Laurie Cunningham

[Bergen]

Died 30 years ago, 15th July 1989.

[Lucky7]

Never saw him play too young but my old dad said one of the best he’s seen at Orient

RIP Mr Cunningham

[Fatbaz]

Thirty years ago? Unbelievable.
One of Orient's best-ever players.
He was always destined for higher levels, everybody knew that.
I remember many being surprised that it was 'only' West Brom. He became part of Atkinson's 'three-degrees', of course. Brendan Batson was one of that famous trio. He was a local lad, as many will know. I played against him once at school level. He was at McKentee and I was at Sir William Morris.

[B.whitehouse+10more]

I went on a tour of the bernebeu stadium, they have pictures of all their players under his was his nickname "El negro Diablo" the black devil, he was lightening fast.

[PoundhillO]

Best player I have ever seen play for the O's .

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

A boyhood hero of mine.
Very proud that his achievements are still remembered today

[Beradogs]

Agree. Far and away the best player who ever played for orient. Dad took me down to Orient for the first time when Laurie was playing. Big crowds. Higher divisions. It was a time when supporting orient was little different to say supporting Chelsea. When you think about it, it really has been shocking what’s happened to us over the last 40 years.

[BIGRON]

Best player I have ever seen play for the O's .

Agree , there will never be another like him .

[bobo66]

One of the advantages of being old and of supporting the Os for so long is that I saw him play. It was obvious that he was going to be a star.

What a sad loss that he died so young.

[Oforever]

Saw him playing for our youth team, knew he was a special talent. Also was at his debut v Oldham. Happy memories.

[EastDerehamO]

Saw him score the winner – an early goal in his career – final game of the season at home to Southampton. We’d gone a goal behind, equalised, and he got the ball in the middle on the half way line, and simply ran away from the defence, left them for dead, and cooly slotted it home, Coronation Gardens end. He was clearly something special.

[Superos]

Greatest player ever to wear an os shirt

[Max B Gold]

Probably one of the best players to play for Rayo Vallecano too.

Saw him live once when WBA came to Fir Park in 1978 for Joe Warks Testimonial and they literally PUMPED us 8-1. He was a cracking player.

[F*ck The Poor & Fat]

Greatest player ever to wear an os shirt

Hard to disagree.

[tuffers#1]

Oh Laurie Laurie,
Laurie Laurie Laurie Laurie
Cunningham .
Oh Laurie Laurie,
Laurie Laurie Laurie Laurie
Cunningham
Oh Laurie Laurie,
Laurie Laurie Laurie Laurie
Cunningham

[banqo]

Saw him score the winner – an early goal in his career – final game of the season at home to Southampton. We’d gone a goal behind, equalised, and he got the ball in the middle on the half way line, and simply ran away from the defence, left them for dead, and cooly slotted it home, Coronation Gardens end. He was clearly something special.

Remember it well, he was a different class. Without doubt the best player for the O's in my lifetime.

[Story of O]

Saw him score a goal at Chelsea which even the referee applauded.

[tuffers#1]

Saw him score a goal at Chelsea which even the referee applauded.

I saw that goal to .
Pure class

[EliotNes]

Is it 30 years. Crikey. Can't stop the passage of time.

[point nine one eight]

A joy to watch, such a sad day for football when he died. R.I.P. Laurie

[SalfordO]

Perhaps a controversial view, but I view his career as a waste of his undoubted brilliant skills.

He never played 100 games at any club. Indeed only at Orient & West Brom did he play as many as 50 games.

He seems to have for some reason been moved on often by managers.

He was possibly the most talented English player of his generation & should have been the most significant English player of the 1980s.

His England career suffered as an unfortunate side effect of his move to Madrid who made it hard for him to be released for England games.

We talk about Glenn Noddle as being a brilliant talent in the 1980d. Cunningham in my opinion was more takented

[Redcard]

Laurie was a fantastic player and very tragic that his life was cut short so young, but for me the greatest player I’ve ever seen for the orient was tommy Johnston. He obviously didn’t have the skills of Laurie Cunningham but he was awesome.

[RealLoughtonO]

Best player I had the pleasure to witness at Brissie.