Leyton Orient FC

Please read below for my article on Leyton Orient who came close to knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup this season. It was published in the latest Football Focus magazine which can be viewed here for absolutely free! Included in the current issue are Dunfermline Athletic, Crawley Town and many more football clubs.

Leyton Orient

Jonathan Tehoue equalises against Arsenal

Leyton Orient have a habit of pulling a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute. Many will remember Jonathan Tehoue's stunning 89^th minute equaliser against Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round earlier this season and the club hope they can pull out another rabbit as they search for promotion to the Championship. At the time of writing, Orient are sitting three points off a playoff place in the Npower League One table, with just two games remaining and they will need to win both if they are to knock MK Dons and Bournemouth out of their respective fifth and sixth positions.

If the club are unable to achieve a playoff slot, then their remarkable feat against Arsenal will undoubtedly be their highlight of the season.

With the Gunners having just come off the back of a fantastic victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, many feared Orient would be on the end of a resounding defeat.

However, this was the clichéd old fashioned cup tie, hosted at Orient's traditional lower league ground, which possessed a slightly bobbly pitch and was watched by over 9,000 roaring fans on a dark, misty, east London evening.

Arsenal, as expected, dominated possession, but created relatively few chances until Tomáš Rosický headed them into the lead on the 52^nd minute. Soon after, Andrei Arshavin looked to have sealed the win for the visitors, but his effort clipped off the post.

Orient kept up their search for a goal and their moment of joy arrived just one minute from time when Tehoue surged forward, squeezing through two Arsenal defenders and lashing the ball past the helpless Manuel Almunia, sending the home fans into raptures.

It was a dream comeback for Orient and it set them up for a money-spinning replay at Arsenal's spectacular Emirates Stadium. Orient chairman Barry Hearn had promised before the match that he would take the players on holiday to Las Vegas at the end of the season, if the team could draw a replay against the Gunners and this action may been the influencing factor for Orient grabbing the equaliser.

Although Orient fell to a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in the reverse tie, the players did not take their eye off the ball in the league campaign and now find themselves just inches away from the final coveted playoff position.

Whether or not The O's manage to clinch the final spot, they shall still possess a fantastic memory of holding Arsenal to a draw and will have undoubtedly laid the foundations for another crack at promotion next season.

written by Will Lyon

Hitchin Town with Neil Jensen

Please read below for my interview with Hitchin Town media officer Neil Jensen. It was published in the latest Football Focus magazine which can be viewed here for absolutely free! Included in the current issue are Queens Park Rangers, Chester and many more football clubs.

 Hitchin Town

Hitchin Town Football Club

Southern League Division One Central side Hitchin Town, otherwise known as 'The Canaries' – due to their yellow and green strip – were actually formed under the original name of Hitchin FC almost 150 years ago, in 1865. Despite the club initially struggling as a professional outfit, they remarkably reached the quarter finals of the first ever FA Cup in 1871-2.

Hitchin's luck took a turn for the worst after a devastating fire at ground Top Field in 1911. However, the club reformed in 1928 and as club Media Officer Neil Jensen informs us, the immediately following years would be a time of unprecedented success for the Hertfordshire club, only for a certain Adolf Hitler to upset the apple cart. “The 1930s were halcyon days for Hitchin Town. With players like Reg Smith, who later played for Millwall and England, Wally Odell and Les Clarke, there is little doubt that this was a golden age for Hitchin Town. The club won the FA Senior Cup in 1932 and in 1935, won the Spartan League Premier Division. The club entered the Athenian League in 1939, but after two league games and a Herts Charity Cup tie, all of which saw Hitchin score seven goals, Hitler intervened!”

With Hitler now firmly in the past and a tough economic climate in the present, Neil believes the emergence of youth is more important than ever. “We have an affiliated youth section in the form of Hitchin Town Youth which runs football from very young ages to under-18. In this 'age of austerity', we could see youth football become even more important – we certainly believe that a successful youth scheme is vital to a progressive non-league club.”

While the development of future talent is important, Hitchin's current squad are competing well and in the driving seat for promotion to Southern League Premier League. “We have a young side and we are on target to win promotion – after 26 games, we were unbeaten in the league.”

Off the pitch, Hitchin Town work hard to keep the local community involved with a host of different programs. “In the past few years” explains Neil, “we have launched a series of initiatives aimed at embracing all areas of the local community. As well as a 'ladies day' and 'forces day' we also held a 'community day' last season where we invited special guests, youth football clubs and local politicians and councillors.”

Top Field - The home of Hitchin Town

Although the local community is important, Neil is also adamant that Hitchin Town must improve their ageing ground if they are to continue progressing, although breaking the bank to do so, is not an option. “Our ground is very old – a 1920s period piece. The club recognizes the need to develop, as there is a limited time frame in respect to how long the facilities can last. But we are well run, prudent with money and will not put the club in jeopardy in any way.”

In fact, Neil will be sad to see the old lady go when she eventually meets the end. “The ground is much-loved by regulars as it has a charm of its own. But nostalgia aside, the club has to move on!”

Indeed, with a sizeable home support, Neil says Hitchin are aiming for glory as soon as possible. “We are a well supported club - averaging close to 350 people per game. We feel we can realistically win promotion and then to challenge for Blue Square South.”

In fact, the club has recently been commemorating “The Boys Of '61” who fifty years ago, ran out to meet Walthamstow Avenue in the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals. Although the 30's are regarded as the most successful decade of the club's history, this 1961 side are believed by many, to be Hitchin Town's finest ever side. During the same season, Hitchin also faced Crystal Palace in the FA Cup before an incredible 21,000 spectators. The club will be hoping that the current group of players can take inspiration from those Canary heroes.

written by Will Lyon