LEYTON ORIENT have only ever spent one season in the top flight of English football. Promotion from the old Second Division in 1961-62 saw the O's rub shoulders with the elite.
But despite thrilling home victories against Everton, West Ham and Manchester United early on in the campaign, Johnny Carey's men ran out of steam and dropped back out of Division One at the end of the 1962-63 season.
In the course of writing his acclaimed book, The Untold Story of the O's Best-ever Team, published in 2006, Tony McDonald - the son of former winger Terry, a key member of the promotion-winning side - exclusively interviewed a dozen of those Orient favourites. They talk candidly about the highs and lows of that golden era and provide a fascinating insight into life with the East Londoners.
You can now listen to the men who made O's history on this double disc production. McDonald has converted his original audio recordings to DVD format. As well as incorporating previously unpublished material that didn't appear in the book, the voices are accompanied by many still photographic images to produce an evocative piece of Leyton Orient history and a delightful picture of what football used to be like in ‘the good old days'.
Legends Stan Charlton, Sid Bishop and Dave Dunmore are among those who share their memories of their time at Brisbane Road. Stan and Sid, along with Terry McDonald and Dennis Sorrell, are also captured on film telling their favourites stories about Tommy Johnston in a special tribute to Leyton Orient's all-time greatest player on the occasion of his internment at the Matchroom Stadium in October 2009.
And there is also video footage of Stan Charlton, Dave Dunmore, Cyril Lea, Terry McDonald and Dennis Sorrell when they were special guests of the club in May 2010.
Tony McDonald explained: "There is so much history in the voices of some of the greatest players to have ever worn the O's shirt. The book was a big success but the DVD has also proved very popular with fans of a certain age who still remember the players of the early 60s with much affection.
"Unfortunately, there was very little action footage available in those days, but the audio recordings of my conversations with the players are the next best thing. To hear the former stars actually talking about their time at Leyton Orient is absorbing stuff and sure to bring back many happy memories.
"Sadly, Norman Deeley, Frank George, Eddie Lewis and Stan Charlton have all since died, so their interviews are particularly poignant.
"At two hours each, the DVDs are long but I wanted to provide good value for money and, besides, they obviously don't have to be viewed in one sitting!" McDonald added. "I imagine O's supporters of a certain age, relaxed on their sofas and sipping their favourite tipple as they absorb this large helping of Leyton Orient nostalgia."
