With the fairly recent news of Leyton Orient academy graduate, Teddy Perkins, signing a professional deal with Burnley, it got me thinking. What other players have graduated from the Orient academy and went onto make a name for themselves?
For this team, we will be going with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Let's get into it!
Goalkeeper: Glenn Morris
Glenn Morris was part of a very successful youth team of his time, helping the team win the Youth Alliance Cup before he turned professional for the O's in 2001 and went onto make over 100 appearance for Orient. Since then, he has had a long career in League One and Two with four other clubs.
Right Back: Dennis Rofe
Dennis Rofe signed as a schoolboy in 1964 before signing professionally in 1968. He was part of the team that got Orient promoted in 1969/70 and winning the third division title. He was signed by Leicester for £112,000 in 1972 which made him, at the time, the most expensive full-back in British football. Rofe also featured for Chelsea and Southampton.
Centre Back: Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor signed a professional contract with Orient in 1966 after being part of the youth team and went on to play over 100 games for Orient. He then joined West Ham and played over 300 times. Once retiring he went into management and helped Orient to two League 2 Play-Off finals, however, losing both. Since then he has managed various teams across Europe.
Centre Back: Gabriel Zakuani
Gabriel Zakuani spent two years with Orient’s youth team before signing professionally in 2003. Zakuani helped Orient to promotion in 2006 and a win in the FA Cup third round to Fulham. Fulham would then sign him that summer for a £1 million deal. Unfortunately, he never played in the Premier League for the Cottagers but has played in League 1 and League 2 for three other clubs since leaving Fulham.
Left Back: Nicky Shorey
Nicky Shorey started his apprentice career in 1998 before signing a professional contract in 1999. He played as an understudy to Matt Lockwood in the two years for Orient, playing 15 times. He was sold to Reading for a reported £25,000 with add ons. He later got 2 caps for England and has played at the highest level for Reading in the Premier League.
Centre Midfield: Tony Grealish
Tony Grealish made 171 appearances for Orient and he went onto to play for top clubs such as Brighton (captaining them to a FA Cup final), West Brom and Manchester City. He was also capped 45 times for the Republic of Ireland and captained his country 17 times.
Centre Midfield: Steve Castle
Steve Castle had a great love for Orient, not only did he start his career at youth team level with the O's, he had three separate spells for the club - amassing 322 appearances. He also enjoyed spells at Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough playing over 100 times for both. Whilst playing for Orient he attracted attention of the then Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish but a move never materialised. Castle now manages Royston Town.
Right Wing: Laurie Cunningham
This man needs no introduction. He left Orient after coming through the youth team and playing 75 times in the first team. He went onto play for Real Madrid and Manchester United. He was also capped six times for England.
Central Attacking Midfield: Moses Odubajo
Moses usually features on the right hand side but for the sake of this starting XI, he'll have to do a job in the middle. Moses Odubajo was part of the youth team that reached the FA Youth Cup 4th round for Orient in the 2009/10 season, he played a few times for the first team before eventually signing professional in 2011. He had a very successful three years with Orient scoring in the League 1 playoff final in 2014. He was sold to Brentford for an undisclosed fee the following season and since then he has played for Hull City, and is now training with Celtic.
Left Wing: John Chiedozie
John Chiedozie joined Orient as an apprentice in 1977 and signed professional for the club making 145 appearances. He later joined Notts County for £600,000 in 1981 and then Tottenham Hotspur for £375,000 in 1984. He was also capped nine times for Nigeria.
Striker: Aaron McLean
Aaron McLean played for the youth team in 1998, unfortunately he wasn’t given enough chances in the Orient first team and left after only playing 40 times. Since leaving Orient he has played in the Championship for Peterborough and Hull City. At the age of 35, he now currently plays his football with Ebbsfleet.
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