LASTSEASON
LEAGUETWO22ndFACUPFirstRound
LEAGUECUPThirdRoundTOPSCORERScottWilson(11)LASTSEASON
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1st FA CUP Fourth Qualifying Round
FA TROPHY Runners-Up TOP SCORER Macauley Bonne (24)FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 79LEYTOn ORIEnT MACCLESFIELD TOWn
SEASOn PREVIEW
FFTVERDICT
14TH FFT VERDICT
24TH
Following the sudden and tragic
death in June of manager Justin
Edinburgh, it’s difficult to hold any
firm views of Orient’s prospects
after promotion. Ross Embleton’s
most pressing task is to replace
the goals of Championship-bound
Macauley Bonne and Josh Koroma.Staying up was a magnificent
achievement for Sol Campbell and
his team, given Macc were winless
until mid-October and took seven
points from their first 18 games.
Yet a thin squad, poor facilities
and financial troubles all point to
another difficult campaign ahead.This season will be different because
with all due respect to the National
League, we won’t be going to grounds
that hold one man and his dog, and
we won’t be the Manchester United
of the division and on TV every week.
I won’t be happy unless our home
crowds rise by a further 400-500.
Save the date for Newport, away in
December and at home in January.
It will be poignant after the tragic
passing of Justin Edinburgh, who led
both clubs to promotion. We’ve also
got the biggest of all UK derbies: the
A12 battle against Colchester. Expect
thousands wanting tickets.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is poor James Alabi.
He can get in the back of my motor
and I’ll drop him off at any club in the
Conference. Well, Conference South.
Our most underrated player is
Marvin Ekpiteta [below]. He’s still
learning the game but has been
a focal point of the O’s defence.Our best celebrity fan is the cellist,
Julian Lloyd-Webber: he’s down to
earth and buys a copy of the fanzine.
The worst is his older brother, Andrew
Lloyd-Webber, who only turns up for
the big games – and we could have
done with his cash a few years ago!
The pantomime villain will be the
Football League, for the continuing
rubbish of the Checkatrade Trophy
and holding a cup draw at Morrisons.
The best away grounds are Blundell
Park and Vale Park. They’re two proper
old-school stadiums.
The best away fans are Exeter’s, who
tend to bring a few, and Carlisle’s, who
have to travel massive distances and
do it in numbers. Fair play to them.
Did you know that the gable on the
old East Stand [above, background] is
off-centre because it was originally
a slightly smaller stand in length, and
therefore perfectly symmetrical. We
bought a further bit of stand years
ago and now it looks silly – but quirky.
Our key player will be Craig Clay. Our
player of the season needs to do his
stuff – and more, if possible – in the
O’s midfield for us to have a chance.
We’ll finish anywhere from 2nd-23rd.The big talking point among the fans
is the fact that, at the time of writing,
many of our players still haven’t been
paid. Last year the players weren’t
paid on time for three months of the
season, so this has been a big worry
for fans in terms of who will actually
want to join this summer.
This season will be different because
boss Sol Campbell [above] will have
had a full pre-season to prepare the
players and bring in his own squad.
I won’t be happy unless we sign up
Elliott Durrell – our best player and,
as of the first week of July, currently
out of contract.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be the owner.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Tyrone Marsh... at
least, that was my answer before he
left anyway. He tries really hard but
isn’t quite Football League quality.
He’s playing for Boreham Wood now.
Our best celebrity fan is The Rock.The signature local dish is a chicken
balti pie. Delicious.
The other recommendation for
away fans is to visit Fever nightclub.
A lot of the players were drinking there
on the night we stayed up.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Danny Whitehead, who left
Macclesfield for Salford last summer.
The pantomime villains will be the
new boys, Salford.
The best away fans are Grimsby’s.
Our most underrated player is Zak
Jules, a former Scotland U21 defender.
Look out for Miles Welch-Hayes, who
did well at Bath City two seasons ago.
Our key player will be former Bury
defender Nathan Cameron – way too
good for this level.
The best away ground is Gresty Road,
Crewe. That’s a really good away day.
Save the date for Port Vale away on
New Year’s Day.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that he did a great job to keep us in
the league last season. Some fans
aren’t keen on Sol, but I rate him.
If he left, he should be replaced by
John Askey, now at Port Vale.
We’ll finish 22nd.FAn FILE
MAT ROPER
@Pandamonium1881FAn FILE
JACK UNDERWOOD
@JSU1993