfield, Oldham and Crewe below them in the table Orient travelled to Bournemouth (25 April). A misplaced free kick by Bournemouth skipper White sent Slater away down the right. White raced back to intercept the danger, and boobed again by holing out to Dyson - who lashed a great left footer high into the net to give Orient both points. Former Millwall wing half Dickie Plume joined Orient on a months trial and Brabrook turned out for the reserves.   And so to the last match of the season, at home to Shrewsbury (28 April). A headline that read "Ten-man Orient beat the 'drop'" told the story. In the sixth minute Slater crossed for Bullock to blast in a shot from the edge of the penalty area and nearly take out the net. Rofe's cross 12 minutes later found Dyson, heading over Shrewsbury's offside trap and drilling the ball home. Terry Parmenter was sent off for kicking after some rough tackling from Shrewsbury's Tony Gregory. Bloomfield's 30 yard free kick was headed on by Bullock to the unmarked Mancini who headed the ball home for the third goal. In the 68th minute Dave Harper added a fourth. The East London Advertiser gave every player 10 out of 10 for their performance except for the sent off Parmenter. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Harper, Mancini, Allen, Slater, Bullock, Bloomfield, Dyson, Parmenter, sub Taylor. The following appeared in the Barnsley programme: MATCH BY MATCH THE ORIENT OF THE FUTURE During the past difficult weeks of first team football at the Orient we have been able to draw some encouragement and consolation from the ever-improving performances of our Football League players of the future. The best of our many talented young players have been appearing in both our reserve and colts teams and their fine football has inspired many of our supporters to ask for a breakdown in detail of their recent achievements. So today take the opportunity to pay tribute to their efforts—only one defeat for each team in their last four matches. The statistics speak for themselves. RESERVES—LONDON MIDWEEK LEAGUE CUP At Charlton on 2Sth February we won by four goals to one. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Coventry, Bailey, Brisley, Archell, Moss, Massey, Fairbrother, Bloomfield. Goalscorers. ‘Moss 2, Fairbrother 2. Manning was substituted for Bloomfield in 60th minute. At Colchester on 26th March. won 5-1. Team: Hadlow, Arber, Harris, Coventry, Bailey, Brisley. Archell, Moss. Fairbrother, Doyle, Manning. Goalscorers: Fairbrother 3, Manning, Doyle. Home v. Aldershot on 2nd April. Won 3-0. Team: Bowtell, Arber, Jones. Coventry, Bailey, Brisley, Massey, Doyle, Fairbrother, Moss. Archell. Goalscorers: Archell 2. Fairbrother 1. At Aldershot away on 9th April. Lost 2-0. Bowtell, Arber, Harris. Coventry, Bailey, Brisley, Moss, Doyle, Fairbrother. Archell, Manning. COLTS—S.E. COUNTIES LEAGUE, DIV. 1 At Ipswich on 22nd March. Lost 5-2. Team: Bowtell, Arber. Manning T.. Empson, Bailey, Holland, Moss. Coventry, Fair brother, Scrimshaw. Manning. Goalscorers: Manning, Moss. Home to Gillingham on 29th March. Won 3-0. Team: Bowtell, Arber, Harris, Coventry, Bailey, Peacock, Scrimshaw. Moss, Fairbrother, Pennyfather, Manning. Goalscorers: Fairbrother, Moss, Arber. Home to Brighton on 31st March. Won 3-1. Team: BowteIl Arber, Griggs, Coventry, Bailey, Peacock, Moss, Scrimshaw, Fairbrother, Pennyfather, Manning, Jefferies substituted for. Griggs in 70th min. Goalscorers: Fairbrother, Pennyfather, Manning. At Gillingham on 5th April. Won 5-1. Team. Boi Arber, Manning T., Coventry, Bailey, Peacock, Moss, Scrimshaw. Fairbrother, Jefferies, Manning. Goalscorers: Moss, Jefferies, Manning, own goals 2. At home v. Luton Town on 14th April 1969. Won 4-0. Team: Bowtell, Holland, Arber, Coventry, Bailey, Peacock, Moss, Jefferies, Fairbrother, Scrimshaw, Manning. Goalscorers: Moss, Jefferies, Fairbrother, Manning. Of the above players Fairbrother, Bowtell, Arber are professionals with the Club, Coventry, Bailey, Moss and Manning P. are apprentices. The other players are amateur players who have come through the schoolboy and junior teams. S.E. COUNTIES LEAGUE—DIVISION 1 P W D L F A Pts. Millwall 30 25 4 1 123 33 54 Ipswich Town 27 20 6 1 81 26 46 ORIENT 26 19 6 1 82 33 44 Charlton Athletic 28 16 7 5 69 38 39 Queens Park Rgrs 30 16 5 9 72 45 37 Crystal Palace 29 16 1 12 70 67 33 Tottenham Hotspur 38 12 3 13 74 42 27 West Ham United 29 9 8 12 49 61 26 Chelsea 27 11 2 14 66 58 24 Colchester Utd. 28 10 3 15 46 88 23 Luton Town 28 7 8 13 47 62 22 Fulham 27 9 4 14 37 48 22 Reading 30 8 6 16 44 90 22 Watford 29 9 3 17 43 82 21 Brighton & Hove 29 6 4 19 46 75 16 Gillingham 25 5 2 18 25 62 12 Oxford United 26 2 4 20 14 78 8   League appearances and goalscorers: Allen 43 (3), Archell 2+2 subs, Bowtell 2, Bloomfield 29+1 sub (3 + 1 FA Cup), Brabrook 7 (2), Bullock 33 (6), Cross 2+2 subs (2), Dyson 25 (10), Goddard 44, Halom 14 (5 + 4 L Cup), Harper 40+1 sub (3), Howe 28, Jones 31+3 subs (3), Key 1+1 sub, Mancini 46 (7), Massey 17+4 subs (1+1 L Cup), Parmenter 18 (1), Rofe 28 (2), Slater 45 (1+1 FA Cup), Taylor 39+1 sub (2). An op- ponent scored a League Cup goal.   Orient finished 18th in the table playing 46 games, winning 14 drawing 18 and los- ing 14. Goals for = 51, against 58, points 42. Northampton were relegated with 40 points and Hartlepool, Crewe and Oldham joined them in the Fourth Division. There had been no mention of the Club Room Development Bond Scheme since before Christmas.   1969-70 SUCCESS AT LAST Roy Massey joined Dick Graham at Colchester for £5,000 during the summer and John Key retired through as Achilles tendon injury similar to one the Peter Brabrook had just recovered from. Massey has spent the previous season on a part time basis to qualify for his Physical Training Instructors badge. £1,500 had been spent by the directors on the pitch with the installation of new drainage. The team were training a new HQ at Blake Hall in Wanstead. Close season news. Titbits. 26 July. The friendly at Romford ended in defeat if my memory serves me well (2-1 according to an end of season testimonial). They had Flatt and Gibbs in their line-up. Double Diamond Works Wonders proclaimed the programme. It was brewed at Romford by the Ind Coope Brewery. The printed team was: Goddard, Cowie (should be Howe?), Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook . My pencil notes suggested that Jones, Bowetell, Plume, Fairbrother and Parmenter also played. Four days later we played a second friendly at home to Portsmouth. Here my memory is not so good though 0-0 rings a bell. I was correct. I made no note of any team changes so the programme team read: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brarbook with sub Plume. The size and shape of the programme had not changed. An interesting statement form Chairman Arthur page: “Throughout the summer all at Orient have been working hard to pave the way for a successful season and wonderful spirit in the club has be typified by supporters George Taylor and Les Bann and their band of helpers who have quite voluntarily been at the ground night after nigh working on redecorations and improvements.” Make a note of that statement.   Previous page 1967/68. Next page 1969-70 continued