THEY TOOK THE LEAD

RESEARCH

Explore some of the findings from this exciting research project. Discover the fascinating stories of the origins of Clapton Orient Football Club, find out about football throughout the First World War, delve into the unique stories that made the club what they are today.

CLAPTON ORIENT FOOTBALL CLUB

Clapton Orient Football Club (Now Leyton Orient) was formed in 1881 by members of the Glyn Cricket Club in 1881. Many members were former students of Homerton College, Cambridge and used football as a means of keeping fit during the winter. In 1888 the team took on the name ‘Orient’ as suggestion from one of the players who worked for the Orient Shipping Line, later P&O. In 1898, the club took on the name Clapton Orient to represent the part of London they played.

Orient is the second-oldest league club in London behind Fulham who were founded in in 1879, and the 24th oldest club currently playing in the Football League. In 1905, Orient joined the Football League, joining from the 2nd Division of the Southern Federation’s League.

Footballers' Battalion, 1915 © BFI Archive (Source: YouTube)

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THEY TOOK THE LEAD: THE FOOTBALLERS' BATTALION

15 December 1914, a meeting at Fulham Town Hall with military and Football Association officials would come to be one of the most significant events for Orient and saw the formation of the Footballers’ Battalion formally known as the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. Nine players from Orient signed up at this meeting, the most of any other club in attendance. Orient supporters, players and officials would make up the largest amount enlistments out of any other football club in the England.

24 April 1915 saw the last game professional game Clapton Orient would play of that season, before professional football was discontinued indefinitely. The game against Leicester Fosse, which Orient subsequently won, would be the last time the team would play together as they knew it.

Clapton Orient final game, 1915 © BFI Archive (Source: YouTube)

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FOOTBALL IN THE TRENCHES

Football would continue to provide a source of entertainment for the troops in the trenches. The War Diaries for the Footballers’ Battalion described the inter-trench football from different regiments. Naturally, the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment had an unfair advantage winning tournaments practically unopposed. Their only competition was the 13th Battalion of the Essex Regiment which included many players from West Ham. Inter-trench football tournaments were friendly affairs, but proved essential in keeping up morale and as a bonding exercise.

Familes would send footballers in the trenches newspapers with the latest scores. As the London Combination Games continued throughout war time London many men were still passionate to hear about how their favourite teams were doing.

Soldiers watching football, 1914 - 1919 © British Pathe

(Source: YouTube)

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BATTLE OF THE SOMME

Trench warfare was notoriously brutal, the Battle of the Somme being possibly the most famous battle of the First World War. The Footballers' Battalion were one of the many battalions who fought in the battle; it was here that the Orient men would bravely fight. Fighting in cold and wet conditions in Belgium and France would have been particularly miserable.

It was this battle that would see Orient lose three brave soldiers: Richard McFaden, George Scott and William Jonas. Life in the trenches was hard, and boosting morale was essential to the success of the war effort. Football would become one of the many ways the troops would entertain themselves and even played against other allied countires. Inter-trench football would be an excellent way that the men would keep fit and boost morale.

England vs. Belgium, 1917 © British Pathe

(Source: YouTube)

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WAR AT HOME

As the war raged on throughout Europe, the home front became essential to the war effort. Women found jobs in munitions factories and across other areas of industry in jobs that men would usually have occupied. When football was disbanded in 1915, women's football and the London Combination Games became two ways that football would continue to boost morale.

Men in the trenches would send home keep-sakes and momentos to their familes. One of the popular gifts sent home were embroidered postcards, these let familes know that they were okay and were treasured by families. For Clapton Orient, the contributions from the home front were essential in keeping their men fit and healthy whilst on leave and help booste morale in the trenches.

(Source: YouTube)

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CLAPTON ORIENT: AFTER THE WAR

On 11 November 1918, the war was over. Clapton Orient lost three men: Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott. For Orient, they would struggle to regain their pre-war success. Having been the club with the most volunteers, many men were forced to retire or were never fit to play again.

The war-time captain Freddie Blake went back to Ilford FC and continued his career as an amateur footballer and Fred Parker took back his role as captain of the professional side. Many men went back to their peace time jobs, and many retired permanently from the game.

(Source: YouTube)

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