The Orient Line Heritage Trail

28/04/2025  -  4.12

Alex Alexandrou

On the 6th April 2025, Steve Jenkins led an enthusiastic group of Leyton Orient fans and football history buffs on The Orient Line Heritage Trail.

Steve Jenkins at the War Memorial in Coronation Gardens. Source: Author's Collection

The Heritage Trail is a circular walk of about eight miles tracing the origins and history of Leyton Orient Football Club and was devised with the assistance of Len Bannister. There is a booklet that accompanies the walk that can be purchased on the day with all proceeds going to the O's Somme Memorial Fund. It is an annual event that normally takes place in April. 

The Orient Line Heritage Trail Booklet. Source: Steve Jenkins

The Trail starts at the Supporters’ Club based at the club’s stadium and will take you from Essex to Middlesex and back again, along the River Lea, past Hackney Marshes, into Homerton and Hackney, whilst also taking in a nice stop at the Chesham Arms in Homerton, and visiting the War Memorial in Coronation Gardens, very near the ground.

The Trail has significant Football and War elements to it in relation to the First World War and Second World War, that takes in war memorials, commemorative plaques, where the Old Contemptibles Association was founded, former homes of players and pays particular homage to the role Clapton Orient players played in enlisting with the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War, with the ultimate sacrifice made by three club players - Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott.

This year’s Heritage Trail was supported by the Football and War Network, The Army FA and the Western Front Association.

Steve Jenkins, has supported Leyton Orient since 1969. He is currently Deputy Chairman of Leyton Orient Supporters Club and Chairman of the O’s Somme Memorial Fund. More information about the Fund and its work can be found at - https://osmf.co.uk 

Steve is the author of - They Took The Lead - The Story of Clapton Orient's Major Contribution to the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. You can find out more about the book and how to order it at - http://www.theytookthelead.com 

They Took The Lead by Steve Jenkins. Source: Author's Collection

If you would like to find out about the next walk in 2026, you can contact Steve at – stevejenkins1881@btinternet.com 

Biography

Alex Alexandrou is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Football and War Network