73/74 The ‘near miss season’ Orient, after being promoted in 1970 were to remain in the Second Division until 1982. In those twelve years they only managed higher than tenth position once. This was that season. The summer of 1973 saw the departure on free transfers of Steve Bowtell (to Margate), Ray Fulton (to Folkstone) and Barry Dyson, who at the time was said to be interesting Peterbrough, Crewe and Aldershot as well as an American club (he eventually moved to Colchester). George Petchey issued the time honoured phrase of an Orient manager when in the Waltham Forest Guardian he said, "obviously I won't be prepared to let any of my best players go" having preceded that with" I will have to wait until I can sell a player before I can go into the transfer market". He dismissed the need for defensive players with "I have four centre halves at the club. He wasn't interested in getting Terry Mancini back from QPR. "A player of his age is no good to us" he said. Arsenal disagreed and signed him. Mickey Bullock was on the transfer list at his own request and Orient were ready to listen to offers for Ian Bowyer, who had yet to sign a contract. With Ricky Heppolette in plaster and Peter Bennett injured Petchey signed-guess what? - a defender! Yes you did just read that he said we had four centre halves at the club and didn't need defenders. Guess where he signed him from? Crystal Palace? Yes right again. David Payne (26) cost £20,000 and joined Terry Long (as youth coach) and Peter Barnes (as secretary) as the first signings from Palace for the 73/4 season. They were not to be the last. Barnes replaced John Falltrick. Sunderland (25 August) won the 1973 cup final against Leeds and former Orient bussler Vic Halom and Leeds United's Allan Clarke appeared on the front cover of the Sunderland programme for the first match of the sea-son against Orient at Roker Park. The team: Goddard, Hoadley, Downing, Allen, Linton, Walley, Fairbrother, Brisley, Bullock, Queen, Payne, sub Fisher. It was the goalkeepers that gained the attention of the national press. "Goddard on top form, Montgomery saved Sunderland with great saves from Bullock and Queen", wrote Len Shackelton. "Monty magic" was the Joe Cummings headline. "Led by strikers Gerry Queen and Mike Bullock an Orient blitz might easily brought half a dozen goals. But Montgomery gave a brilliant exhibition", wrote Jack Milburn. "Goddard saved brilliantly from Vic Halom" said Charlie Summerbell. 1-1 was the result with Queen scoring with an easy 15 yard shot, while Hughes headed home a cross from Halom. The League Cup got underway at Brentford (28 August) where Orient won 1-2. A bad backpass by Stewart Houston meant that Ian Bowyer had the easy task of touching the ball home. Fairbrother's "tenacious running" lead to the second goal. A long ball from Downing, a perfect flick by Bullock led to Fairbrother doing what he did best - netting from close range. No joy at home to Bristol City (1 September) where we lost 0-1 to an 88th minute header. In the programme, Dave Dodd was urging us to join the new Orient Sportsmans Club, which held its functions at Orients new training ground - three miles away in Clapton! When the clubroom was opened (1/10/73) by Hackney mayor Bob Owen, chairman Page said "We have signed a new lease with the owners, the Lea Valley Development Corporation for seven years, and we are going to make a go of it. Did they? Fulham (8 September), after two games were top of the di-vision, but manager Alec Stock's celebrations for his 25 years as a soccer manager were spoilt by Orients 0-3 win at Craven Cottage. Bullock scored two headed goals from crosses by Payne. Queen got the other. In the Orient quiz in the Fulham programme we were asked to name a former Fulham striker that had a short spell on loan to Orient from Charlton in 1968/9. Actually, they made a mistake, he was on loan from West Ham. (It was Roger Cross not Vic Halom). Against Bolton (11 September), Orient were denied a penalty when Fairbrother was rugby-tackled by Warwick Rimmer. When the same player fell over Don McAllister's leg a penalty was awarded and Gerry Queen scored from the spot. Bobby Charlton was made manager at Preston North End. Supporter George Taylor was banned for life as the club disbanded the supporters club. "We don't want these people at Orient" said chairman Page. This sort of man was no longer wanted. I wonder what sort was. One in the eye for Page when Dick James wrote to the WF Guardian: "I would like to quote Mr Page from the Orient programme 3 years ago. He said "I would like to thank George Taylor and his friends and helpers for all their freely given assistance in painting and decorating and so many other jobs that had to be done during the summer". At he heart of the matter was that Taylor ran the coaches to away matches. He lost total control as travel manager when Brian Blower wanted to take command and fix prices. George saw away travel much the same as the man before him, Terry Baxter, both treated travelling away as a service to the supporters. It was not to be a means to screw fans for as much money as possible. On one memorable midweek trip to Middlesbrough the coach was only half full but the price remained the same. "What we lose on this trip" said Terry "we will make up on future trips". George was asked by some supporters to run coaches for them, a sort of breakaway group. He was then accused of touting for business inside the ground, which he had no need to do, hence the ban. Added to this was the closing of the small supporters clubroom (now used by the players). This meant that supporters had nowhere to meet after the match. They could of course travel the three miles to the Sportsmans Club in Clapton but this would not be open immediately after the match. Orient, at home to Blackpool (15 September), won 3-2 after being two down at half time. Bullock headed home Brisley's corner while Peter Allen lobbed the ball over the keeper for the second. Queen scored from the penalty spot. Jackie Charlton's third placed Middlesbro (17 September) were held to a goaless draw. Petchey waffled on in the programme about the forthcoming England match with Poland in the World Cup. Do managers really believe that we want to know what they think about all and sundry? We want articles regarding Orient FC and nowt else. Another comeback was made in the match at Villa Park (22 September) which ended 2-2. Villa took the lead in 67 seconds through Bruce Rioch. Bullock hit back with a low drive that took a deflection on its way past keeper Cumbes in the 33rd minute. Three minutes later Villa gained the lead again, but only for two minutes. Bullock outpaced(!) two defenders and crossed to Heppolette who took advantage of the confusion in the Villa defence. Hoadley and Downing were booked. Sixth placed Orient drew 0-0 with Swindon (29 September). Jill Palmer of the Evening Standard was writing in the Orient programme. The WF Guardian was asking where all the fans had gone. Mr Page was banning them! Orient lost 3-2 to top of the table Middlesbro (2 October) at Ayresome Park. Four goals came in the final 15 minutes. Bullock and Heppolette scored for us. Terry Brisley was carried off after 70 minutes. Goalkeeper Goddard injured his back in training and Mike O'Shaughnessy made his début at Boothferry Park (6 October) making two good saves and was beaten only by a penalty taken by Stuart Pearson. Bullock headed his sixth goal of the season from a cross by Walley. Terry Neill was the Hull City manager. Blackburn (9 October) were knocked out of the League Cup with Fairbrother's diving header from Allen's cross, and Bullock headed home almost out of the hands of keeper Jones from Downing's high lob. Ian Bowyer had played only one match out of a possible 12. Fairbrother, from a rebound, and Heppolette from point blank range, were the scorers against 3rd placed Forest (13 October). Forest, man-aged by Dave Mackay, signed Bowyer for £40,000 and Petchey spent £25,000 on goalkeeper John Jackson from Malcolm Allison's Crystal Palace. What was that bit about no defenders required again. I never saw the point in buying Jackson. Ray Goddard was more than just a competent keeper and, at 24, had a lot of play-ing years left in him. Jackson was 31. Bill Roffey, yes another defender, joined Orient a week later from the same club. Roffey had been expected to join Southend in a £112,000 deal which took Peter Taylor to Selhurst Park. Jackson made his début against second placed Luton (20 October). According to which paper you read, Brisley or Hoadley handled in the penalty area. Referee Challis didn't see it. Manager Haslam did but he doesn't count does he? Queen scored from the edge of the area and Fairbrother headed in Walley's cross as Orient won 2-0. Team; Jackson, Payne, Downing, Allen, Hoadley, Walley, Fairbrother, Brisley, Bullock, Queen, Heppolette, sub Harris.