History and Philosophy

The Orientear team has been playing fixtures since way back in December 1987. This first match was a 5-2 defeat to the West Brom Strollers, and well-known O’s fan Julian Lillington was found in the dressing post-match blubbing at the result.

Over the years the team has seen players come and go but is still going strong, mainly playing against other clubs’ fans teams but also sides such as the Stratford Stompers, University College Librarians and the Hackney Tree Surgeons.

The longevity of the team cannot be put down to much in the way of success. Indeed, the Orientear FC is notable mainly for providing a chance to play football to many men and a few women who would not be allowed near any other football team in the country. This is mainly down to our policy that any Orient fan who turns up is guaranteed at least half a game.

Six-a-side

Since 1990 the Orientear FC have participated in every one of the annual Glasgow Sixes tournaments organised by our friends from Queen’s Park Supporters Football Club. The long-running annual fixture between the two sides is played for the prestigious Anglo-Scottish Cup.

Since 1988 the Orientear has organised our own summer sixes tournament, the CHAOS Cup, which unsurprisingly we have never won. If you are interested in entering a team in the next CHAOS Cup, please contact us via editor@leytonorientear.com.

The Dale Jacobs Trophy

In January 2008, our friend, fellow Orient fan and former Orientear captain Dale Jacobs died of cancer at the age of 26.

In his memory, we contested the inaugural Dale Jacobs Memorial Trophy on the pitch at Brisbane Road in May 2008. Our opposition was another of Dale’s former teams, Leyton Orient Fans Trust FC, who beat us on penalties after a pulsating 3-3 draw in searing heat.

Donations before and at the match, including the raffling of various prizes donated by LOFC, raised over a thousand pounds for Macmillan Cancer Care, including a generous donation from our friends at TFC Dynamo in Glasgow.

The second Dale Jacobs Trophy match was held in the summer of 2009 and ended in yet another agonising defeat on penalties for the Orientear, after the match finished 1-1 (our goal scored by Lee Steele). The day was a great success, this year also featuring a gig by Orient supergroup 6 Of White, and raised several thousand pounds for Macmillan.

We hope this continues to be a regular event.

Current Set-up and Contact

Not long ago, the team did go two years without a win under the stewardship of then manager James Cooper but, following this transitional period, we have recorded occasional victories against the likes of Birkbeck Orient FC and Dulwich Hamlet fans.

Our regular Saturday morning home and away games have recently included ties against supporters of Tranmere, Peterborough, West Ham, Fulham and Watford. We sometimes play in the Independent Supporters League.

Player of the Season Awards 09/10

Sam Browne - Captain's Player, James Nicholls - Manager's Player and Jamie Stripe - Player's Player

If you want to play for the Orientear on a Saturday morning or arrange a match against us, please contact the gaffer (Steve Ranger) at steve@leytonorientear.com.