Previous page 1968/69 and 69/70 Next page 1972/73.       SECOND DIVISION CONSOLIDATION 1970-71   Four players were released in the summer of 1970. Only Mal Slater had much first team experience and he and Graham Archell joined Folkestone while Bill Bailey joined Dartford and Brian Schrimshaw jour- neyed to Israel. Terry Brisley, Bobby Moss and Paul Harris were made full professionals and ex Hammer Eddie Presland joined the O's on a months trial.   The habit of letting your opponents score first had followed them in the Second Division as Sheffield United (15 August) went ahead in the opening match at Leyton Stadium. Dave Harper volleyed home a 20 yarder after a Lazarus free kick had only been par- tially cleared. Lazarus raced in from the right to latch onto a long cross field pass from Rofe to put the O's ahead and followed it up in the 72nd minute with a headed goal again from a Rofe cross. Later Lazarus dislocated keeper Hodgkinson's finger with another powerful drive. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Lazarus, Bullock, Allen, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Fairbrother.   The same team went out of the FL Cup at Fulham (19 August) after Goddard had kept them at bay for 85 minutes. Fans chanted for Fairbrother and he came on for the injured Harper five minutes from time.   Johnny Carey the former Orient manager was the administration manager for Blackburn Rovers (22 August) and Ken Knighton played in the No.6 shirt in the goaless draw there and another 0-0 was recorded at home where 'Harry' Gregory and Paul Went played for Charlton (29 August). Orient were five minutes from the Second Division leadership when they let in an 85th minute goal at Portsmouth (2 September). Bullock put Orient ahead after 44 minutes.   Goddard was tipped for England U-23 honours but couldn't stop Carlisle (5 September) winning 2-0.   Terry Parmenter came on in the 74th minute for Brabrook in the televised match at home to Sunderland (12 September) and scored the only goal of the match.   He kept his place at Luton (19 September) but we lost 4-0. A left knee injury had kept Dave Harper out of the team since the Fulham match though it had by now been taken out of plaster.   Another goaless draw was re corded for the visit of Cardiff(26 September). They were second in the table.   Fairbrother's header from a Mick Jones cross secured both points at Bolton (30 September).   He also scored in the next match at QPR (3 October) but Orient crashed 5-1.   Taylor gave away a 9th minute penalty to give Hull (10 October) the points at Brisbane Road. Five days later he was transferred to West Ham for £78,000 and Peter Bennett. Bloomfield also paid Charlton £10,000 for Gordon Riddick and Harry Gregory left Charlton to go to Aston Villa. There were fears that Dave Harper would have to retire.   Orient travelled to Sheffield United (17 October) and lost by the same scoreline that they won by in the opening match of the season (3-1). Bullock was the scorer. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Riddick, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Fairbrother, Bullock, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Plume.   Sheffield Wednesday (19 October) had just spent £100,000 on Tommy Craig but the Daily Express reckoned he 'didn't look anything like Allen's class!'. Bennett made his début. Fairbrother was the sub as Dyson scored the goal in the 1-1 draw. We want Barrie chanted the fans again.   Gordon Bolland, Derek Posse and Doug Allder helped Millwall (24 October) to a goalless draw at Brisbane Road. Benny Fenton was their manager.   'Its crisis week at Orient' was the WF Guardian headline that greeted the 4-2 defeat at Norwich (31 October) where Ron Saunders was the manager. Allen and an opponent were the O's scorers.   Orient notched up their 4th 0-0 draw at home (5th of the season) to à Middlesbrough (7 November). Even Derrick Downing couldn't score!   We lost 1-0 at Birmingham (14 November). Orient were now 4th from bottom.   Bobby Moss put on a No.8 shirt and scored in the 1-1 draw at home to Watford (21 November) where Ronnie Wigg played against his former club. Tom Walley was also in the Watford team.   We visited Leicester (28 November) and promptly lost 4-0. They were top.   Bristol City 5 December) were just above us in the table as Gordon Riddick scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw. Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Bennett, Mancini, Allen, Lazarus, Riddick, Fairbrother, Dyson, Brabrook, sub Bullock. It was the same score at Swindon (12 December) where a shot from Dyson flew off Mancini's kneecap into the net eight minutes from time to snatch a point. Goddard saved a penalty from Don Rogers. The away match at Oxford was snowed off but not before I was in the town so myself and Dick Richards opted to see Jimmy Edwards at the local theatre. Dick’s ticket ap- pears left.   The teams occupying 19th and 21st position in the table (Orient and Blackburn 19 December)  shared a point in yet another 1-1. Ken Knighton's 30 yard shot hit Bennett's leg and went in. Knighton was later booked for upending the same player. Terry Brisley replaced Dyson and scored the equaliser in the 65th minute.   We won for the first time in 13 games against against Bolton (9 January). Mark Lazarus tapped a free kick to Mick Jones who hammered it into the back of the net in the 19th minute. Six minutes later Bullock volleyed into the net after the keeper had palmed away a Lazarus centre. Lazarus lashed in a third 3 minutes from time.   Orient had gone 13 games without wining. Sunderland (11 January) had just signed Notts Counts and former Rotherham centre half Dave Watson but he was unable to play in the FA Cup match there. The game had been postponed twice. Fairbrother put Orient in the lead after 37 minutes, Dyson headed in off the post from a Lazarus cross. Dyson returned the compliment when Lazarus met his cross with his head and though Montgomery parried it, Lazarus followed it up and put it just inside the post to give O's a 0-3 win and a tie against Nottingham Forest.   Lazarus, still in great from, scored another goal in the match at Sheffield Wednesday (16 January) but it was not enough to stop them winning 2-1. In the FA Cup at Notts Forest (23 January) Lazarus continued his inspiring form and laid on a pass to Dyson to head home a 16 yard goal. A harsh penalty decision drew Forest level and that's the way it stayed. Everyone, including Forest manager Matt Gillies, agreed that the O's were the best team.   The replay two days later was abandoned at half time due to the rain. The match should never have started. The next home match against Leicester City was post- poned and in the re- arranged Cup tie (1 Febuary) Orient lost 0-1. We would have played Spurs in the next round.   Fourth from bottom, Orient played the team below them, Bristol City (6 Febuary) at Aston Gate and shared the points in a goaless draw. We fared better against Swindon (13 Febuary) and picked up both points as Gordon Riddick scored his second goal for the club. Peter Allen, unhappy at Orient was placed on the transfer list at his own request.   The 7th goalless draw of the sea- son took place at Watford (20 Febuary). Team: Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Bennett, Mancini, Allen, Brabrook, Brisley, Bullock, Dyson, Fairbrother, sub Riddick. Billy Jennings, Ron Wigg and Tom Walley played for the Hornets.   At home to Norwich (26 Febuary) Dyson's 37 minute penalty se- cured both points. Orient, 7th from bottom (one can only guess how bad the others were judged on Orient's results) before the match, named an unchanged team and the return of Lazarus heral- ded two away wins. Dyson laid on the pass for Allen to fire home after 40 seconds at the Den (6 March) while Dyson's 35 yard goal at Oxford (10 March) was enough for two points.   Could Orient stop 16 year old Trevor Francis, 12, goals from 11 matches and Birmingham City (13 March). No, they won 2-0.   Mark Lazarus went off and Gordon Riddick replaced him and scored the only goal of the match away at Middlesbrough (20 March). We were to play five of the top six clubs in the division in the last 10 games of the season.   Brabrook replaced Lazarus and Moss was named as the substitute against Carlisle (27 March) as we drew 1-1. Mickey Bullock cored his fourth goal of the season.   We lost to second placed Leicester City (29 March) 0-1, 2-0 away to bottom of the table Charlton (3 April) and 1-0 away at Sunderland (9 April). At home to Oxford (10 April) we drew 0-0 for the 8th time and lost 0-1 to QPR (12 April). At 5th placed Hull (17 April) we went a goal up in the 18th minute through a majestic header from Mickey Bullock. We lost 5-2. Lazarus got the other goal. Barrie Fairbrother asked for a transfer.   Luton Town (24 April), now out of the promotion race won 1-2. Peter Brabrook scored his first goal of the season. Orient were reported to be interested in Portsmouth's (26 April) Mike Trebilcock and he played in the 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road. Mark Lazarus scored his 7th goal to become the top scorer for the season. Third placed Cardiff (1 May) won 1 0 at Ninian Park to round off the season. Team: Goddard, Parmenter, Rofe, Bennett, Mancini, Allen, Riddick, Brisley, Bullock, Harris, Lazarus, sub Fairbrother.   Dave Harper had a testimonial match against West Ham following his retirement. Above all else it was the form of Mark Lazarus that kept Orient in the Second Division. Appearances with goals in brackets: Goddard 42, Jones 41, Rofe 42, Taylor 11, Mancini 42 (1), Allen 42 (20, Lazarus 34 (6+1 FA Cup), Harper 1 (1), Bullock 41+1 sub (5), Dyson 41 (3+2 FA Cup), Parmenter 4+1 sub (1), Fairbrother 31+5 sub (2+1 FA Cup), Plume 2, Brisley 18+3 (1), Riddick 13+6 sub, Bennett 30, Moss 2+3 sub (1), Harris 1. Own goal by opponents 1. Position in league 17th, wins 9, draws 16, lost 17, goals for 29, against 51, points 34. Average gate 9,119.       ORIENT - THE PETCHEY YEARS 1971/2   Jimmy Bloomfield departed to Leicester amid a row involving Orient chairman Arthur Page, who was away on holiday, and vice-chairman Neville Ovenden. Orient wanted £12,000 for the loss of Bloomfield's ser- vices, Ovenden accepted the £6,000 they offered much to the annoyance of Page who then threw a wobbly which resulted in Ovenden resigning. Those tipped for the vacant managers job, according to the press were; Cyril Lea, Tommy Docherty, Eddie Firmani, Les Allen, Peter Brabrook, Jimmy Melia and George Cohen.   George Petchey at Crystal Palace was given the job and started the season with a 1-1 draw at Oxford United (14 August) whose team included Ron Atkinson, and Derek Clarke, who later played for the O's. Mickey Bullock got the Orient goal. The Oxford programme (5p) included a copy of the Football League Review, the official journal of the Football League. Bloomfield's last act as Orient's manager was to sign Ian Bowyer from Manchester City for £30,000. He was later transferred by Petchey to Notts Forest for £40,000, they sold him to Sunderland for £250,000! Bowyer and John Sewell, a free transfer from Crystal Palace, were the only new faces at Brisbane Road. Dickie Plume left for Barnet.   The first match at Leyton Stadium was against Notts County (17 August) in the Football League Cup. The programme consisted of one sheet of paper costing 5p and in the line up for County were former Orient player Barry Watling in goal, Tony Hateley and Don Masson. The result was another 1-1 draw, Mark Lazarus getting the goal. The Orient team for both matches was Goddard, Jones, Rofe, Allen, Mancini, Harris, Lazarus, Brisley, Bullock, Dyson and Bowyer. Barrie Fairbrother was the sub.   County (25 August) won the replay 3-1 and again Bullock was the scorer. The new programme editor got off to a bad start when the youth team keeper was named as Shanghnessey. They had just lost 5-0 to Chelsea and the team including spelling correction was; O'Shaughnessey, Fisher, Viner, Binks, Hamilton, Spring, Swash, Lewis, Filby, Sullivan, Johnson. With the exception of Fisher no one else made any impact on the first team. A linesman’s name was also omitted from the programme.   Ian Bowyer scored a hat trick in the next match as O's ran out 4-1 winners against Cardiff (21 August) with Terry Mancini getting the other goal.   Defeat at Sunderland (28 August) 2-0 and two goaless draws against Norwich (1 September) and Luton (4 September) followed. The Football League review re- vealed that 709 league players (out of 1832) earned between £1,000 and £2,000 p.a.   A 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth 11 September (Brisley and Bowyer) saw O's at 14th in the table. Ralph Coates reported that his £190,000 price tag didn't worry him as he joined Spurs. Neil Kaufman (pools agent 51A) was wondering whether anyone had a earlier programme than his of the 1911/12 season against Chelsea. Chairman Arthur Page continued to whinge about lack of support. Seemingly the O's needed  14,000 spectators to break even (only 8,703 turned up to see them play Luton). Former Orient wing half Dave Harper had a dance and buffet, held at Leyton Assembly Halls, in aid of his testimonial after a knee injury had cut short his career. He had opened a sandwich bar in Hatton Garden. Terry Parmenter was transferred to Gillingham, Len Tompkins joined us from Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace players were frequent signings by Petchey. In the Palace programme of 28/12/70 against Arsenal in the League Cup the Palace team reads; Jackson, Sewell, Wall, Payne, McCormick, Blyth, Taylor, Kember, Queen, Birchenhall and Tambling. Five out of these 11 later played for the O's.   Wins against Carlisle (18 September) 2-1 (Allen and Dyson), Charlton (2 October) 3-2 (Harris, Allen and Bullock) and defeats against Fulham (25 September) 2 1 (Dyson), Burnley (28 September) 6-1 (Bowyer) saw Petchey signing Phil Hoadley from, you've guessed it, Crystal Palace for £30,000. But he couldn't stop Blackpool (9 October) winning 4-1 (o.g). Petchey was reported as saying that signing Hoadley would not mean the imminent departure of Mancini. But it did, and the following week he went to QPR as O's drew against Oxford 1-1 16 October (Dyson pen) with a general shuffling of players; full back Mickey Jones was sub and Peter Allen moved to his position with Barry Dyson moving to Allen's position and Lazarus re- placed him (clear?).   It was this team that beat Preston 18 October 3-2 (Bullock 2 and Bowyer), lost to Bristol City (23 October) 5-3 (Bowyer 2, Brisley) and (with the exception of Fairbrother replacing Jones as sub) drew with Millwall (30 October) 2-2 (Dyson, Lazarus). Doug Allder, Gordon Bolland and Derek Possee were in the Lions line-up and Des O'Connor was writing in their programme!   A two nil defeat at Birmingham (6 November) saw us fourth from bot- tom in the table. The Blues programme revealed that their purchase of Bob Hatton from Carlisle had resulted in the Cumbrian team splashing out £12,000 on Crewe's Stan Bowles. They wondered whether Carlisle had pulled off another transfer scoop!   Orient won only two games out of their next six, against a Hull (13 November) team fielding Ken Knighton 1-0 (Bowyer) and Watford (4 December) 1-0 (Harris). Defeats were recorded against Middlesboro (20 November) 1-0, Sheffield Wednesday (27 November) 3- 0, Swindon (11 December) 1-0 and Luton (18 December) 2-0.   The Sunday People gave pools organiser Brian Blower plenty of pub- licity with a two page headline of "This mans pools empire based on a lie". Mr Blower re assured Orient supporters with an article in the Wednesday programme. Tom Walley was signed from Watford for £25,000. A national newspaper interviewed Paul Harris and rated him at £80,000.   The signing of Walley improved results and against QPR (27 December), fielding the likes of Parkes, Clement, Hazell, Venables, Mancini, Morgan, Gerry Francis and Rodney Marsh, ran out 2-0 winners thanks to the Dyson Bullock combo.   Mick Jones was transferred to Charlton. He had made 10 appear- ances and was 12th man six times. A two nil defeat at Carlisle (1 January) on New Year's Day was followed by a 5-0 trouncing of Sunderland (8 January). Bullock 2, Bowyer 2 and Walley being the scorers. Jim Montgomery was not in goal.   In the FA Cup programme against Wrexham (15 January) chairman Page said that every club hopes for a successful cup run we were to get one! Barrie Fairbrother had played only one full game prior to the QPR match and was destined to score only two goals in 71/2, both in the cup. Wrexham were despatched 3-0 (Dyson pen, Bowyer and Fairbrother).   Back in the league Burnley (22 January) were beaten 1-0 thanks to Mickey Bullock who also scored in the 1-1 draw at Preston (29 January).   "I'm sorry Orient, but you will have to go" said former manager Jimmy Bloomfield after Orient had drawn Leicester (5 February) in the 4th round of the cup. He was wrong. Orient beat Leicester 2-0 at Filbert Street in front of 31,402 people thanks to goals from Bloomfield's last signing for Orient Ian Bowyer and Peter Allen. Peter Shilton was not in goal. The fifth round draw was a home tie against Chelsea but before that Orient's main target was to keep off the bottom of the table (they were 5th from bottom).   With Steve Bowtell in goal they beat Bristol City (12 February) 2-0. Two goals from Mickey Bullock pushed his tally in the league to 11. A 2 1 (Dyson) defeat at Millwall (19 February) did noth- ing for the players confidence for the following match in the cup. Possee and Bolland (pen) scoring against Bowtell.   In the month of February physio Charlie Simpson left the club and was replaced by former Southend manager Ernie Shepherd. Arthur Rowe joined the club as general advisor, he was after all at Crystal Palace.   In the Chelsea match the first 40 minutes went the way expected ie all Chelsea's way. They were win- ning 2-0. But Phil Hoadley had other ideas and his raised finger saluted his crashing shot which had Bonetti groping thin air. The second half on a pudding of a pitch was sheer Orient magic with Mickey Bullock drawing us level and Fairbrother scrambling through the mud to shoot the Orient winner. Dave Sexton became the second former man- ager to have his team stuffed by his former club, and all in the space of a month! Chelsea could offer no excuse, they had after all, fielded seven internationals.   Fortunes continued to fluctuate in the league as O's picked up a point at Hull (4 March) thanks to Peter Allen's goal in the 1-1 draw.   In the home match against Blackpool (11 March) George Petchey picked up the Bells 'Manager of the Month Award' as his team lost 1-0.   The stage was set for the 6th round FA Cup match at home to Arsenal. There was to be no fairy tale res- ult to this match and despite hitting the woodwork three times and occasionally out-playing Arsenal (18 March), the Gunners scored a disputed goal and won 1-0. 31,768 saw the match.   Back in the league consecutive 2-1 wins against Portsmouth (24 March) (og, Allen) and Charlton (31 March)(og, Dyson, pen) helped ease the relegation worries but we couldn't beat QPR (1 April) who were without the recently transferred Rodney Marsh and lost 1-0.   Fulham (3 April), fielding a on loan Alan Mullery from Spurs were beaten 1-0 at Brisbane Road thanks to Bowyer.          Barry Dyson's goal against Middlesboro (8 April) earnt them a point in a 1-1 draw. Nobby Stiles was in the Boro team but there was no place for Derrick Downing.   This was followed by two away defeats, 1-0 at Cardiff (12 April) and 3 1 (Dyson) at Sheffield Wednesday (17 April).   A Watford (22 April) team fielding Billy Jennings was not strong enough to beat Orient as a Ian Bowyer goal clinched the points. Other London teams were not good enough to beat Orient in a special athletics event for professional footballers held at Crystal Palace. Phil Hoadley won the long jump with 21', Dennis Rofe the 50 yard dash in 5.7 secs and these two combined with Fairbrother and Dyson to win the 4x100 metres relay in 44.4 secs. Runners-up were, Fairbrother in the 200 metres, Bobby Moss in the mile, Ray Goddard and Peter Bennett in the penalty-taking competition. My personal dissapointment was seeing Gordon Riddick unplaced.  Centre stand tickets were being offered for the 72/3 season at £21.   The remaining three games saw Orient pick up only one point. Norwich (24 April) beat us 2-1 (Bowyer), - we drew 2 2 at Swindon (29 April) (Walley, Allen) and in the final match at Brisbane Road, on the day that the head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover died and Orient signed Derrick Downing from Middlesboro, Birmingham (2 May) beat us 1-0 in front of 33,383 spec- tators. Mark Lazarus played his last match for the O's having been granted a free transfer. Birmingham had to win to get promoted over Millwall, so the crowd was swollen by both sets of supporters. There was even a bomb scare which, when exploded, was nothing but than a large firework. The programme for the match highlighted the changes for the coming season. New floodlights and a change of training ground from Blake Hall to Springfield Park in Clapton. In an under 16 and a half London Youth Challenge Cup semi-final against Chelsea only the names Roeder and Fisher were later to play for the first team, whilst for Chelsea only Teddy Maybank made it. The last match of the season saw Orient win the London Challenge Cup for the first time in 60 years when they beat Enfield 2-1 with both goals scored by Gordon Riddick. Orient finished 17th in the league on 37 points, their average home attendance was 10,816. Top scorer was Ian Bowyer on 16, followed by Mickey  Bullock on 13 and Barry Dyson on 10.      Previous page 1968/69 and 69/70      Next page 1972-1973.  

Terry Parmenter 1968-71. 37 League apps, 3 goals.