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@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 6:46 PM

It's 22 September 1893, and The North London Guardian offers an insight into the workings of Orient F.C. "The above club has for the last 3 seasons, been most ably captained by E A Wiggins, who is again selected from 40 members to fill that most important position..." #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The North London Guardian, 22 September 1893, reading:

ORIENT F.C.

The above club has for the last 3 seasons, been most ably captained by E A Wiggins, who is again selected from 40 members to fill that most important position. He is assisted by Joe Curran, a jovial Scotchman. The pen pushing business is to be performed as usual by H G Woods, who has so thoroughly and well managed this department for the last 3 seasons. He is, now that the club intend running three teams, to have an assistant in the person of Sid Williams. There is a very good programme arranged, the chief feature of which is an Easter tour around Kent. The club bids fair to give a good game to all the clubs with whom they are engaged in the Clapton District League, as they are retaining all their old members, as well as one or two good additions. There are vacancies for one or two good players, as well as a few vacant dates in the first team list. Apply to Secretary, H G Woods, 3, Berger road, Homerton, N.E.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 9:36 PM

It’s 21 September 1906, and “Crusader” of the London Daily Chronicle has news of the Orient’s 1-1 draw with Blackpool at Homerton: “if the Orient were outshone in attack in the first half, they showed glimpses of their true form in the second half. The defect discernible in the…” #lofc #lofcpress

A clipping from the London Daily Chronicle, 21 September 1906, reading:

EQUALISING PENALTY.

Clapton Orient Rallied and Drew Against Blackpool.

Clapton Orient … 1 Blackpool … 1

Clapton Orient, having played three difficult away matches, made their first appearance before their supporters at Homerton, when they met Blackpool, who, coming with an unbeaten record, exhibited surprisingly good form, and thoroughly deserved to divide the points.
The work of the visitors’ forwards in the first half was of such a character that, had it not been for some very smart saves on the part of Bower, the home goalkeeper, they would undoubtedly have secured more than a goal lead at the interval. They were so keen and quiet, they swung the ball about to such purpose, and shot so frequently and so accurately that the Orient defenders must have welcomed the interval. Badeley, the outside left, made some dashing runs, and sent in some fine centres, whilst the inside forwards were so energetic and businesslike in attack that when Weston, the pivot, scored it was only what one might have expected.
But if the Orient were outshone in attack in the first half, they showed glimpses of their true form in the second half. The defect discernible in the first half — too much close inter-passing among the inside forwards, even when the two wing men were standing unmarked — was quickly remedied, and one saw the forwards snapping up the neat passes of their clever halves, and advancing now on this wing, now on that, and in such a manner as to upset the calculations of the Blackpool defenders.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 12:57 PM

20 September 1920, and the Orient have revenged themselves on a 6-0 mauling at Stockport, reported by Athletic News. "The Homerton crowd — 12,000 strong despite the weather — kept up an almost continuous chant of 'one, two, three, four, five, six', but the forwards in their...” #lofc #lofcpress

A clipping from Athletic News, 20 September 1920, reading:

ONE SHORT OF SIX.

But Clapton Orient Completely Turn Tables on Stockport.

Clapton Orient … 5 Stockport County … 0

That Clapton Orient did not beat Stockport County by at least as many goals as the latter had scored against them the previous week was due mainly to over anxiety on the part of the attackers, for the visitors’ defence became quite demoralised towards the end of the game.
The Homerton crowd — 12,000 strong despite the weather — kept up an almost continuous chant of “one, two, three, four, five, six,” but the forwards in their eagerness to score kicked with all their might when only a touch was required, and so the tally of goals ended at five. Still it was a famous victory, and sent the crowd home very well pleased. In the first half the visitors held their own, and Waterall showed that centre forward is his proper position, while both he Danskin more than once troubled Hugall with severe shots. Only one goal was scored prior to the interval, this being headed by PARKER, after Robson had failed in an attempt to prevent Williams getting in his centre. The same back gave a penalty kick by bringing down J. Tonner illegally, but Hardy saved S. Tonner’s shot. Last season S. TONNER scored four goals with shots from the neighbourhood of the half way line, and just after the interval he put Orient two up with free kick at 30 yards distance, Hardy getting at the ball but dropping it. Just afterwards FORREST kicked the third goal, and then S. TONNER added another from a penalty kick for “hands”, while seven minutes from the finish J. TONNER took the ball through the defence and scored with a well-directed shot. Williams also got the ball into the bet, but the point was disallowed, the referee having blown his whistle too hastily when Parker was tripped just as he passed the ball to the left winger.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 19, 2026, 7:29 AM

The Orient kick off their 1902-3 league campaign against a West Hampstead side featuring future Orient star Herbert Kingaby (one of two "Claptonites and members of All Soul’s Working Men’s Club" in the opposition) and the "Old Half-Back" shares his thoughts in The Hackney Standard. #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Hackney Standard, 19 September 1902:

CLAPTON ORIENT F.C.

[NOTES BY AN OLD HALF-BACK.]

There was a tremendous crowd on the Millfields Road Ground last Saturday to witness the first meeting of the Clapton Orient and West Hampstead. Additional interest was added to the game by that it was the O’s first match this season in the Amateur League.  Although those clubs had never met before, and it was known that West Hampstead was a strong team, it was hoped the O’s would get home, seeing that last season the home boys beat Ealing in the final for the Middlesex Cup. Ealing had beaten West Hampstead in the semi-final.
Another interesting point in connection with the game was that two of the visitors’ fastest men, Pickering and Kingaby, are Claptonites and members of All Soul’s Working Men’s Club.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 18, 2026, 8:05 PM

An important news update for "lovers of football" from The Hackney Mercury, 18 September 1897. The Orient have a new headquarters on Mare St, and "the proprietor, Mr. Hubbard, "has made arrangements ... for the immediate results of important matches to be forwarded by wire". #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Hackney Mercury, 18 September 1897, reading:

THE Orient Athletic Club have selected the “Britannia,” Mare Street, for their meetings during the football season, and it is understood that the proprietor, Mr. Hubbard, has made arrangements with the Central News Agency, for the immediate results of important matches to be forwarded by wire, and these will be published in the bar directly the respective results have been received. Lovers of football will be pleased to hear this.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 7:03 PM

Photographic proof of a home win for the Orient at Homerton from The Sunday Illustrated for 16 September 1923. "Heads to the ball in the Clapton Orient — Derby County match yesterday. The Orient played a fine game and won by 2–0.” #lofc #lofcpress

A black-and-white photograph of a football match, originally published in The Sunday Illustrated on 16 September 1923. It shows three footballers, one in the white shirt with a dark chevron of Clapton Orient, and the other two in the dark-and-light stripes of Derby County. The Orient player (on the left of the frame) and one of the County players (on the right) are jumping for the ball, which is above the head of the County player, but their bodies are both turned towards the camera so it looks somewhat as if they are levitating. The third County player is in the background between them, looking off to the right. Behind him is a packed terrace. A headline reads: “ORIENT BEAT DERBY —“ The caption reads: “Heads to the ball in the Clapton Orient — Derby County match yesterday. The Orient played a fine game and won by 2–0.”

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 5:28 PM

"STOKE ROUTED." "Clapton Orient Show Ex-First Leaguers Finer Arts of Football." "L.R. ROOSE RE-APPEARS." Not even the unexpected appearance of Welsh international goalie L.R. Roose can prevent a 3-0 win at Homerton, as described by Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper on 15 September 1907. #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 15 September 1907, reading:

STOKE ROUTED.

Clapton Orient Show Ex-First Leaguers Finer Arts of Football.

L.R. ROOSE RE-APPEARS.

Clapton Orient beat Stoke, assisted by L.R. Roose, the Welsh International goalkeeper, by three goals to nil, at Homerton, and they thoroughly deserved their success. It was a remarkable game, for while the victors played really fine football in the second half, and all but outclassed the ex-First Leaguers, they only scored one point as compared with the two they registered before the interval — although they had not, up to that time, shown anything approaching the superiority they exhibited over their rivals int eh second half.
Fully 8,000 were delighted with the nippy combination of the Orient forwards throughout the homeward journey, and if their shooting had matched their mid-field cleverness in the closing forty minutes Roose must have lost a record number of goals, for the simplest of chances were thrown away after they had been made by sparkling footwork.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 6:18 PM

True crime with the Orient, as William Stevens, 13, and Albert Salmon, 12, are up before the beak for stealing - and drinking - two dozen bottles of mineral water from the refreshment bar at Millfields Road. As reported in The Hackney and Kingsland Gazette for 14 September 1908... #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, 14 September 1908, reading:

BOYS PLUNDER A CLAPTON REFRESHMENT BAR.

AN EARLY MORNING DISCOVERY.

If the two boys charged at the North London Police-court on Friday drank two dozen bottles of mineral waters, as suggested by the evidence, it is probable that they have already undergone punishment which has more than befitted their crime.
The accused were William Stevens, 13, of Gilpin-street, Clapton Park, and Albert Salmon, 12, of Mandeville-street, and the charge against them was that of being concerned together in breaking and entering a refreshment bar at the Orient Football Grounds, Millfields-road, Clapton, and stealing mineral waters to the value of 2s. 6d., the property of the club.
Formal evidence was given by Mr. Holmes, the manager, who said that but for the fact that there had been frequent robberies of this kind lately the boys would not have been charged. He did not wish to press the matter now.
Mr. Cluer: Do you wish to publish a notice that all boys may steal the club’s mineral waters?
The Witness: No.
Mr. Cluer: That really is the effect of your suggestion, but I advise you not to publish it unless you determine to fill the bottles with some tartaric emetic. (Laughter.)
George Askew, who is employed on the ground, said that he went to the pavilion early that morning and found that it had been broken into. He heard a noise as of mineral water bottles being opened, and on going inside found the prisoners in the act of drinking from bottles. On the floor were two dozen empties.
Mr. Cluer: Do you suggest that they had drunk the contents of two dozen bottles?
The Witness: All I can say is that the empty bottles were there.
The prisoners denied breaking into the building.
They were sent to the remand home, and Mr. Cluer advised them to prepare themselves for a good thrashing.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 13, 2026, 11:48 AM

Ground improvements, 1895-style, as the Hackney Standard reports on the Orient's preparations for the new season. "Whilst they have been busy with their teams they have not forgotten to make the ground comfortable for their supporters. They have erected a fence around the ground." #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Hackney Standard, 13 September 1895, reading:

The Orient Football Club hold their annual Cycling and Athletic Sports at the Tee-To-Tum Ground, St. Ann’s Road, Stamford Hill, on the 14th of this month when they will place before the public a splendid programme. On the 21st the football team play the Royal Horse Artillery on their own ground at Clapton. The executive of this club deserves great praise for the way in which they carry out their business. Whilst they have been busy with their teams they have not forgotten to make the ground comfortable for their supporters. They have erected a fence around the ground. May the O’s have a successful season.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 7:03 AM

12 September 1902, and the Orient are facing St Albans in a season-opener. The Hackney Standard has the inside story from "An Old Half-Back". "There was a big crowd — about 2,000 — and the turf was in splendid condition ... a large number of ladies were interested spectators." #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Hackney Standard, 12 September 1902, reading:

CLAPTON ORIENT F.C.

[NOTES BY AN OLD HALF BACK.]

The O’s opened the season last Saturday with a match against St. Albans, in weather much more to the liking of the spectators than to the players.
There was a big crowd — about 2,000 — and the turf was in splendid condition. Messrs. E.A. Wiggins, Alf Woods, Charles Howitt, C.J. Lovelock, Alf Unwin, Pomp Haines, E. Roberts, J. Roberts, G.. Hickman, Charles Jeffries, and a large number of ladies were interested spectators.
Last year the O’s beat St. Albans twice but as on one occasion full time was not played it was arranged that this season should be opened with a friendly game.
What a contrast between the appearance of the teams! The home team all wore spotless white knickers and red shirts, but the visitors were indeed a motley crew. The colour of their shirts was as varied as the proverbial rainbow and some of them looked as though they had been put away dirty last season and forgotten to be washed this year.
Thirty-five minutes were played each way and even that time was too long for some of the players, as the great heat of the sun soon told on them. The teams were as follows: Clapton Orient — goal, E. Ward; backs, F. Chalkley and W. Price; half-backs, H.E. McLelland, J.F. Robertson and C. R. Berry; forwards J.L. Hills and W. Counden, A. Merritt, R.W. Mcgeorge and Ken Gibson. St. Albans — goal, Atkins; backs, Spicer and Fearne; half-backs, Smith, Cox and Slough; forwards, Hawkes and Potton, Shrewsbury, Warwick and Seabrook. Referee, Mr. Schumacher.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 11, 2026, 5:46 PM

"CLAPTON ORIENT THE SEASON'S SENSATION." The O's have made an excellent start, and the People for 11 September 2027 lauds their "CAPITAL FOOTBALL" and "FINE COMBINATION." "The quality in Clapton Orient’s play at Blackpool which enabled them to lead in less than 13 minutes... #lofc #lofcpress

A headline from The People, 11 September 1927, reading:

CLAPTON ORIENT THE SEASON’S SENSATION.

A cutting from The People, 11 September 1927, reading:

ORIENT WORTHY LEADERS.

CAPITAL FOOTBALL AT BLACKPOOL.

FINE COMBINATION.

BLACKPOOL 0, ORIENT 1.

The quality in Clapton Orient’s play at Blackpool which enabled them to lead in less than 13 minutes was that they had understanding and vigour at the critical moment.
Their wingers, Collins and Corkindale, centred delightfully, and their inside-men, Whipp, Kerr and Dennison, were invariably ready to transfer passes into goal.
Mobs, on his first appearance as the home keeper, suffered somewhat from the ill judgement of his backs, Thorpe and Tuford, who persisted in crowding him when the Orient were exerting pressure.
Kerr’s goal was declared by Blackpool players to have been invalid, as the centre was offside when Corkindale drove at an acute angle into the keeper’s hands, but Mr. Roscoe, of Bolton, who deputised for Mr. Harper, allowed the goal.
The Orient, although not raiding so frequently afterwards, were generally capable in marksmanship, and Mobbs, besides stopping clever efforts by Whipp, Kerr and Corkindale, saw Collins fire hard against a post. the long “cannon ball” shots of Whipp were a feature of the match.
Wood, Campbell and Evans proved wonderful defenders for a big part of hte game, and wood was deservedly accorded an ovation. Grimwood made a satisfactory debut for Blackpool without being quite in the condition required. Benton led the home line in the last five minutes, but the change came too late, and confusion married some of the home team’s attempts.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 4:10 PM

Two graphic representations of the Orient's 3-0 win against Crystal Palace, offered by The Croydon Times for 10 September 1924, and featuring such luminaries as Bert Bliss, Arthur Wood and Alfred Pape. The (long) match report includes this evocative description of the first... #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The Croydon Times, 10 September 1924, showing the teams and formation for a football match between Crystal Palace and Clapton Orient. There is an image of a football sitting in a patch of grass in the middle. The text reads:

HOW THEY LINED UP. …

CRYSTAL PALACE.

Harper
Little. Cross.
McCracken. Hamilton. Greener.
Harry Whitworth Hoddinott Blackemore Hand.

Hannaford. Bliss. Pape. Rennox. Smith.
Archibald. Townrow. Dixon.
Rosier. Toner S.
Wood.

CLAPTON ORIENT.

Referee: D.H. Asson. Linesmen: A.E. Kenntt and A.G. Mair.

A cutting from The Croydon Times, 10 September 1924, showing caricatures of footballers at various points in the game. The Clapton Orient players wear white shirts with a dark chevron, with dark shorts; the Crystal Palace players wear dark shirts and white shorts. In the top left-hand corner are two images of Orient forward Bert Bliss. In the first he has his back to us, and is kicking the ball. A caption reads “Bliss opens the Score with a grand Shot”. In the second, he has his arms stretched out and is shouting ‘Foul!” “Foul!” The caption reads, ‘Bliss gets annoyed!” Below him is a caricature of the Palace goalkeeper, pictured in an outsize cap, with a caption reading “Harper had no chance with the shorts that beat him”. In the bottom left-hand corner is a caricature of the sun with a smiling face, below and to the right is a Clapton Orient player with his hand to his head and sweat dropping off him. The caption reads “‘Sol’ put a hand in the Game”. To the right of this is an image of a Palace player kicking the ball, with the caption “Harry Played a vigorous Game”. In the top right-hand corner are caricatures of the Orient goalkeeper, Arthur Wood, and the forward Alfred Pape. Wood is shown leaping as the ball hits the crossbar, with a caption reading “Wood had anything but an idle time”. Pape is shown sitting on the ground, facing away to the right, saying “Where did that one go to?” The caption reads “Pape, after his shots”. In the bottom right-hand corner a Palace player addresses a ghostly figure with the word “LUCK” on his chest. He is saying “I only missed by inches”, and Luck is replying “Nothing doing”. The caption reads “The Palace had hard lines”. Just above the caption is the artist’s signature, “Nemo”.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 2:01 PM

9 September 1912: The Orient have beaten newly relegated Preston North End, and Athletic News has thoughts: "while the Orient will doubtless be congratulating themselves for a long time to come on the manner of their victory, they put up a game that was full of excellent points". #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from Athletic News, 9 September 1912, reading:

PRESTON IMPRESSED.

Clapton Orient … 1 Preston North End … 0

One thing the visit of Clapton Orient to Deepdale demonstrated to Preston people — that Second Division football is of vastly different quality to what it was when North End were last concerned with it, nine or ten years ago. There were very few better games, in fact, seen on the ground during last season of doleful memory, and while the Orient will doubtless be congratulating themselves for a long time to come on the manner of their victory, they put up a game that was full of excellent points. Before the rain came on at the interval both sides had played finely, and it would have been a miscarriage of justice had either been leading at half-time, when nary a shot had entered the net.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 6:55 PM

"WHO IS WILLIAMS? / Orient Crowd Critical of Home Forwards" cries the London Daily News for 8 September 1919. "Who is this Williams that the majority of the occupants of the grand stand at Homerton were shouting for during the game with Huddersfield? One rather surmises..." #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from The London Daily News, 8 September 1919, reading:

WHO IS WILLIAMS?

Orient Crowd Critical of Home Forwards.

Clapton Orient … 0 Huddersfield T. … 1

Who is this Williams that the majority of the occupants of the grand stand at Homerton were shouting for during the game with Huddersfield? One rather surmises he is an outside-right who has come into popular favour while playing with the Orient Reserves. If he is the coming Millfields-road winger — as was whispered — then the sooner he is brought into the first team the better it will be for the club, for the display of the forwards was not convincing. Huddersfield, for their part, could only score once, through Taylor, after 16 minutes’ play, but that goal was good for two points. It was only the brilliant work of the two home backs, Tonner and Nicholls, that kept the Huddersfield score so low. They received good support from Gray, a new goalkeeper from Porstmouth, who was doing duty owing to the illness of Hugall.
Huddersfield are a fast, well-balanced team, whose combination, both forward and back, was pretty to watch until vigorous tactics in the second half somewhat knocked them off their game. Their most prominent forward was Smith, the outside left, whose runs and centres were the feature of the game. The weakest link in the line was Cock, the centre-forward, who did

A cutting from the London Daily News, 8 September 1919, reading:

so well for Brentford last season. Cock, unfortunately for his side, read the offside rule differently from the referee, but, after all, the latter’s whistle was Cock’s master, and it pulled him up repeatedly. The Yorkshire team have a useful pair of backs in Rodgerson and Wood, who stop at nothing to defend their goal. They will even handle as a last resort. Once they were caught, and a penalty followed. Bowyer took the kick, but Mutch had no difficulty in saving. Once the backs got into a tangle, and Smith should have seised the opportunity to equalise.
Clapton Orient. — Gray; Tonner, Nicholls; Hiind, Francis, Forrest; Parker, Dalrymple, Smith, Bowyer, Ives.
Huddersfield Town. — Mutch; Wood, Rodgerson; Linley, Baker, Watson; Richardson, Mann, Cock, Taylor, Smith.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 7, 2026, 6:45 PM

It's 7 September 1898, and Sporting Life celebrates "the opening of the Orient’s new ground at Clapton, which, by the way, is a great improvement on the old enclosure ... Upwards of 1,000 spectators lined the ropes when the homesters kicked off with the sun in their faces." #lofc #lofcpress

A cutting from Sporting Life, 7 September 1898, reading:

BARKING WOODVILLE V. ORIENT.

These clubs were well represented on Saturday, the occasion being the opening of the Orient’s new ground at Clapton, which, by the way, is a great improvement on the old enclosure, where so many Cup ties and League fixtures have drawn big crowds in past seasons. The new ground is well constructed, and is capable of accommodating several thousands. The arrangements are in very capable hands, and, judging by the way everything passed off on Saturday, a very successful future is in store for the O’s. Secretary H.G. Woods worked hard to make the opening a success, his efforts being well rewarded by a big crowd. Upwards of 1,000 spectators lined the ropes when the homesters kicked off with the sun in their faces. Played ruled fast from the start, the home team forcing a corner five minutes from the kick-off. Nothing, however, resulted from the free kicks, and soon after the visitors pressed, and looked dangerous on more than one occasion, but could not get through the homesters’ defence. Give-and-take play, in which both teams proved very smart, was witnessed during the next few minutes. The latter portion of the first half saw Gibson miss two or three well-meant shots after working the ball down the right wing in excellent style. He proved very troublesome to the visitors right up to the interval, which arrived without a goal being registered on either side.

@lucycmunro.bsky.social Sep 6, 2026, 2:12 PM

The London Daily Chronicle for 6 September 1909 has praise for the Orient, who have beaten Gainsborough 2-0 at Homerton, but criticism for O's defender "Jumbo" Reason. "In beating Gainsborough by two goals to nil Clapton Orient won no greater reward than they deserved..." (1/2) #lofc #lofcpress