1969-1970 Next page 1970/71 Previous page 1968- 1969. Next page With Parmenter suspen- ded for 14 days the line-up for the open- ing match at Rochdale (9 August 0-3 Rofe, Dyson, Allen) read: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, with Dickie Plume the substitute. After 18 minutes Rofe received a return pass from Brabrook and rammed home the first goal from the edge of the six yard box. As you have read before he was a forward in the Colts. Sixteen minutes later Allen shaped to pass to Slater but in- stead slid the ball square for Dyson to blast home a 25 yard shot with keeper Harker a spectator. A harder shot would be hard to ima- gine. Orient added a third when Dyson's accurate centre was side footed home by Bullock. This was Rochdale’s first game back in the division after promotion. Their Programme was double that of ours at 1/- but did include the Football League Review with picture of Newcastle’s Frank Clark. Their beer was from Vaux and we were in- formed that it was Brewed In The North For People Who Know Good Beer. Reports of the Rochdale and Fu;ham games. Superb goalkeeping by Fulham's (13 August 0-0) Ian Seymour held Orient to a goalless draw in the League Cup at Brisbane Road. Goddard was also in fine form while Mancini subdued Halom. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brabook with sub Plume. Centre page featured a team photograph. From the previous season the following fact emerged: Dyson was top scorer with ten goals despite playing just 25 times. It took Mancini 46 games to score his seven. Best average was that of Roger Cross on loan from West ham. His four matches resulted in two goals though he was substitute twice. We finished seven from bottom with 42 points from 46 games. Crewe and Oldham were bottom with 35 points each. The same team turned out for the third successive match to beat newly promoted Halifax (16 August) 1-0 (Bullock) at home thanks to Bullock's overhead kick in the sixth minute. The programme featured a dossier on the players by Bloomfield thus: PETER ALLEN: An energetic player who never knows when he is beaten. Peter is a conscien- tious clubman and our longest serving professional. GRAHAM ARCHELL: A player of potential who has yet to learn to turn his ability to the fullest advantage. BOBBY ARBER: I think this could be Bobby’s season to break through to the first team. Very quick and a good kicker of the ball. BILL BAILEY: Very Orient minded, which is a quality we look for in all our young players. Captain of last season’s successful colts side and has made rapid progress since being switched to centre half. STEVE BOWTELL: England youth international and without doubt one of the best young goalkeepers in the country. Unlucky not to be regular first team keeper because Ray Goddard has shown such fine form but a boy with a bright future. TERRY BRISLEY: A very hard working and skilful forward who I hope will break through this season, PETER BRABROOK: Results showed how much we missed England international Peter after he was injured last season. Apart from being an outstanding and experienced player he is a good influence on our youngsters. MICKEY BULLOCK: Dedicated player and one of the best headers of the ball in the Third Division. I have set him a target of 20-25 goals this season. BARRY DYSON: Great speed and shooting power whose goal at Rochdale in our opening match came from one of the hardest shots I have ever seen. Another player with a target of 20-25 goals. BARRIE FAIRBROTHER: Proven striker in youth and reserve football where he has scored more than 100 goals for the club. His enthusiasm should soon carry him into the first team. RAY GODDARD: Conscientious player who, like all good ] keepers, hates to be beaten. A young and still improving player. DAVE HARPER: One of our most senior but still one of our fittest players by virtue of his dedic- ation in training. Playing as well as ever. MICK JONES: A player who always gives 100 per cent and frequently comes through from full back to demonstrate one of the hardest shots in the Third Division. TERRY MANCINI: One of our most popular playe Orient who I rate an ideal skipper and the best centre half the Third Division. Dominating in the air and a lot better player on the ground than he is often given credit for. TERRY PARMENTER: Very quick winger. I potential—he played for Fulham in the First Division at 17 - will develop at the Orient. DICKIE PLUME: Our one close season signing from Millwall. Boy with a good football brain who could surprise a lot of people this season. DENNIS ROFE: Without doubt one of the best backs in the country. Just 19 and another with a very bright future. MALCOLM SLATER: Fitness fanatic whose special - with him- self — particularly with his diet—helps him into positions to fre- quently demonstrate his ability as a wonderful crosser of the ball. TOMMY TAYLOR: A boy giant 6 ft and 13 stone yet at 17 still young enough to play for the colts. Already one of the best young defenders in the country. OUR APPRENTICES this season are Paul Harris, Bobby Moss, Phil Manning, Steve Coventry and our latest signings. Martin Binks and Malcolm Filby. They are a group who we feel will help us maintain the fine record we have at Orient [or producing top quality footballers from among our own youngsters.   18 August Fulham away 3-1 (Harper). Fulham scored their first goals of the season to put Orient out of the League Cup and a tie with League champions Leeds. Dave Harper equalised in the 63rd minute but two further goals gave Fulham a flattering 3-1 sco- reline. Again the team was unchanged but their side showed Halomm in the side but my note indicated he was replaced by Earl. Johnny Hartburn was pictured in his role in the pools office, a role he once had with us. Halom did not play and was replaced by Earl.   Two goals up with 16 minutes to go Orient lost 3-2 at Luton (23 August 3-2 Jones, Bullock). Jones's free kick found its way into the net after 14 minutes and Bullock headed in a Slater cross from close range on the hour. Malcolm MacDonald scored the winner for Luton three minutes from time. Whitbread Tankard cool, clear, refreshing was advice for beer. Again the team was unchanged. 25 August. Away to Barrow 1-1 (Mancini). Bloomfield refused to panic and picked the same team. Mancini headed an equaliser in the 80th minute but Goddard was the Orient hero saving a pen- alty in the dying seconds. Reports from Fulham, Luton, Barrow and Mansfield.   30 August. Home to Mansfield (1-0 Fairbrother) An injury to Mickey Bullock meant the first team change of the season. Bloomfield chose 18-year-old Barrie Fairbrother to replace him and what a choice! Harper's short pass to Dyson was sent goal-ward and deflected to Fairbrother to blast past keeper Brown. Plume came on for the injured Brabrook.   6 September. Away to Rotherham (0-0). Fairbrother kept his place for the visit and won acclaim for his per- formance in a goalless draw. One national paper reported 'A week ago Fairbrother got his first goal in League football. This time he might have had a hat-trick, for United could not curb him'. Another said 'He chased everything and was a handful for the experienced Watson' It was reported that Orient were interested in buy- ing back Vic Halom from Fulham who had been placed on the transfer list by manager Bill Dodgin having scored just three goals in 13 matches.   Bullock was fit again but could not get into the team so was named as substitute for the home match against Brighton (13 September 1-1 Mancini) who were second in the table (Orient were sixth). Mancini nodded home yet another equaliser as Dave Harper went off with an injured jaw. Team in the programme read: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume though Bullock replaced him. Two days later with Malcolm Slater sidelined by influenza and Bullock wearing his number 7 shirt and Parmenter the sub, Orient beat fourth placed Bradford City (15 September 1-2 Bullock, Fairbrother) in a match that saw City keeper Liney save a penalty from Mancini which would have equalised Swallow's seventh minute goal. Instead Bullock darted behind Bradford's defence to tap in a Jones cross. Liney's fumble 12 minutes from time from Rofe's cross let in Fairbrother who jabbed the ball home. Referee and linesmen lead the applause for both teams at the end. A lot of the programme had been copied from the Brighton one.   The injured Brabrook was replaced by Parmenter for the match at Barnsley (20 September 1-2 Fairbrother, Plume). The habit of let- ting opponents score first continued. Though most Sunday papers gave the equaliser to Parmenter it was Fairbrother whose shot cracked against an upright and swept in the rebound. The injured Parmenter was replaced by Plume who scored when Barnsley's off- side trap failed when Dyson lifted the ball over the heads of the defence, Fairbrother chested the ball down and Plume beat the keeper from five yards. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Bullock, Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook(Parmenter), sub Plume. Barnsley Bitter unsurprisingly was the beer of choice.   Slater replaced Bullock as Peter Allen scored in off the post as Orient were held 1-1 (Allen)at home to Torquay (27 September) who had replaced Brighton in the number two spot in the League. Mancini played his 100th match for the club. P.S. Doran & Sons, caterers at West Ham and Arsenal were made official caterers. Another name to remember in Leyton Orient’s Supporters Club his- tory. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater, Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Parmenter(Plume).   Revenge for their League Cup defeat by Fulham (29 September 3-1 Mancini, Allen, Fairbrother)) was taken at home. 'Dazzling Orient shake Fulham' was the Daily Express headline. 'Orient take the sparkle out of Fulham' said the Daily Mirror. Bullock replaced Slater as again we allowed the opposition to score first and again Mancini headed an equaliser, this time from a Mick Jones free kick. Allen made it two and that man Fairbrother three with a diving header from Taylor's cross. 18,861 saw the match. Orient were reported to be interested in Dave Simmonds Aston Villa, the same Dave Simmonds that Arsenal wanted to part exchange for Vic Halom. Halom was not in their side. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Slater(Bullock), Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume(Slater). We were four from top behind Luton, Torquay and Brighton.   Next stop was at Tranmere (4 October 1-1 Bullock) where I recall that the supporters coach turned up at half time due to a smashed windscreen. I, on the other hand travelled by train despite asking for a ticket to Tranmere. There is no such station and the nearest is Birkenhead. The licensees were a bit hot on under age drinking in that area and upon being asked if I was 18 I replied that I was three years back and received a light and bitter. An injury in training to Goddard meant Bowtell donned the keepers gloves. Harper got a cartilage injury in the first minute and was replace by Plume. Bullock scored from close range as Bowtell stopped everything until Yardley scored his 11th goal of the season to equalise in the 69th minute. Programme team: Goddard(Bowtell), Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Bullock, Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume.   Bullock scored again in the next match at Halifax (7 October 1-1 Bullock) but it was not enough as we drew 1-1. Bowtell continued in goal, Parmenter played at 6, Plume was again the sub. In the previous month Halifax had lost 8-0 to Fulham. A warm welcome was ensured at the Mugatroyd Arms selling Ramsden’s Ale. We wer informed that Thwaites was brewed in the natural way. The enclosed Football League Reveiw had a picture of the Crystal Palace Division Two Runners-up team of 1969-69 with Mark Lazarus in the side. The coach fare was 35/-. Programme team: Goddard(Bowtell), Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Plume(Parmenter), Bullock, Fairbrother, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume.   Orient had gone 10 games without defeat. Home to Reading (11 October 0-1) put a stop to that and won with the only goal of the match at Leyton Stadium. Programme team: Bowtell(Goddard), Jones, Rofe(Plume), Taylor, Mancini, Plume(Allen), Bullock, Fairbrother, Allen(Slater), Dyson, Parmenter, sub Slater(Brisley). Alarm bells sounded for Bloomfield as we slipped to eighth and he went to Crystal Palace and spent £8,000 on signing a player who started his career at Brisbane Road 12 years previously - Mark Lazarus.   He played at home against fourth placed Doncaster (18 October 2-0 Mancini, Bullock) and we were back on the winning trail 2-0. Free kicks from Barry Dyson meant goals for Mancini and Bullock. After 15 games Orient were 6th. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Fairbrother(Bullock), Bullock(Fairbrother), Dyson, Brabrook(Parmenter), Plume.   At Gillingham (25 October 0-1 Fairbrother) were three from bottom. Bullock's aerial domination was superb and with the Gills concen- trating on him, Mark Lazarus flicked the ball to Fairbrother who controlled it, rounded the keeper and slotted home for the only goal of the match. Gordon Riddick was their top scorer with three goals. Programme team, and I made no note of changers if there were any: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Parmenter.   Home to Bournemouth (1 November 3-0 Dyson, Bullock 2) were four from bottom and suffered the same fate. Dyson headed the first and Bullock scored two. Bloomfield said, 'The way we are playing now we unquestion- ably look like a side that can go up'. The team was unchanged. Bullock was top scorer with seven goals.   He said it too soon. we lost by a goal to nil away at Plymouth (8 November 0-1) with and unchanged team. P.B. Superkeg, Top of the Thirst Division was brewed by Plymouth Breweries. In the FA Cup we drew 0-0 away (15 November) at Walsall. Brabrook returned and replaced Parmenter. We lost two nil at home to Walsall (17 November) in the replay. Harper replaced Fairbrother, Plume was still sub. Bullock scored a goal (22 November 1-1 Bullock) away to Shrewsbury to give us a point. The team was still Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, Sub Plume. Web Best Bitter was their beer, brewed by Greenhall Whiteley. 24 November Home to Walsall (2-0 Dyson, Bullock). We played Walsall at home - this time in the League and won 2-0. Brabrook found Dyson who swivelled a left foot shot past keeper Wesson. Brabrook's corner was pushed on by Harper in the team in place of Fairbrother for Bullock to force his 11th goal of the season. Top scorers Bullock and Fairbrother featured on the centre pages.   13 December. Away to Brighton 0-0. 'The poorest side I've seen down here this season' said manager Freddie Goodwin of Orient after a goalless draw. They had slipped to mid table. Parmenter replaced Brabrook. Mal Slater turned down an extended loan to Colchester. The Football League Review investigated table top football which included magnetic football which my brother and I got one Christmas. Watney Ales and Brickwood beers were featured in the programme along with a Double Diamond carton in the FLR. Bloomfield missed the match, he had the flu.   20 December. Home to Rotherham 1-1 (Brabrook). Brabrook headed his first goal of the season.a Bullock was taken off and replaced by Fairbrother in a attempt to force the winner after Steve Downes had equalised. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen(Harper), Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother(Allen), Dyson, Brabrook, Sub Plume(Fairbrother).   26 December. Home to Luton (Allen) were top of the table with 33 points (Orient had 29) but it didn't stop Orient beating them 1-0 thanks to a Peter Allen goal. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen(Harper), Lazarus, Bullock, Allen(Fairbrother), Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume(Fairbrother). Harper was stretchered off three minutes from half time. Alec Stock and Jimmy Andrews were the Luton management team who signed 19-year-old Malcolm MacDonald from Fulham as a full back and converted him to a forward. He cost £17,500.   27 December. Away at Mansfield 4-1 (Lazarus). Next day, on a skating rink of a pitch we lost 4-1. Lazarus scored from a shot that bounced 32 times before entering the net. I might exaggerate a bit! Plume replaced Harper. Luton didn't fare any better as they lost 0-2 at home to Gillingham. Could be teetotal up there give the lack of beer adverts. There was ad for Mennex(?) Comes in tins. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper(Plume played), Lazarus, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Fairbrother.   2 January. Away to Fulham 1-1 (Lazarus). Allen took Plume's shirt and Fairbrother Allen's. Vic Halom, substituting for Barry Lloyd made Jimmy Conway's late equaliser. Fairbrother had headed down Brabrook's cross and the keeper could only parry the ball down for Lazarus to score in the melee to take the lead. Tables in the programme re- vealed we were fifth in the SE Counties League Division I, top of Division II and bot- tom of the Division II Cup table. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Plume(Allen) played), Lazarus, Bullock, Allen(Fairbrother played), Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume. If you wanted one of their calendars for 1970 you would have to wait until February!   17 January. Away to Torquay 0-1 (Jones). A tremendous shot by Micky Jones from a tapped free kick by Lazarus made Orient the League leaders. The goal was on TV and I tried to photograph the TV screen without success. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume. The home match against Southport was postponed, allowing Luton to beat Bury and go back to the top. More hops in Ben Truman apparently. Top of the “Thirst” Division was Plymouth Light Ale.   26 January. Home to Bury 3-0 (Fairbrother 2, Bullock).  A week later Orient beat Bury 3-0 and leapt back into top position. In a mud bath Fairbrother gave O's a 10th minute lead. The Daily Express described the second goal thus: 'Great work by Barry Dyson aided by the quick thinking of Peter Brabrook, opened the way for the impressive Bullock to drive home'. Three minutes from time Fairbrother, added a third when a Lazarus effort was blocked on the line. Bury made five changes to the programme while we were unchanged. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume. After 26 games were were top of the division with 34 points with Reading. Bullock was top scorer with 11 goals followed by Fairbrother with five.   Five days later (31 January) we beat Tranmere Rovers 2-0 (Bullock, Rofe) at home. In 52 seconds Mick Bullock side-footed home after Rofe and Fairbrother had set up the chance. Rovers back Stan Storton headed against his own crossbar while Lazarus had a shot blocked on the line. The largest crowd of the season 11,733 saw Mancini fall awkwardly in the 25th minute and carried off. He was replaced by Plume. Derek Smith headed off the line for second time but this time it fell to Rofe and he volleyed it home. Mancini had cracked a bone and would be out, it was reported, for 4-6 weeks. As it turned out he was out for seven weeks and missed 8 games. He would have missed 11 but 3 games (all at home) were postponed. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume.   Bloomfield, was named as Bell's manager of the month for Division Three. The rearranged line-up for the away match at Reading (7 February 2-3 Bullock 2) was: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Parmenter. One of the finest own goals I have ever seen was scored by Peter Allen. Orient went 3-1 down after Bullock had headed an equaliser. He got another on a half volley but we lost 3-2. It put Reading above us in the League on 40 points from 32 matches with Luton behind us on on goal average with 38 from 38, we had played a game less. Articles from the Football League Review. A cartoon advert by Bill Tidy was for Double Diamond.   The weather was to play havoc with the fixtures, so much so that the Orient programme for the Barnsley 16 February (4-2 Bullock, Rofe, Lazarus, Dyson) match consisted of a piece of paper. They did not believe play was possible as the Rochdale game two days earlier had been called off and they had not bothered to print a normal pro- gramme. Former Brighton centre-half Eric Whittington 23, joined O's on a months loan from South Africa to plug the gaps left by injury to Harper and Mancini. The team was as at Reading. The Daily Express headline was 'Happy Orient hit the top again' as Orient won 4-2. On a snow covered pitch Bullock scored his 16th goal of the season, described by the Express as 'a devastating drive' following a free kick from Jones. A cross cum centre from Rofe was al- lowed to trickle over the line for the second. Lazarus took a pass from Bullock for a 'tremendous third goal', Daily Express again. Acting skipper Dyson scored on of his 20-yard specials to make it four. Jones was carried off in the clos- ing stages. The East London Advertiser gave Taylor 10 marks for his performance in Mancini's boots. Orient tried to sign Coventry's Maurice Setters on loan but without success. Bobby Moss was made a full professional. Mal Slater was recov- ering from a pelvis operation.   The next match at home (Gillingham) was postponed so it was off to the the West Country to Bournemouth (28 February).0-2 Fairbrother, Parmenter. 'Orient in promotion form' said one national daily as Fairbrother and Parmenter scored the only goals of the match. Parmenter had replaced the injured Lazarus and Eric Whittington was named as 12th man. The programme teams with, in brackets, those that played: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Lazarus(Brabrook), Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook(Parmenter), sub Parmenter(Whittington). 'Barrie's gift goals put Orient on top' said one paper as Orient beat Stockport away (0-2 Fairbrother)(2 March) by the same margin. They continued: 'Left-back Richard Plume tried a low ball down the middle. Low left it to Ogley and Ogley left it to Low. In nipped Fairbrother to end this agony of indecision by lobbing the ball into the net'. A bad back pass and in jumped Fairbrother to round Ogley before planting it in the net. Classic Fairbrother. A Stockport official described Orient as 'The Leeds of the Third Division'. Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Lazarus(Brabrook), Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook(Parmenter), sub Parmenter(Whittington).   The Shrewsbury match was postponed and we shared the points in a goalless draw at home to Bristol Rovers (0-0) (9 March). Lazarus returned to oust Parmenter who in turn ousted Whittington in the No. 12 shirt. Looking every inch Division Three leaders Orient, through Brabrook's quick throw won the match when Fairbrother blasted a 25 yarder past Arrowsmith. Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Brabrook(Lazarus), Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Parmenter(Brabrook), sub Parmenter. Top of the division on 44 points, one more than Brighton and Reading. 14 March. Away to Bury (0-1 Fairbrother). I missed this match from History article even though I have the programme and I used this site to find the scorer. Some beer adverts in their programme. Shout for Thwaites and Dutton’s Pale ale. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Parmenter. Beer history: Dutton's was acquired by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1964 with 784 tied houses. Name changed to Dutton’s Brewery Ltd in 1966 and was operated as Whitbread West Pennines Ltd until closed in 1978. Lazarus was carried off as Orient crashed 1-0 at Southport (17 March) Programme team showed no pencilled notes from me and was as it was against Bury. They told us we had the best defensive record in the Division conceding only 25 goals in 34 games. No beer ads. The next match at Leyton Stadium was a U.E.F.A. International Youth Tournament on 18 March England v Wales. The line up included Tommy Taylor, Len Cantello and Perryman who ousted Doug Allder. Phil Hoadley was a sub. Leighton James is the only name in the Wales side I recognise. Harper replaced Lazarus for the visit of bottom of the table Stockport (21 March) Match highlights. Terry Brisley was named as sub. BBC TV's Match of the Day cameras captured a one sided match in which Stockport were described by Sam Bartram as being 'outclassed from kick-off to injury time', while the WF Guardian said that Goddard could have had 40 winks for all he had to do. Dyson's centre was turned into the net by Stockport's Coddington. Jones took a pass from Brabrook way out on the right wing and hit a rising shot with such power toward the near post that keeper Ogley could not stop it going in. It was so good that it was shown again on Wednesday night's Sportsnight programme and was featured in the souvenir promotion programme at the end of the season. Fairbrother's challenge on the keeper resulted in a fumble which Barrie tapped to Taylor to score a third. Stockport were four points clear at the bottom of the division. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor, Plume, Lazarus(Harper, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub was blank but was Brisley. Pictured was Jimmy Bloomfield with the Third Division Manager of the month for January award - a gal- lon of Bell’s.   19,861 people saw the return of Mancini in the Good Friday match at Leyton Stadium against Plymouth (27 March 4-1 Fairbrother 2, Dyson, Brabrook). Orient were second in the league, 2 points behind Brighton but with four games in hand. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Mancini, Taylor, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Harper. Another Barry Dyson 25 yarder in the 3rd minute gave them the lead but Plymouth equal- ised 21 minutes later. In the 51st minute Brabrook slammed O's back in the lead. Goals in the 60th and 68th minutes from Fairbrother, his 12th, 13th and last for the season wrapped it up. Cost of programmes varied. Ours was 6d whilst Bristol Roves charged double at 1/- , Bury in the middle with 9d.   28 March away at Eastville. 2,144 more people saw Orient lose to 3rd placed Bristol Rovers by the odd goal to nil. They had the same number of points as the O's, 49 but had played 3 games more. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Taylor(Mancini), Plume(Taylor), Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub unnamed but was Plume.   A hopeful lob from Dyson was headed over the advancing keeper by a defender to give Orient both points at Doncaster (30 March). It put Orient back on top with the same number of points, 53, as Bristol Rovers and Brighton. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen(Taylor), Taylor(Mancini), Plume(Allen), Harper(Lazarus), Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub unnamed but was Harper. Advert for the Hull Brewery was in evidence.   4 April. Home to Barrow (2-0 Lazarus, Taylor). Parmenter replaced Brabrook and it was his chip that Lazarus nodded home. Most unusual to see Mark score a goal with his head but we were to see another before the season ended and vital it was too. A 35 yard shot from Taylor made it 2 for the season and the second of the match. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook(Parmenter), sub Harper.   7 April. Away to Walsall (2-0).Fielding the same team we lost to a struggling team. Bloomfield was to seek a personal hearing following the sending off of Peter Allen in the closing minutes. 'He's not the sort of player to get involved in this sort of thing. He's not even been booked before' he said. Interesting quote in their programme “[Peter Allen] Joining his in a mainly “engine room” roll is the most recent acquisition GORDON BOLLAND from Millwall.” He didn’t leave Millwall until 1975 and then it was to Boston. 11 April. Home to Rochdale (2-2 Brabrook, Lazarus) Were we going to falter over the last few hurdles? It looked like it as we drew with Rochdale. But we did go back to the top on goal average with Bristol Rovers, Brighton and Luton a point behind us on 55. Bobby Downes put Rochdale two up with both goals but Orient were inspired by substitute Harper who had replaced Taylor following an incident with Rochdale's Blair who was also substituted. Twelve minutes from time Dyson's corner was nodded home by Brabrook. A Brabrook header was rarer than a Lazarus header but it was Lazarus, five minutes later that forced the ball over the line following yet another corner from Dyson. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Parmenter(Brabrook), sub Harper. We were told of Stan Charlton’s Testamonial 16 April. Not bad five years after he left.   15 April. Away to Bradford (0-2 Fairbrother, Bullock) Harper kept his place at the expense of Fairbrother who was the sub. The headlines next day were 'Orient can set up the party', Daily Express, 'Almost there Orient' and 'Orient back in Div II - bar- ring a freak burst'. And the East London Advertisers headline was 'Champagne Orient look certainties'. Peter Allen hit the crossbar in the first minute but the arrival of Fairbrother, on for Harper following a calf injury in the 63rd minute added the impetus. Lazarus crossed for Bullock to head his 17th goal of the season. The Valley Parade loudspeaker requested: 'Give Orient an ovation for making sure of promotion'. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Harper, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Fairbrother. If ever there was a match that sticks in my mind, probably along with the other 14,216 people there, then it was the next home tie with Southport (3-2 Lazarus, Bullock 2. 20 April), Orient two down with 20 minutes to go, Lazarus, taking a pass from Taylor lashed a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area. Nine minutes later Bullock headed home Dyson's chip for the winner in the dying seconds. This made Orient virtually certain of going up as champions as Alex Stock's Luton went to Mansfield, played for a point and got it to ensure their promotion. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Harper(Plume).   A chipped ball from Bullock found Lazarus who headed home against Shrewsbury (25 April), the team we had to beat to stay up the previous season, and Orient were the champions. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Brisley.   In the final match of the season, the third in a row at home, we lost 1-2 (Dyson) to Gillingham (27 April), a result that kept them in the third division but relegated Bournemouth to the fourth. Dyson missed a penalty but scored in the 41st minute. It was the first home league defeat since October 11. Only 16 players were used in the season and only 6 of those were signed by Bloomfield. Four were signed by Dick Graham and the rest progressed through the youth team. Such is the value of a good youth scout. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Bullock, Harper, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Fairbrother. The programme had a differnt cover, showing Fairbrother’s re- sponse to Micky Jones goal against Stockport. Many more goals inside. The final match in E10 was against Roma. I think we tound the ball three times as they ran out winners 1-3 with Dyson scoring from the spot. 12 May. A Derek Gibbs/Terry Tapping testimonial game was held at Romford. Team in the programme was : Goddard, Jones(Harris), Rofe, Harper(Parmenter), Mancini, Taylor, Lazarus, Bullock, Dyson(Moss), Fairbrother, BRabrook. Ex O’s Sorrell, Gibbs and Flatt played and possibly Coventry (Steve?). Frank O’Farrell with Musgrove as his assistant guided Leicester City to promotion 1970/71. Musgrove joined another former Hammers team mate, John Bond, and helped Shrewsbury Town win the Third Division title. Previous page 1967/68. Next page 1970/71.

Supporter Dick Richards takes time out to read the Rochdale programme in a local park.