Blackpool v Leyton Orient 1994
Programme of the Week Blackpool v Leyton Orient 5th November 1994
Here’s the fourth in our series of reviews of a football programme from my collection. These reviews relate to a game being played in the next few days.
On Saturday 6th May 2017, it is Blackpool v Leyton Orient at Bloomfield Road, in League Two. Poignantly, it is Leyton Orient’s last match in the Football League, after a 112 year stay. 23 years ago, in the 1994/95the sides met in the Endsleigh Insurance League Division Two (now League 1) on Bonfire Night.
So, what was happening then?
Well, my copy of the programme was definitely at the match, it has a few creases to prove it! The front cover features an action shot of midfielder Darren Bradshaw. Bradshaw is a recent signing from Peterborough United costing the Seasiders £35,000.
The back cover of the programme features the team line-ups and every player has a one line snippet of information. For example, Blackpool’s No. 11 Bryan Griffiths is “working hard on the left flank”! We also learn that today’s referee is one of my all-time favourites – NOT – Jeff Winter.
The programme costs £1.20 and comprises 32 pages. Almost 12 sides of the programme feature advertisements – someone in the Commercial Department is working very hard!
Blackpool v Leyton Orient 1994
Blackpool are managed by Dudley’s finest, and one time Wolves supporter, Sam Allardyce. Even in 1994, he is signing his programme notes “Yours Big Sam”. Sam took over from Billy Aire pre-season, Blackpool having finished the previous year 20th one place and one point above the drop zone. After 15 games of the current season, Blackpool sit a respectable 7th and Orient are 20th.
So, a couple of names stand out in the home side’s line up, Phil Brown and Les Sealey. Right back and club captain Brown would go on to have a long association with Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers. Only a few season’s earlier, Sealey was making headlines as the goalkeeper brought into an FA Cup Final Replay by Sir Alex Fergusson. He joined Blackpool after his second spell at United. Sealey died in 2001 aged just 43.
Leyton Orient’s joint managers are John Sitton and Chris Turner. Turner is still on the team sheet as substitute goalkeeper. If I recall correctly, Sitton is the man who gives a fantastic ‘televised’ dressing room rant in the Channel 4 documentary “Orient: Club for a fiver”
Also on the Leyton Orient team sheet is Gary Bellamy, signed from the Wolves a couple of years earlier. Also in the side is Darren Purse, at the start of a career that would see him play at Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City. He is still playing today in the latest incarnation of Rushden & Diamonds.
This weekend (2017) if Blackpool equal or better Stevenage’s result at home to Accrington Stanley, they will finish in a play off position. However, that may be small comfort, relative to the heady days of the Premier League not that long ago.
Orient’s demise
So, whatever the score, Leyton Orient will be playing their football in the National League next season. Essay’s are being written about Orient’s demise. Similarly, Blackpool suffer from ownership that just doesn’t seem to have the club’s future at heart. All Wolves fans sympathise with that after our own trials and tribulations of the 1980’s!
Suffice to say, I think very fondly of Leyton Orient and their season in the First Division in 1962-63. Most of all, when my hero Norman Deeley graced their colours.
So in 1994, Blackpool v Leyton Orient ends with a 2-1 victory for Blackpool. Blackpool finish the season in 12th place, sandwiched between Stockport County and Wrexham. Leyton Orient are relegated.
Finally, and as a side note, the third tier of English Football in 1994/5 includes: –
Hull City; Swansea City and Bournemouth from today’s Premier League, and:-
Stockport County; Wrexham; Chester and York City, who like Orient, have now all fallen from the top four leagues!
The match programme, is available here for £1