Independent Leyton Orient Forum

What was the finest performance by an Orient player that you can remember.

Jobi 13/12/20

Steve Castle away to Rochdale. Last game of the season in the mid 80'S. He scored four. Every one of them was an absolute screamer. Castle hadn't really established himself in the first team at that point and I can remember some of the O's fans moaning a bit when it was announced that Castle was in the side. That performance completely transformed his Orient career and he went on to become the best Orient central midfielder I've seen.

Best one i've seen was Lockwood v Gillingham three nil down with about 20 minutes to go and your left back scores a hat trick.

Certain players epitomize our club Lockwood being one of them.

Think Ricky Otto and his debut away at Brentford in a 3-4 defeat was pretty unbelievable.

Laurie Cunningham in the 4-2 defeat against Wolves.
To have the old West side terrace full of Wolves fans &
Watch John Richards lead the applause while he took
Laurie over to them & them giving him a massive round of applause.

If we had.of had a decent centre forward that day we would have scored 5 more.

For me, it has to be Phil White, on the right wing against Middlesbrough in 1960. We beat them 5-0; crosses from White and McDonald played a big part in that score.

Ian Bowyer on his home debut against Cardiff in 1971
We won 4-1 and Bowyer scored a hat trick, right foot, left foot and header, was unplayable

John Jackson in the FA Cup quarter final at Ayresome Park 1978. Middlesbrough camped in our half for almost the entire 90 minutes, JJ got in the way of everything and in the last minute when it seemed we had weathered the storm managed to tip over a 30 yard piledriver that seem destined for the top corner he was unbelievable that day.

Also an honourable mention for Ricky Otto at Brentford on his debut he was absolutely electric that day.

Luke Gutteridge

Bradford Away April 2007. Standout performance in such an important game.

JimbO wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:25 am Best one i've seen was Lockwood v Gillingham three nil down with about 20 minutes to go and your left back scores a hat trick.

This -- because any others I have to think about, but this one comes immediately to mind. And if I remember correctly he hit the post in added time.

I know the title says player, but if it was 2 players - Mooney and Lisbie vs MK Dons in the last League game of 13/14. IMO it was the best the team played that season and those two took the MK defence apart. I still like looking at the highlights on You Tube.

Random one but away up at Leeds on a Tuesday night about 2009. About 150 O's fans and 19,000 Leeds. Rough, cold November night an Andros Townsend ripped them a new one. To the point where every time he touched the ball second half they resorted to kicking him. Then we lost 1-0 to a last minute goal. Standard.

Also, talking of Leeds. Thornton in that 2-2 springs to mind, too.

Jake Larkins away at Wolves 2013

“Laurie Cunningham in the 4-2 defeat against Wolves.”
That was my first Orient game aged 9. I had no idea how special it was. I assumed all football matches would be like that.

John Jackson away to Ipswich in 1979, FA Cup 4th round. He stopped everything Ipswich threw at him and the O's fans chanted his name at the end.

Sam Ling on Saturday

Lovejoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:47 pm John Jackson away to Ipswich in 1979, FA Cup 4th round. He stopped everything Ipswich threw at him and the O's fans chanted his name at the end.

Ah yes, a classic from 'Stonewall' ! The Evening Standard described it as the 'definition of bottle', given the inclement playing conditions.

Orient_Man_And_Boy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:58 pm

Lovejoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:47 pm John Jackson away to Ipswich in 1979, FA Cup 4th round. He stopped everything Ipswich threw at him and the O's fans chanted his name at the end.

Ah yes, a classic from 'Stonewall' ! The Evening Standard described it as the 'definition of bottle', given the inclement playing conditions.

Wasn't there snow on the ground, I remember the match was in January?

Lovejoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 3:23 pm

Orient_Man_And_Boy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:58 pm

Lovejoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:47 pm John Jackson away to Ipswich in 1979, FA Cup 4th round. He stopped everything Ipswich threw at him and the O's fans chanted his name at the end.

Ah yes, a classic from 'Stonewall' ! The Evening Standard described it as the 'definition of bottle', given the inclement playing conditions.

Wasn't there snow on the ground, I remember the match was in January?

The only reason it got played was because of the tv cameras .
1 side of the pitch completely frozen .

Someone invent the time machine ffs

I wanna go back & watch all these games again
Then go back & watch the legends from the beginning .

Ah we can dream

matty Lockwoods hatrick against Gills and from a full back , what a team comeback .Fantastic player for O's .

tuffers#1 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 3:26 pm

Lovejoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 3:23 pm

Orient_Man_And_Boy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:58 pm

Ah yes, a classic from 'Stonewall' ! The Evening Standard described it as the 'definition of bottle', given the inclement playing conditions.

Wasn't there snow on the ground, I remember the match was in January?

The only reason it got played was because of the tv cameras .
1 side of the pitch completely frozen .

And an orange ball!!!

And I've already told the story of falling out of the train back at Stratford ….

Kevin Godfrey hat trick against Bolton in 4-3 win 84/85
Think we were 1-3 down at one stage, but wouldn't swear to it

Lee Harvey scored the winner against Wrexham

kmcken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:29 pm Lee Harvey scored the winner against Wrexham

1989? Harvey scored first then Cooper, Harvey assisted.