Leyton Orient 2-0 AFC Fylde, Tuesday 26th March 2019

Leyton Orient 2-0 AFC Fylde, National League, att. 4,696

Welcome to ....

Tonite is a bit off the beaten track for me, a cheeky midweek match on schoolnite.  But what brings me to my old stomping ground of Leyton?  Well, my mate Loko actually knows one of the linesmen through his work and so he’s procured free tickets.  Brilliant!  Guests of the referee’s assistant.  This is a new one on me.

Oi!  Linesman!  Keep up.

Of course, the linesman is too professional to meet us pre-match for beers.  Initially we went to the Leyton Technical, basically a pub in the old town hall (where I used to live; long story).  Leyton was crying out for a decent pub when I lived in a flat around the corner, but as soon as I move out…(well, as I say, I lived in the town hall…they could hardly turn it into a pub while I lived there).  But it’s quality, and actually only takes up part of the downstairs. 

Not the Leyton Technical, but the West Stand exec bar.  For us execs.

We leave early for the ground though.  Loko wants to see Orient’s social club, pick up a few tips for Oakwell (Barnsley) and the certificates behind the bar tell the story.  The social club has won more awards than Leyton Orient!  A quid or two to get in, then a range of real ales, all in the ground floor of the towering West Stand.  It appeared to be open to anyone, though it was doubtful there were any away fans in there, AFC Fylde barely brought a dozen to the game.

Leyton Orient's award-winning social club.

Then it was into the West Stand to bag our freebies, behind none other than Barry Fry in the queue.  I bet he gets about a bit.  The lower division Harry Redknapp, if ever there was one.  Another treat was a teamsheet.  I presume your name doesn't have to begin with 'J' to play for the Orient...but it helps.  Joe, Josh, Jobi, James, another Josh, Jamie...with James, another James and Jay on the bench.  This must be some sort of record.  It must be working too: Orient are marching to the title.

Sign welcoming us big knobs into the West Stand.

Fylde, in amongst the leading pack and contenders for the play-offs, put up little resistance against a team on the cusp.  A goal down after 15, the match was effectively all over after 24 minutes when Bonne scored a penalty.  Otherwise, all that was left was giving our linesman some ‘advice’ during the game, probably to the bemusement of the home support, as no-one else was giving him grief.  We were only teasing.  And he got his beer later (but only one; he’s professional!)

The Damage:
free ent
beers?  Can’t remember, but only had one in the ground.


The Tunes:
none

I remember when that was a large terrace.

The penalty for 2-0.

Looking towards the (main) home end.

The Fylde hordes.

The old main stand.

Match action.

A personal fave; the social club carpet.

A blurred panorama.  Sorry, best my camera can do at night.