The Leyton Lowdown

Pandamonium editor Mat Roper joins us in the aftermath of Orient’s Wembley defeat

May 27, 2025

Tuesday 27 May 2025

If you’d like to write an article for The Scarf My Father Wore, share a few snippets or photos, or advertise your business, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.

THE SCARF MY FATHER WORE 2025-26 CALENDAR: Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

DESMOND’S COMEDY CLUB: Friday 30 May at The Fingerpost. Show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £15. Line-up includes Freddy Quinne, Kie Carson, Will Smith (pictured below) and Eddie Fortune. Drop me an email if you’d like to join us!

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Leyton Orient supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Just a couple of days after Leyton Orient’s defeat at Wembley in the play-off final, Pandamonium editor Mat Roper gives his thoughts on the last ten months at Brisbane Road.

County played Leyton Orient on four occasions this season. As you can see from the photos above, I was at all four. In fact, for the first time in my life, I’ve been to every single County game this season – all 56 of them! I’ve written a book about my adventures this season. If you’d like to support the publication by having your name printed in the book (along with a signed copy and a ticket to the book launch) drop me an email.

Today’s edition is sponsored by The Mortgage Mill. A big thank you to James.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,312

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Leave a comment

The O’s suffered more Wembley heartbreak on Sunday afternoon (Photo credit: Leyton Orient FC)

Best moment of 2024-25?

Goalkeeper Josh Keeley keeping us in the FA Cup, heading home an equaliser in the ninth minute of stoppage time against Oldham.

Worst moment of 2024-25?

Wembley (again).

Funniest moment of 2024-25?

Seeing the Man City keeper slumped on the floor after Jamie Donley’s 45-yarder went in off his arse to give us the lead in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Comedy gold and pure emotion all rolled into one.

The Birmingham Boasters and the Wrexham Wazzocks seem to have annoyed a lot of fans in League One this season. Which one are you most glad to see the back of?

Birmingham. They’ve been like an annoying itch you can’t scratch for nine months. Hollywood United are annoying as well but at least their genuine fans who went through some really awful times have been rewarded.

Reform have been making a lot of noise recently. Based on this season, what’s in most need of reform at Leyton Orient, on or off the pitch?

It’s got to be off the pitch. The board and the manager have talked about new investment to help build a bigger Leyton Orient. Now we have that investment, it’ll be interesting to see where we go from here.

Four Four Two had you down to finish 17th, EFL pundit Gabriel Sutton thought you’d finish 14th, while the Opta supercomputer predicted you’d be 13th. You finished 6th. Discuss.

This was seen as a very tough League One to do well in this year. Big hitters, difficult opponents and big spenders. We proved everyone wrong finishing 6th, which was even more satisfying after we’d been written off by most before a ball had been kicked.

County 1 Leyton Orient 4 in September. Leyton Orient 0 County 1 in February. And then the two play-off games. Thoughts?

Four very good games, all for different reasons. Both sides proved they were worthy winners at the time and showed plenty of guts in the big games. I think a lot of people were hoping for us and County in the play-off final. That might have proven a better spectacle than Charlton v Wycombe.

Best and worst away days of 2024-25?

Best has to be the second leg at your place. Regular season it has to be Huddersfield away on the final day where we showed nerves of steel to book our play-off place.

Worst is obviously Wembley. Regular season I’d say Stevenage or Crawley. Anyone who has ever been to either will know exactly why.

Which Leyton Orient player is most deserving of his couple of weeks on the beach this summer?

Ethan Galbraith. This bloke has covered every blade of grass in every League One stadium this season. A very classy talent with a bright future.

Never mind Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+, a TV production company have just made Leyton Orient: The Story of 2024-25. Which channel would it be most suited for?

The Discovery Channel. Every week we discovered something new about a very special side, who in turn discovered a way to usually win.

And finally, apologies for darkening the mood, but you’ve only got 30 seconds to live. Putin’s pressed the red button and we’re all about to die. You can have one last moment of pleasure, watching a single Leyton Orient goal from this season. What you sticking on?

Beckles’ winner at home to Barnsley after being 3-1 down. I was so ill watching the game it’s one I like to relive again and again.

➡️ Any Leyton Orient fans joining us today? As stated above, I’ve written a book having watched every County game home and away this season. There’s obviously four big chapters on Leyton Orient included. Also, as I celebrated my 40th birthday this season, I’ve written about my four decades as a County fan as well, which I’m hoping will be an enjoyable read for anyone who supports a lower league club. There’s memories of beating four Premier League clubs as County reached the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals in 1996-97, the club’s rise from the National League North to the brink of the Championship over the last few years, and the tale of a trip to Blackpool 20 years ago when me and my mates had a run-in with armed police after a day on the ale…

If you’d like to support the book, click on the link below to become a paid subscriber and I’ll post you a signed copy with your name printed inside once it’s published.

A few words from The Mortgage Mill

Purchasing a property can often be complicated, but with our friendly team of qualified and experienced mortgage advisors, it doesn’t have to be. Allow us to guide you through a home buying experience that is simple, straightforward, and stress-free.

We have a large panel of lenders, offering high street exclusive rates along with specialist lending to match your personal circumstances. Whether this be complex income streams, credit issues, self builds, etc., we will find the right lending for you.

With our wealth of knowledge and expertise, we can help you to plan your first move, next move, or investment purchase. Remortgaging couldn’t be simpler; we’ll assess the market and advise on the best option for you.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

We are constantly monitoring the market to keep up to date with best rates, service levels and criteria change, ensuring we can always offer the most appropriate lender for your situation, whatever it may be.

➡️ Visit themortgagemill.co.uk for further details.

Photo(s) of the day

Here’s 10 of my favourite photos from September!

Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together The Scarf My Father Worecalendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.