Today I went to Leyton Orient to watch their incredible start to a season. Before today’s game they had won 5/5 league games to record the best start to the season since…ever actually.
Today they were playing against Port Vale who were mid table. Hopefully another 3 points could be earned.
As usual I had to go to the ticket office to collect the tickets for my friends Tony & Lisa (2 disabled tickets and 2 carer tickets) – all free courtesy of the wonderful community spirit from a great club. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but Leyton Orient are a club that care about their supporters. Walking to the ticket office, several stewards said hello and chatted with me. At Orient it is the friendly face of stewards, and not chatting to try to find out what I’m up to!
As well as the tickets for Tony & Lisa, I had to collect a season ticket for my son Tom. Orient are giving away free season tickets to students etc to boost the crowd. They asked people to apply and then allocated them before the season started. Strangely many of those who applied did not then collect their season tickets, so Orient re allocated them to others who had applied unsuccessfully. When I got Tom’ ticket today, there was a large number of tickets still uncollected. Why did people apply for the tickets if they do not want them?
As long as the ticket is used for 10 home games this season, the holder will be entitled to another ticket free next season. A great gesture by Leyton Orient. Mike Ashley, are you listening? Its a relationship between club and fans – you might want to learn what this is. Sadly, there is no need for Mike Ashley to do this because there are 40-50,000 people who will turn up week in week out no matter what he does. A fool and their money springs to mind.
So, tickets collected, its time to visit the cafe for the usual pre match greasy spoon experience and to meet Tony and Lisa, and eventually the late Mr Nash – so called because of his ability to never turn up on time. Still today, it was only 30 minutes after the time he suggested we meet up. We have an arrangement with Tony & Lisa that in return for use of their carer tickets, we buy them lunch. Its a great deal – buy a lunch for circa £6 (and give them a lift home) and get a £25 value match ticket free.
The game today was a rather odd affair. Orient never seemed to get into their stride, but for most of the time never seemed to be troubled by Port Vale. It came as no surprise when Port Vale took the lead. This seemed to galvanise the Orient and by half time they were 2-1 up and playing a bit better.
What was starting to become apparent was the distinctly unsporting play from Port Vale – for kicking the ball away after being penalised for a foul. This was an approach seemingly dictated by the Port Vale bench. When the ball went to them, they would not return it, if it was an Orient thrown in. Pathetic childish and unsporting behaviour. Then there were the repeated niggling fouls done for no reason other than to unsettle and hurt the opposition players.
I then twigged who the manager of Port Vale was. It is none other than Micky Adams. I remember him from many years ago when he was Fulham manager. They came up to Darlington in the old 4th Division ( then called 3rd Division) in the season they won promotion and proceeded to kick Darlington from one end of Feethams to the other. If the Fulham team had behaved like that outside a football ground they would have ended up being arrested. From my Fulham supporting friends that was a common display under Mick Adams. His teams have been the same ever since.
Micky Adams plays to win at all costs. Sadly the end justifies the means in his book. Sportsmanship seems to be a dirty word to him. This is evidenced by his signing this player in January 2013
The observant amongst you will recognise it is the convicted killer Lee Hughes. The man who thinks its fine to drive whilst high as a kite on drink and drugs and kill someone in the inevitable car crash. Then to make matters worse he runs away from the scene of the accident leaving an innocent man dying at the scene and only hands himself into the police when he knows the alcohol and drugs will have worked out of his system. (Well Hughes, if its not true, then feel free to sue me for defamation. I’ll not hold my breath waiting for the writ though.)
Eventually this despicable piece of scum was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Upon his release from prison he was signed up by Notts County and one would have hoped he was trying to build a law abiding future. Sadly you’d be mistaken if you thought that. In 2011 he was then arrested for a sexual assault and convicted eventually of a common assault. So as well as a killer he has added to his record being a violent piece of scum and been arrested as a sex offender. Just the sort of person to impress Mick Adams.
Anyway, back to the game. The second half started with the O’s leading 2-1 and playing rather brightly. So of course this lead to the inevitable equaliser for Port Vale.
The rest of the game was rather uneventful. It became apparent watching the game that Port Vale had come to Brisbane Road intending to impose their will on the game and to get at least a point by any means whatsoever. Harranging the referee, niggling fouls and general bad sportsmanship were the order of the day.
Then in the last minute of normal time ( before the 5 added minutes) Orient for once put a move together and super Kevin Lisbie danced through the Port Vale defence and scored a late winner. The cliché is that the crowd went wild. It was true here. Greg who sits next to me ended up jumping over the seat into the row in front. The chap in front of me celebrated so passionately his phone fell out of his pocket and smashed.
A 90th minute winner is so much more enjoyable than a goal scored earlier in the game.
So, its now six out of six for the Orient. This is something that has never happened before in the history of the club. Happy days.
I’m going to end the game by saying something good about Port Vale- yes, that’s right, I intend to praise #something about Port Vale. No, I’m not going to praise Micky Adams, but instead the Port Vale fans who turned up in good numbers given the distance and the cost to get in (£25 for League 1football) & gave great support to their team. They unlike the football team are a credit to their club.
Still the end of the game was football 3 thuggish unsporting behaviour 2 and 3 points for football.
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