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James Pope, I've been going reguarly since just after the 1990 World Cup when I got into football and wanted to see some live games.
What made you support your club?
Family ties. That's how it is with a lot of our supporters as we all want to ensure that the club gets more new fans. Most Orient fans wouldn't like their kids to grow up supporting Wet Sham, Spurs or Arsenal who are on our doorstep and would rather take them to a club away from the circus of overhyped tv armchair football clubs.
Both sides of my family were Orient through and through and it runs right back to my great grandad who was older than the club when he started supporting them.
Whats your favorite away ground and why?
Favourite away ground ever would probably be the Nou Camp. In England it would have to be the old Wembley. Best league ground I've been to with Orient would be either Reading or Charlton.
Seems ages since we last played you, has your ground changed much??
You wouldn't recognise our ground now! The main stand is still there, but both terraces behind the goals have been demolished and the opposing main stand as been rebuilt into a large grey office with some seating thrown in for added effect. The view is great, but the small number of seats (3,000) seems pessimistic to many in the long run. One of the stands behind the goal is up and holds 1,300, the other one is due to be built this season and should hold a similar number. Watch this space. There is sadly no more terracing and no more standing allowed which I feel is a shame.
Whats your proudest moment being a Orient fan?
Last season when we went up thanks to a goal in the 95th minute of the last game. Cue unbridled anarchy, chaos, bedlam amongst the 4,603 fans we took to an away game at Oxford. We sometimes don't get that for a home game! Other than that, the win at Fulham was electric.
And your most embarassing / disappointing?
Losing 4-1 at home to Cheltenham, although last Saturday's result at Brighton was uncensored redicule for all of us.
So who is your main rival?
It would have to be Wet Sham, more than anything due to their locality rather than on the pitch history. They are only 6 miles from us, so there's a clash of interest over the local catchment area for fans. We somehow also seem to attract one or two fans turning up to our games wearing Wet Sham shirts as if to say: "cos I'm the same as you Orient shirt wearing fans". No you're not. Please understand...
If Leyton Orient was a Song, what would it be, and why?
Tijiuana Taxi by Herb Alpert is what the players come out to and that wouldn't be a bad suggestion, but for originality I'll suggest Bitter Sweet Synphony by The Verve. Sums up a few things about supporting Orient I can tell you.
Whats the one thing you would change about your club?
That game in '74 when we drew at home to Villa and didn't go back up to the First Division. If that had happened, who knows where it would have left us now? Probably at least a division above where we are now with a bigger set of diehards in our fanbase for starters and a better stadium that wasn't funded by selling the corners off for blocks of flats as is now the case.
Any famous fans?
Steve Davis is a director and tv comedian Bob Mills has his say in the matchday programme. The Lloyd-Webbers are both fans, although I hear Julian's more the fan then Andrew. Rumours crop up every now and again about Rod Stewart, and apparantly Alice Cooper came to see a game in the 70's at Brisbane Road. There are a couple more out there I'm sure.
Whos your all time favorite player, and why?
All time favourite would be Tommy Johnston, but that was back in the 50's, way before my time. During the time I've been watching them, I would have to say that my favourite was Ricky Otto. The greatest winger I've ever had to the pleasure to watch and would run faster than a nun's first curry. Outside of Orient, my favourite player was Matthew Le Tissier for for sheer class of the way he played. A true pioneer in how to play schoolboy's own fantasy football at the highest level.
Favourite current player in your squad?
Probably either John Mackie or Gary Alexander for their workrate and will to fight for the team. Special mentions to Craig Easton and Shane Tudor when they're on form though.
Thoughts on the gaffer?
The greatest asset we have and in my honest opinion the most important man at the club. He's still learning, but crikey he's learnt a lot already and his interpretations on how the game should be played are my kind of football. You won't get hoof and hope with him, it's proper football made to work.
Realistic hopes for the season?
To stay up and continue the rebuilding of the team that Ling has succesfully implemented over each of the last three seasons. Above mid table would do me very nicely with a few new faces and progress all round.
So after promotion last season, did Martin Ling get money to improve?
We've been touted a figure of £500k after we sold defender Gabriel Zakuani to Fulham for a deal with between a million and one and a half million. He's yet to splash the cash, but knowing Ling, he'll wait for the right man and make it worth it. Nearly all of his signings are top draw and worth the fan's patience and faith in his judgement.
Who's your strongest / Weakest link?
Strongest link would be Ling and the new found financial stability that Barry Hearn has instigated at the club one way or another. Our weakest link would be adapting to a new division, trying to get our stadium big enough and getting fans out of the local big clubs and down the O's instead. And a few moaning fans who are fickle and slag the team off at the first sign of trouble rather than getting behind them and supporting them. (Don't worry!! That happens everywhere!! - ed)
Preditcted line up and score for the game on Tuesday?
Glyn Garner in goal. Matthew Lockwood, Brian Saah, Adam Tann, Justin Miller across the back. Joe Keith, Adam Chambers, Craig Easton, Wayne Corden in the middle. Gary Alexander and Lee Steele up front. Glenn Morris, Donny Barnard, Jason Demetriou, Jabo Ibehre and Paul Connor on the bench.
Either Or
Matchroom Stadium or Brisbane Road?
Brisbane Road is the only answer worth considering.
Home or Away games?
Home for this season!
Meat & Tatty or Steak & Kidney
Steak & Kidney is the way forward ;o).