Independent Leyton Orient Forum

As i remeber it, Bill Roffey was walking before he hit the deck & the Ref wasnt
quick enough to send him off before he was on his way back to the changing rooms .


I do hope that Bill turns up 1 day at the O's so those that saw him can shake his hand &
Show him how much we thought of the Ginger one

Hi Tuffers. Bill has made the odd appearance in the supporters club (he lives in America still I think). Such a nice bloke and genuinely surprised that people remember him. He is very self effacing (unlike his football!) and I have mentioned the Entwistle incident to him, he chuckled. One of the best short throw uppercuts I've seen and yes he did walk. Entwistle (also sent off) left the pitch on a stretcher spark out. No red cards in those days but what a way to exit!

Years ago the O's players used to play in a golf tournament with other players from London teams , me and my young brother caddied for Bill and Liam Brady , both Gentlemen and they got me a pint afterwards

I remember it, but not why he lamped him.

Real Al wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:19 pm I remember it, but not why he lamped him.

Because Entwhistle was kicking Chiedozie all over the place at every opportunity. he did it once to often.Chidders was getting no protection what so ever from the officials so BR took the law into his own hand..Well that’s what I seem to remember anyway

Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:27 pm Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:50 pm

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:27 pm Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

Yes, I'd opt for Bill.

MrB wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:24 pm

Real Al wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:19 pm I remember it, but not why he lamped him.

Because Entwhistle was kicking Chiedozie all over the place at every opportunity. he did it once to often.Chidders was getting no protection what so ever from the officials so BR took the law into his own hand..Well that’s what I seem to remember anyway

I thought it was because entwhistle scraped his studs down the back of Bills calf/ankle & hed only just come back from an injury to that ankle .

I looked up at my Dad as soon as he threw the punch, both of us mouths open in shock & awe & chuckling .

What a Player .

Can still remember the punch after nearly 40 years and Roffey
did just walk off, unbelievable to think we hammered Sunderland
3-0 that night..
The club were blessed with 2 great fullbacks in the 70s in Bobby
Fisher and Bill Roffey..

Drawn to the headline, you bet I remember, best left hook in the business unlucky for Bill it was a football game however I will never forget Bill, I continually tell both my lads about Bill and that punch, The walk without a second thought about Entwhistle. Never forgot it never will. Wish I could shake Bill's hand congratulate him buy him a pint marvelous guy.

Omygawd wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:03 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:50 pm

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:27 pm Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

Yes, I'd opt for Bill.

Dennis proved his quality by playing regularly in the first Division for several seasons in the excellent Leicester City team of the 70s that was managed by Jimmy Bloomfield. Also an outstanding young left back when starting out his career at Leyton Orient. He also played for Chelsea and lastly for Southampton when they were also in the First Division. Bill Roffey, a very good left back and long serving player for the Os but unlike Dennis, Bill played most of his football in Division 2.

As good a left hook as Henry Cooper's 'ammer! Entwistle was asleep before he hit the deck.

Yep one hell of a punch, I sat in th east stand in those days and it was right in front of me.
For those of you who talk about shaking hands with bill, he has massive hands the size of many a heavyweight boxer .

Wonder if it's on you tube anywhere

I was in the South Enclosure as a 15 year old that night, our first home game of the new season. They’d been at each other for a bit and it came to a head, and it was Entwhistle who threw the first punch. Roffey blocked it and hit him with a short-throw left uppercut that caught Entwhistle right on the chin. He went out like a light. Roffey just walked off without even waiting for the ref to show him the red card. Entwhistle was taken off on a stretcher and play resumed. When he finally came around the linesman signalled to the red, the ref stopped the game and he went to the touchline and showed him the red card too

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:51 pm

Omygawd wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:03 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:50 pm

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

Yes, I'd opt for Bill.

Dennis proved his quality by playing regularly in the first Division for several seasons in the excellent Leicester City team of the 70s that was managed by Jimmy Bloomfield. Also an outstanding young left back when starting out his career at Leyton Orient. He also played for Chelsea and lastly for Southampton when they were also in the First Division. Bill Roffey, a very good left back and long serving player for the Os but unlike Dennis, Bill played most of his football in Division 2.

All that Maybe so Sid , but Denis Rofe never threw a.punch Like Bill

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:50 pm

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:27 pm Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

No I never, I hear he was very good and he certainly had a good career. But billy boy was the first left back I saw play for the o's.

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 11:25 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:50 pm

Thor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:27 pm Best left back since I've been supporting the o's.

Did you ever see Dennis Rofe play for the Os at left back before he was transferred to Leicester City ?

No I never, I hear he was very good and he certainly had a good career. But billy boy was the first left back I saw play for the o's.

Yes you can only go but what you see, fair comment. Rofe was a brilliant Left back who we sold off while still young to Leicester City when ex Os manager Jimmy Bloomfield joined to manage them. Dennis was IMO, perhaps unlucky not to get a full England cap. Chunky build, around 5'8'' tall with explosive pace, strong as a bull and brilliant at overlapping and getting in crosses while on the run. Very strong tackler as well.........in fact everything that we lack at the moment in that position !! At that time at Right back we had Mick Jones, another fine full back

Sid b, your right that you can only go on what you have seen and I have seen more than most, and on that basis as good as rolfe was he doesn’t compare with Stan charlton.

Great memories of Dennis Rofe

In 1969 FA cup travelled to walsall with os supporters club coaches we went to wolves by mistake !

eventually got to walsall and on entering walsall supporters club was bought a pint by dennis rofe , what a player, probably the best left back I have seen at the Os ( including lockwood and roffey)

It never stopped raining and we drew 0 0

Man of the match was the Walsall goalie a young man named Phil Parkes

We lost the replay 0-2 but ended winning the league

What a team , great memories

up the os