Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Has anyone got any interesting tales about meeting or seeing any players or staff unexpectedly?

I was in High Road, South Woodford once when I saw a group huddled around a little bald headed figure walking swiftly towards me on the pavement. Without anywhere to go, I stood aside as it seemed as though this man with his entourage could be very important. It was our Manager at the time, (not ghe ‘Mighty Slade’ but
The (‘Speakadanoeenglish’) Alberto Cavasin.

Another time, quite near this venue I saw our ‘Tiny’ Cox pushing a Trolly, shopping in Waitrose.

Best of all, for me, must be when on my way to school once in Leyton High Road , I saw Ralph Coates , running for a 69 Bus , his comb-over strands, unwrapped, blowing in the wind , indicating right. He was at full sprint and jumped aboard the Routemaster open platform, with a protesting Conductor obviously displeased!

I was once travelling to the O's on the tube when Ashley Bayes got on we chatted whist travelling to Leyton Station , as I followed him out of the station he used a pass of some sort that bleeped on exit , I was sure it was a child's pass as they bleep but who knows

I was running over Hainault Forest when I was overtaken by Myles Judd.

When we didn't live in deepest, darkest Suffolk one Tuesday evening (say 10+ years ago) about 9-ish I saw Adam Chambers shopping in Tesco Gallows Corner. I was too shy to go across and ask for an autograph and see what he had in his trolley.

Chunky Lakin working in Choice menswear, lakeside.

Paul Brush jogging down the A12

Prestige Worldwide wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:32 pm Paul Brush jogging down the A12

Really? Hahahahaha!

Super Carl on the Met Line to Wembley for the 1999 playoff final

I saw Peter Kitchen in the Oliver Twist.
Although that was probably expected.

I was parked up having a sandwich in Parsons Green a good few years ago. On the other side of the road was a guy painting the outside of a house. He looked a bit like Bill Roffey. I kept sneaking a look at him and eventually he spotted me looking. I thought I should check if it was him so I went over and said “are you Bill Roffey by any chance?” He was delighted I recognised him. He told me it was his mate’s house and then brought both of us a mug of tea. He told me about what he had done since he left the O’s and I reminded him of his goal v Fulham. Didn’t mention that punch. Nice guy.

Trevor Putney worked on the LIFFE market floor, like me, after he retired. Many used to refer to him as The Milkman as that was his job before football.

Also a Gillingham supporting colleague brought Paul Hague to the floor whilst he was playing for us. It was the season we went down and Sitton and Turner in charge. He was very frank when I asked him about the worring situation, it was very early in the season so the real madness hadn't kicked in. I was also very frank when I said it was no excuse for how s*** he was. He agreed and said he couldn't wait to get out. He left Orient a week or two later.

Dominic ludden in beer garden in preston

Saw Jamie Jones, Clarkey, Cuthbert and about 3-4 other players in Sugar Hut on a Saturday night after we lost to Crawley in the 2013/14 season which officially meant we couldn’t go up automatically. They were all hammered and we took loads of pics, which Clarkey politely asked us not to post on social media. Will have to dig those out.

Reverend Comfort visiting one of his parishioners in the next bed to my missus at Whipps.
My wife went for an X-Ray and the old dear he was visiting dozed off. The tea trolley came round and we chatted about football over a cuppa.

I saw Glen Wankie on every f**king internet-based Orient show thing I tuned in to.

Ronnie Hotdogs wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:51 pm I saw Glen Wankie on every f**king internet-based Orient show thing I tuned in to.

The threads about actual orient players, mate.

While I was working for LB Haringey, I met Jabo in a newsagents in Crouch End, N8, he was very friendly and chatty.

When I moved house in 2005 I used Mark Lazarus Removals and the man himself turned up on my doorstep to move me

I saw the Reverend Alan Comfort in an auction room in Loughton.

Played golf years back at Chingford Golf Club, We caught up with a Tall blonde bloke playing on his own in front of our group which was me and two mates, he seemed to be having trouble on every hole and he eventually waived us through on the Fifth or Sixth hole after another wayward drive. It was Paul Harris he was terrible.

I was waiting for a flight at Glasgow Airport, having a coffee in the departure lounge when I saw Scott Cuthbert sitting nearby.
He was flying back to Stansted, nice guy as I recall, we chatted for a few mins before my flight was called .

Had a knock on my office door in work, opened up and the caretaker is there with Carl Griffiths who was in doing roof work. Having your childhood football hero there out the blue was a speechless moment

Tiny Cox on a rush-hour Jubilee Line train heading into Stratford. Craig Clay dining in Sticks'n'Sushi Canary Wharf with his Mrs. Sean Thornton walking up the High Road *away* from the ground (presumably towards a boozer) around 3pm on a Saturday afternoon when we were at home.

Said hello Peter Shilton on the train a couple of years back.

Not Orient, but at Gatwick about 25 years ago I was wheeling my cases up the ramps and coming down was George Best. Stopped and chatted to him for a while. It was just before United started winning the league again and he was a big fan of Fergie. Remembers playing for Fulham against Orient. Great bunch of cockney fans he said.

I saw JJMelligan at Leytonstone station
1 morning on my way to work about 8.55


Must have been coming home as he was heading out to Essex .

1 of my sisters dated a reserve player for a few years
So had 3 years of complimentary tickets .

Met Frank Clark at work & met Mark Lazerus.a few times .
When he found out i was an O , he only talked to me & didnt
Bother with the others ,
He was a big Fan after he retired .
Used to go to games with his son who took
over the removal buisness .

Grew up knowing Joe Elwood as his daughters were friends with my
Sisters & i knew his son well .
Spent many a night in his house with my Family & his
They would come to ours as much .