As we come to the latter parts of our second season in the Vanarama National League, let’s take a look at how every member in the squad and some of the youth squad has got on. This edition will focus on the full-backs. Furthermore, at the end of each article there will be a player who would be a good signing in our current league to sign at the end of the season.
As always, these opinions are my own and do not represent the rest of the writers at Everything Orient.
Myles Judd
Myles Judd is one of the only members from 'that' season and is still just 20-years-old. Myles has played in senior football for a few seasons now, even picking up the prestigious Apprentice of the Year award in League 2.
This season it has been a fight between Myles Judd and Sam Ling for the first choice right back spot. After making his debut at 16 years of age, the 20-year-old has now played nearly 50 games for the O’s and recently signed a new contract at the Breyer Group Stadium. A versatile tough tackling full-back, Judd is a fan favourite and looks to be in for a long successful career at Leyton Orient.
Sam Ling
Sam Ling is also a young promising right back with first team experience, the 22-year-old initially played with Orient at youth level before leaving for Dagenham and Redbridge. After playing for the Daggers in the National League Sam made the switch back to Orient leaving for an undisclosed fee.
Sam’s dad, Martin Ling, is the Director of Football and despite what a small number of fans believe had nothing to do with the transfer, which was stated on the Orient Outlook Podcast. Sam has battled with injury this season and has had a mixed impact on the squad, with some outstanding games and a few not so. Sam is a decent defensive minded player who also has a good cross on him.
Mason Hall and Alfie Fleming
Mason Hall and Alfie Fleming are youth players at the O’s who I believe can play as full-backs. I have seen both play in pre-season games and they look to be promising young players. Hopefully they can stay and will look to replicate what Myles Judd has done and make their way into the first team.
Joe Widdowson
Joe Widdowson has been the first choice left back at the Breyer Group Stadium for nearly two seasons now. The 29-year-old was born in Forest Gate and was brought up in the youth ranks at West Ham before moving onto a few League 1 and 2 clubs, later signing for Dagenham and Redbridge in 2015 where he nearly made 100 appearances.
Following his time with Dagenham, Widdowson joined the O's for our first season in the National League. Joe has become Mr Consistent for Orient as he very rarely puts a foot wrong and his work rate and desire to track back after pushing forward is admirable, in my opinion. At the age of 29, Joe has a good few years ahead of him and would be a good contender for captain sometime in the future.
Jayden Sweeney
Jayden Sweeney is arguably one of the hottest prospects at the club currently. Primarily playing at left back, he first made his debut just after he turned 17 with a stellar performance against fellow promotion chasing club Wrexham in the FA Trophy. After impressing against Wrexham, he featured again in the FA Trophy against Blyth Spartans where he also impressed. A talented full-back, Jayden will hopefully make a name for himself at the Breyer Group stadium and stay for many years.
Wishlist: Jamie Reckford
Reckford scoring for Ross County
My wishlist signing for Orient would be the 26-year-old left back Jamie Reckford from Solihull Moors. Jamie originally played for his hometown club Wolverhampton Wanderers at youth level and made several loan moves to clubs in League 1 and League 2 before leaving his hometown club to go north of the border at Scottish championship side Ross County in 2014. Here he spent two seasons before joining Oldham in 2016. He made a handful of appearances before leaving in 2017. After this, Solihull signed him and he has been a mainstay in the West Midlands based side.
Jamie is a strong left-back who is a very hard tackler who coincidentally was sent off against Orient in September 2018. Despite this he is still a highly thought of defender who I presume is out of contract in the summer which would make him a perfect signing for Orient and would give Joe Widdowson healthy competition.
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